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Alumnus asks WFISD to back National Register nominations for Sam Houston Elementary and Wichita Falls High
Summary
Devin Bautista told trustees he is working to nominate Sam Houston Elementary for the National Register of Historic Places with state review planned for January 2026 and urged the board to support preservation of Sam Houston and "Old High."
At the public‑comment portion of Monday’s meeting, Devin (Edwin) Bautista described his effort to secure National Register of Historic Places recognition for Sam Houston Elementary and said he plans to nominate Wichita Falls High ("Old High") in 2026.
"For the past year, I've been working to get Sam Houston Elementary School recognized for its historical importance," Bautista told trustees, saying his nomination is on track for review by the Texas Historical Commission State Review Board in January 2026. He argued that repurposing historic campuses can produce museums, community centers, training hubs or nonprofit incubators and called for the board and community to be open to partnership to protect the buildings rather than allow demolition.
Bautista framed the request as preserving the "story of public education in Wichita Falls" and asked for the board’s openness, partnership and imagination to keep the door open for creative reuse.
Board members acknowledged the comments; no formal action was taken during the meeting.
