The Bastrop Independent School District (BISD) has officially swung open the doors to three revamped educational facilities, with community celebrations marking the occasion on Jan. 10. Attendees of the ribbon-cutting ceremonies witnessed the dedication of two spanking new campuses, Camino Real and Colony Oaks Elementary Schools, alongside significant renovations to the historic Mina Elementary School.
These developments come as a response to the swelling student population within the district, necessitating an expansion to handle the surge. The two just-opened schools welcomed their first batch of students in August, as part of BISD's efforts to manage growth at the current six elementary campuses. Colony Oaks Elementary nestles within the verdant setting of its namesake, the Colony subdivision, known for its long-standing post-oak trees. The nomination for the school’s name pointed out Bastrop’s natural beauty and the oak tree’s symbolism of longevity, according to BISD officials.
Moreover, Camino Real Elementary School draws its name from the storied "El Camino Real," a historic trail with its roots in the Spanish Colonial period, intersecting Hwy. 21 in Bastrop County. This is not just any road, but a "royal road" which held special significance during the Spanish era, forming vital links between towns, capitals, and economically prominent mining locales. BISD Board President Billy Moore praised the naming choice, saying the names "represent the geographical area and are rooted in history and the environment that surrounds them," as reported by BISD's official site.
BISD board President Ashley Mutshink addressed the attendees at the dedication, emphasizing the importance of the new facilities not just as physical structures but as embodiments of a vision poised to sculpt the district's future. "We celebrate not just bricks and mortars, but the result of a vision that promises to shape the future of this school and the beautiful Bastrop historical district," Mutshink said, as stated in a Community Impact report.
As part of an extensive evaluation process, a committee comprising board trustees and district representatives sifted through nearly 60 nominations put forth by staff, residents, alumni, and parents before settling on the final names for the new schools. Superintendent Barry Edwards expressed gratitude for the community’s engagement, hinting at the excitement brewing over these additions. “It's an exciting time in the Bastrop Independent School District to be looking forward to opening two beautiful new schools, and we can now call them by name,” Edwards told the district's official site.
