A mural in the new administration building of Cleveland ISD is aimed at mixing nostalgia and pride in the community. It decorates a long hallway next to the District’s upcoming museum, which will display cherished memorabilia from the past. The mural includes pictures of former students, teachers, clubs, and groups dating back to the 1920s.
Superintendent Stephen McCanless traced the idea for the mural back to the 2019 bond $198 million referendum passed by voters that paved the way for the construction of the new administration building and campuses. The administration building, one of several projects in the 2019 bond, was put on the back burner while construction wrapped up on the new Santa Fe Elementary and Santa Fe Middle School campuses, the new softball/baseball complex and improvements to old Northside Elementary campus, all of which were included in the bond.
“The idea for the mural was born when the school board visited various school district administration buildings after the bond passed in 2019. We turned ours into a nostalgic theme and couldn’t be happier with the results,” said McCanless. “After our last board meeting, the board went together to view the mural. We just stood there looking at it, like ‘Wow.’ It brought back a lot of memories for our board members.”
McCanless is hoping the public will have the same reaction when they first see the mural.
“I can’t wait for the open house on Monday so people in the community can come see it for themselves,” he said. “I think it is nothing but positive for our school district and the community.”
The adjacent museum provides an opportunity for community residents to contribute cherished relics.
“We are taking donations for things that people would like to give the District or put on loan, items such as old football helmets, jerseys, prom programs, letterman jackets, old football tickets. We would like citizens to do that. Pictures, trinkets, yearbooks. We will place a name placard with the item explaining that it was donated or on loan from a family,” McCanless said.
The upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, March 4, is open to the community. The address is 1901 E. Houston, Cleveland.