Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1929-10-31
High School Bonds Win
By a Large Majority

On last Saturday the voters of
the Island endorsed by very
decided majority the bond issue
of $4,000 for our new union high
school building, the vote being
1856 for and 10 against the pro-
position.
Althoug more than two years has
elapsed since this movement, sponsor.
ed by the Vashon Island Commercial
Club, was started, the overwhelming
approval voiced by the voters shows
that a great service has been render
ed by this organization in the quiet
determined method in which the work
has been carried out,
History of the High School Movement
Although more than two years has
long been the dream of the forward
looking citizens of the Island, who
having caught the vision, persisted in
the belief that the community would
out grow the inadequate educational
plants which were considered suffici-
ent until the past few years. One
sporadic attempt at unionization re-
suited in union of Maury and the
south end of the Island in Union j.
In 1914 the Vashon high school was
built in what was then considered the
center of population. Previous to this
the grammar school had been held
in the building now occupied by the
Community Club.
These two schools, Union j near
Burton and the Vashon building near
vashon served their purpose until the
population of the Island had increased
to the point where overcrowded con-
ditions led to q combination of circum-
stances that made adequate class
facilities, with the possibilities OF
necessary discipline out of the question.
This state of affairs forced upon
those who were in touch with the
situation the realization that some
remedy was necessary. At meeting
of the Commercial Club the matter
was given serious consideration, and
committee appointed to investigate
ways and means to correct conditions.
Ira o. Thompson, who for years had
been an advocate Of unionization, was
appointed chairman of this education
al committee. On this committee, at
various times up to the present, there
have worked with Mr.. Thompson. DR..
Young. George Spinning, F j. Shat
tuck, Z. B. Allison, @. E. Bragg, D.
Siegrist, G. L. Garner and ]. w. Dunlap.
II is impossible to estimate the hours
these men have spent in collecting the
data and planning how best to meet
and solve the unlocked for problems
that have been confronted at every
angle. When the publicity campaign
was begun in January, 1928, few realiz-
ed how much was involved in addition
to popular vote. q
However, when the matter came up
for approval of the people on March
g. 1923, they voted for unionization
581 to 1876.
The News Record of March 9, 1928,
III reporting the victory said, in part:
Credit for this great step in the
welfare Of the Island should go to the
Vashon Island Commercial Club and
to the committee who worked so tire
lessly to bring before the public the
need and the advantage of Union
High School for Vashon Island.
Perhaps it will be several years YET
before we actually see construction
work on q new high school building
but the ground work is laid, and a
starting point provided. Let the Com
mercial Club carry on and direcr the
work they have so well begun to its
final completion"
After the actual union of the Is
land into one high school district the
work of organization progressed more
than the most optimistic
could have hoped. The board COM
posed OI pIle CIldlIllldll VI ellC val iouo
districts of the Island was organized
and teaching corps was secured. The
employed was Frank
Robertson, of zillah, q former Island
resident, highly recommended by the
state department Of education. Even
though the worth of both the Burton
and Vashon Principals was recognize
ed the board felt that one who was a
stranger to the pupils, and conse-
quently non-partisan, would be able to
handle the work Of organization better
than either Professor Pa-kes or VIM.
Merrill Smith.
Late in June, 1923, the high school
board decided on site for the new
building, which on July 2sth received
the approval of the voters by a vote of
294 for and SO against the proposition.
In September the schools opened
with the freshmen and sophomores in
the Burton building and the juniors
and seniors in the Vashon building.
Despite predictions to the contrary
this plan worked out in such an ad-
manner that instead of our
high schools being removed from the
accredited list as was threatened In