History of the Coy Facility

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1916

John T. Allan Junior High was established in 1916 in quarters on Rio Grande Street at Twelfth.

1925

An exchange of buildings moved Allan students into the building at Ninth and Trinity.

1956

A disastrous fire in March 1956 destroyed the Allan facility and students were moved into University Junior High at Nineteenth and Red River.

1957

Allan Junior High School was able to occupy its new facility at 4900 Gonzales in September 1957, well ahead of schedule because of extraordinary cooperation of planners, builders and suppliers.

1962

At the beginning of the 1962-1963 school year, Allan became a two year junior high serving only seventh and eighth grades. 

1964

William Akins, B.T. Snell and Narveline Drennan integrate AISD’s all-white teaching staff at Austin High and Allan Jr. High schools.

1975

On March 24, 1975, Allan Junior High School had a fire on the second floor of the building. The fire was in the afternoon and no students or staff were hurt. 

1980

Allan Junior High School became an elementary school. 

2011

The Austin ISD board voted to close Allan Elementary and contract with IDEA Public Schools to operate Allan as a public charter school.

2012

In response to the strong opposition from the community group PRIDE of the Eastside, the Austin ISD board terminated the contract with IDEA Public Schools. 

2013

Austin ISD board held a work session in May 2013 and assessed a variety of options on how to use the campus, including leasing it, renovating it or leaving it vacant for one year while the board sought community input.

Austin ISD and Austin Voices for Education and Youth hosted a series of community meetings throughout the Fall to gather input about possible uses of the vacant Allan Elementary School facility.

2014-2016

The Austin ISD board passed a resolution declaring the intent to issue a Request for Proposals for certain identified district properties, including Allan Elementary. The district identified the following principles to guide the development of a Request for Proposals for possible partnerships,(public, private and non-profit): (1) expand academic offerings available to students, (2) support efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, especially for District employees and families with children, (3) consider District’s administrative space and design needs, and (4) are fiscally advantageous for the district and provide a one-time or preferably recurring revenue source for the district. (Review the agenda item)

With the encouragement of PRIDE of Eastside, Foundation Communities submitted a proposal to Austin ISD to create affordable housing and a community center at Allan. (Review the plan.)

2017

The Austin ISD board and district leadership decided to no longer pursue a disposition of the Allan site in July 2017.

2018

The Alternative Learning Center (ALC) is relocated to the Coy Facility in August 2018. The ALC is a school community built on second chances—and a deeply rooted belief that every student desires and deserves to achieve their greatest potential. Students attend the ALC for a variety of reasons, including social and discipline challenges at their home schools as well as community-based incidents. The ALC team provides academic instruction, reading intervention programs and character education to help students modify inappropriate behavior, achieve academically and develop social skills to succeed at their home schools and in their communities and families.

The Austin ISD board voted to rename the John T. Allan Facility to the Anita Ferrales Coy Facility due to Allan having ties to the Confederacy. Anita Ferrales Coy served as Principal of Allan Elementary for seven years before becoming an Area Superintendent. She served the Austin ISD community for over 20 years. Coy was an innovative educator who changed the learning community at Allan, and across the district in the years that she served. This included helping to create a mentorship program for 1st year teachers. (Review the agenda item)

Photo Album: Anita Coy Facility Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Austin ISD (August 30, 2019)