Galveston Elementary School

The Galveston Elementary School is part of the Chandler Unified School District 80. It was planned in the early 1960s, and the first phase was constructed in 1962. It is located at the southeast corner of Galveston and Hamilton streets. The opening date for Galveston Elementary School was September 4, 1962.

Open

The site on which the school was built was originally agricultural land. Below are aerial views from 1959 that show the school site outlined in the context with the rest of the area. The main road on the right of the top image is McQueen Road.

 

Open

 

 

 

In the late 1950s and early 1960s Chandler was growing, and the Chandler School District engaged in planning and subsequently authorized eventual bond issues to build new school facilities and add to existing ones.

In 1961 a series of bond issues were put before Chandler voters to fund new school facilities. A bond issue for purchasing land north of the high school was planned for January 5, 1961, but postponed for further study. It was defeated by the voters on February 10. (Arizona Republic January 4, 1961, Chandler Arizonan January 12, 1961, Chandler Arizonan February 16, 1961).

Later that year a bond issue that resulted in the Galveston school was held on June 16 and was approved by the voters. (Arizona Republic June 15, 1961, Chandler Arizonan June 22, 1961)

On December 18, 1961, construction contracts were approved for Galveston and other school facilities. Glen McCollum, a prominent Chandler and East Valley architect, designed the first phase of the Galveston school. (Arizona Republic December 19, 1961, Chandler Arizonan December 14, 1961)

The first phase of Galveston Elementary opened on September 4, 1962, for grades 1-4. (Chandler Arizonan August 30 and September 6, 1962)

It was also determined that more school facilities were needed by the rapidly growing community. Another bond election, which included funds for more classrooms for Galveston, was called for December 11. (Chandler Arizonan October 25 and December 6, 1962, and the Arizona Republic December 3, 1962)

The bond issue was approved on December 11, 1962, and construction for eight addition classrooms occurred shortly thereafter. (Arizona Republic December 12, 1962)

*This research report is generated by a request submitted on December 9, 2024. It is prepared by Derek D. Horn, Researcher, and completed on December 9, 2024. No part may be distributed or reproduced without the permission of the Chandler Museum.

Miscellaneous newspaper articles about Galveston Elementary