Vintage photos show Robert E. Lee High School through the years
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Elizabeth Robinson, Kelsey Bradshaw, mySA.com / San Antonio Express-News
Aug. 30, 2017 Updated: Aug. 30, 2017 5:11 p.m.
The North East Independent School District board voted Tuesday to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School, ending a years-long battle between community members and trustees amid heightened national debate about Confederate memorials.
The renewed effort was the second attempt in two years to change the name of the school. Trustees voted 5-2 in 2015 to retain Lee's name. This time, the vote was unanimous, 7-0.
RELATED: Emotions run high as NEISD board votes to drop name of Lee High School
The district has not yet begun the process to rename the school, but the change will take effect in the 2018-19 school year.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro called the move "long overdue."
A student first made a petition to change the school's namesake, a Confederate general and slave-owner, back in 2015. Trustees voted 5-2 against changing the name at the time.
Castro supported a name change two years ago, and he was pleased with the decision on Tuesday.
"Congratulations to the students and alumni who prevailed upon the NEISD board to vote unanimously tonight to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School," he said. "Long overdue."
READ ALSO: How San Antonio high schools got their name
In 2015, Castro urged the board to take a vote on the matter.
"North East ISD should call together a group of board members, students, and community members to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School. There are other, more appropriated individuals to honor, and spotlight as role models," he said at the time.
A Lee High 2002 graduate offered up a name to replace Lee back in 2015: Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich.
"I'm not advocating to change the name, but if it does change, it should be to honor one of our own," said Emmanuel Casasola in a phone interview with mySA.com. "I think Popovich exemplifies several of the characteristics young people of today should strive for – leadership, commitment, loyalty and the way he and RC Buford have created an organization that is envied in all sports."
Lee was the only San Antonio-area high school to be named after historical figure with Confederate ties.
As a new chapter in the North East ISD high school's history begins, take a look at past memories in the slideshow above.
Express-News reporter Lauren Caruba contributed to this report.
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Elizabeth Robinson is a digital producer for the San Antonio Express-News/mySA.com.
Kelsey Bradshaw
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Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA. She was previously a reporting intern covering Texas politics and government from the Chronicle's Austin Bureau. She is a Texas State University graduate with degrees in journalism and business administration, and previously worked for the Austin American-Statesman, the San Antonio Express-News and the University Star.
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