Gainesville State School Celebrates 100 Years of Service

The Gainesville State School celebrated its 100 year anniversary on September 30, 2016.

The Gainesville campus celebrated the event with a ceremony that included a proclamation delivered by Gainesville Mayor Jim Goldsworthy declaring September 30 to be "Gainesville State School Day." One of the new sights on campus was a train engine constructed and painted by welding instructors and students. Also on display was the newly painted windmill adorned with a tornado.

A group of youth known as "Twelve" provided music during the ceremony. Executive Director David Reilly and Director of Programs and Facilities Teresa Stroud were in attendance and participated in the event, helping to bury a time capsule filled with present day photographs and memorabilia. It will be opened in 50 years.

Gainesville State School was originally opened as the Texas State Training School for Girls in 1916 with an enrollment of 18 girls. In 1948, the school was renamed Gainesville State School for Girls and in 1957, the 55th Texas Legislature transferred the school to the Texas Youth Council.

In 1971, the school became a co-educational juvenile correctional facility under the Texas Youth Commission. In 1988, the facility became a boys-only institution. Today, the school is operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and houses more than 200 young men. The school offers a robust menu of programming for young offenders, including a Sexual Behavior Treatment Program, and Alcohol and Other Drugs program, Violent Offender Program, Pairing Achievement With Service canine program, and the agency’s Capstone program.

For 100 years, the Gainesville State School has been working to improve the lives of Texas youth. It remains a vital part of the Gainesville and TJJD communities.

PHOTO: From left to right: Gainesville State School Superintendent Mike Studamire, TJJD Director of State Programs Teresa Stroud, TJJD Executive Director David Reilly and Gainesville Mayor Jim Goldsworthy use golden shovels to bury the Gainesville State School time capsule.

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