Descendants and preservationists urge PFISD to join city’s 'Colored Edition' beautification effort

Residents, descendants and preservation professionals urged the Pflugerville Independent School District trustees and the Pflugerville City Council on June 8 to make school-district land available for research and to formally partner with the city’s recently approved historic "Colored Edition" beautification plan.

At a packed joint meeting, Toni Hinton, who said she is a descendant of families from the neighborhood, told trustees the project is about “honoring truth” and ensuring pupils learn the full history of the city. “Preserving the legacy of the Colored Edition is not about dwelling on the past, it is about honoring truth,” Hinton said during the public-comment period.

Cemetery conservator Jenna Bullway described visible signs that burials may extend beyond the fenced cemetery boundaries that abut district-owned property and asked the district to share property-sale records, previous ground-disturbance documentation and any other records that could support preservation and respectful investigation. “Based on my observations, I believe that there is a possibility that additional burials may exist beyond the current fence line,” Bullway said, noting aerial imagery and plantings consistent with old gravesites.

Leaders from Saint Mary Missionary Baptist Church, including Lily Milliner and Marietta Jesus Dixon, framed the project as both a cultural and educational opportunity and asked the district to commit "time, talent and treasure" — classroom lessons, student involvement and financial support — so the history is preserved and taught.

Former trustee and longtime resident Tony Hansen praised the City Council’s unanimous May approval of the beautification plan and urged PFISD to join a coalition of descendants, preservation professionals and churches to create service-learning and curriculum connections. “We need you at this table, PFISD,” Hansen said.

During council and trustee discussion, elected officials asked staff to share maps and property records so the two governments can confirm which parcels abut or are owned by the district. Mayor Weiss and trustees agreed to follow up at the staff level; several speakers noted the Texas Historical Commission has been engaged and that ground-penetrating radar and archaeological oversight would be appropriate for projects using public funds.

Next steps noted in the meeting included city staff providing the board with the resolution text and any relevant planning documents and the district’s facilities staff checking ownership records and prior disturbance reports. The joint meeting concluded with trustees and councilmembers agreeing to schedule staff-level information-sharing and potential site tours to align preservation goals before any capital work proceeds.