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.
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.
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
Arizona Republic, Tuesday December 19, 1961, page 18
Arizona Republic, December 3, 1962, page 21
Arizona Republic, May 22, 1963, page 17
Arizona Republic, August 18, 1982, page 185
Arizona Republic, November 18, 1983, page 41
Arizona Republic, February 20, 1985, page 187
Arizona Republic, March 1, 1985, page 26
Arizona Republic, March 13, 1985, page 205
Arizona Republic, April 12, 1985, page 46
Arizona Republic, December 16, 1985, page 83
Arizona Republic, April 22, 1987, page 186
Arizona Republic, June 24, 1988, page 84
Arizona Republic, December 28, 1988, page 121
Arizona Republic, April 25, 1989, page 61
Arizona Republic, October 3, 1990, page 307
Arizona Republic, August 7, 1991, page 95
Arizona Republic, April 19, 1993, page 67
Arizona Republic, April 26, 1993, page 73
Arizona Republic, October 16, 1993, page 111
Arizona Republic, February 16, 1994, page 168
Arizona Republic, September 28, 1994, page 169
Arizona Republic, June 24, 1995, page 139
Arizona Republic, February 26, 1996, page 67
Arizona Republic, October 4, 1996, page 215
Arizona Republic, November 25, 1996, page 67
Arizona Republic, July 8, 1997, page 53
Arizona Republic, January 16, 1998, page 201
Arizona Republic, February 24, 1998, page 47
Arizona Republic, March 25, 1998, page 187
Arizona Republic, July 24, 1998, page 79
Arizona Republic, November 25, 1998, page 88
Arizona Republic, January 7, 1999, page 90
Arizona Republic, January 23, 1999, page 181
Arizona Republic, November 2, 1999, page 70
December 18, 1999, page 217
Arizona Republic, February 15, 2000, page 89
Arizona Republic, April 18, 2001, page 161
Arizona Republic, January 2, 2002, page 145
Arizona Republic, February 14, 2003, page 36
Arizona Republic, April 9, 2003, page 162
Arizona Republic, August 2, 2003, page 261
Arizona Republic, August 7, 2003, page 145
Arizona Republic, September 4, 2003, page 117
Arizona Republic, November 12, 2004, page 204
Arizona Republic, March 3, 2003, page 14
Arizona Republic, August 2, 2003, page 261
Arizona Republic, August 9, 2003, page 367
Arizona Republic, December 10, 2003, page 167
Arizona Republic, December 10, 2003, page 168
Arizona Republic, February 5, 2004, page 155
Arizona Republic, March 17, 2004, page 189
Arizona Republic, March 17, 2004, page 190
Arizona Republic, June 5, 2004, page 262
Arizona Republic, June 9, 2004, page 211
Arizona Republic, September 25, 2004, page 235
Arizona Republic, September 25, 2004, page 235
Arizona Republic, September 25, 2004, page 247
Arizona Republic, November 10, 2004, page 233
Arizona Republic, November 10, 2004, page 234
Arizona Republic, March 21, 2005, page 64
Arizona Republic, April 7, 2005, page 133
Arizona Republic, April 7, 2005, page 133
Arizona Republic, November 18, 2005, page 37
Arizona Republic, August 4, 2006, page 203
