{Update} HISD board votes on renaming of school names with Confederate ties

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - At Houston ISD’s board meeting Thursday evening, there were strong words from both sides regarding the renaming of Houston area school named after Confederate loyalists.

While the meeting started with eight schools on the renaming table, it seems those against the name changes made their voices heard because the meeting ended with only four schools going forward in the renaming process.

After hearing from the public, the board ended up dropping four schools from the list of eight to allow for further discussion in the community. Those schools postponed from renaming for now are: Lanier and Johnston Middle Schools and Jefferson Davis and Reagan High Schools.

As for the rest, the board voted, 5 to 4, to approve the start of the renaming process for rest of the schools on the list: Grady, Dowling, and Jackson Middle Schools and Lee High School.

Next in the renaming process, a committee at each school -- which will include a teacher, student, parent and alumni, -- will have the responsibility of proposing a new name.

The board is expected to vote on the final name in May.