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The North Lamar contact team passed a resolution nominating “Juan P Navarro” to be the name of the new elementary school being built north of  Rundberg and east of North Lamar.  The attendance boundaries include part of NACA.
New school name “Juan P Navarro”
(excerpts from American-Statesman)
In his short life, Sgt. Juan Navarro accomplished a lot of firsts. After graduating from Lanier High School in 2007, he became the first of 11 brothers and sisters to attend college. Soon after, he became the first in his family to enter the military.
On [July 6, 2012], Navarro, 23, was killed by an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province. Navarro, who served with the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division, was on his second tour in Afghanistan.
Since learning of his death, friends and family have gathered at Navarro’s small family home on Rundberg Lane in North Austin, trading stories around a makeshift altar of flowers, flags, candles and collages of photos tracing a life from smiling toddler to stern-faced soldier.
On Wednesday, they described him as outgoing, gregarious, respectful of his elders.
Even after he left Texas and moved through the Army ranks, he remained fiercely loyal to his community — his arm featured a tattooed street sign of Rundberg Lane and Interstate 35, which sits half a block from his home.
Navarro was scheduled to leave the Army within a few months, and he planned to resume his college studies. He joined the Army after briefly attending Texas State University, which he left for financial reasons.
AISD criteria for the naming of district facilities include the following:

  • Facilities may be named for individuals, places such as landmarks or neighborhoods, or other reason as determined by the Board.
  • The name must not already be used by another Austin District school or facility.
  • If named for an individual, the following shall apply:

–         The individual may be living or dead.
–         The individual must be recognized by the general public and widely respected.
–          The individual must embody exemplary qualities that can serve as a model of excellence.
Resolved:
Whereas
The Pantoja-Navarro family, originally from Mexico, are long-time Rundberg residents, attending Barrington, Webb and Lanier;
Whereas
Juan Navarro graduated from Lanier High School in 2007, enrolled at Texas State University as the first member of his family to attend college, and was killed during military service in Afghanistan in 2012;
Whereas
Juan Navarro is remembered by his peers and by younger students for his selfless dedication, loyalty to others, supportive advice, and infectious smile;
Whereas
The Pantoja- Navarros are just one of the thousands of Rundberg-area families, supported by Austin ISD teachers and staff, who are raising strong productive awesome children;
The North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Plan Contact Team nominates “Juan P Navarro”, as the name for the new north central elementary school in memory of the life of Sgt Navarro and in recognition of all the parents and educators in our neighborhood.

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