Reader comments concerning the future of the old Ronald School

We've been posting about an unfolding story concerning the future of the "old Ronald School" - an historic brick schoolhouse in Shoreline that currently houses The Shoreline Historical Museum. There are conflicting (or at least unresolved) reports about what the future holds for the old Ronald School. Shoreline Historical Museum seems to think it is going to have to move out of its location at Ronald School (which is owned by Shoreline Schools), while Shoreline Schools maintains that no decision has been made yet.

Here are parts of a couple of comments posted to the blog concerning this issue:

Janet Way wrote:

I urge all citizens and history enthusiasts to jump into action to Save the Museum! Send letters to Shoreline School Board. Send letters to Shoreline Enterprise and Seattle Times.
This place matters to Shoreline and the North Seattle area!

Anonymous wrote (excerpt):

In talking to dozens of parents of Shoreline elementary school children, only one could actually name where the museum was. Not one had ever visited it.

Meanwhile, every single parent knew where Shorewood was and at almost all had attended at least one event there (sporting, drama, or community).

I don't think the museum has done a good job reaching out to the community. As a future Shorewood parent, I don't care about the museum at all. I do care that my child goes to school in an up-to-date facility.

What do YOU think? Post your thoughts to the comments section.

Link to see both of these comments in their entirety

Link to read all posts related to this issue

Pres. of Shoreline Historical Museum's Board responds to Shoreline Schools concerning future of Ronald School

A letter from Bob Phelps (President pro tem of the Shoreline Historical Museum Board of Trustees) concerning the Ronald School/Shoreline Historical Museum brouhaha:


To quote Shoreline School District spokesman Derringer from a recent RonaldBog blog about the Shoreline Historical Museum: "Museum leadership was specifically notified of this process as far back as April 2008. Members of the Museum staff and board have been present at all of the Community Outreach meetings for the Shorewood design planning, where the process has been transparent and inclusive."

As President pro tem of the Shoreline Historical Museum Board of Trustees, I have considerable interest in what Mr. Derringer has said. First, an April 30, 2008 letter from Superintendent Walker was indeed sent to the Museum, stating that the District leadership would recommend "that the District not enter into any agreements and/or obligations that would limit future options with respect to the Shorewood site." This does NOT say that the Museum would be kicked out of the historic Ronald Elementary School! The words "future options" were not elaborated upon. Second, several of us from the Museum attended the last Community Outreach meeting (on March 19) where four possible designs for a rebuilt Shorewood High School were made available for public comment. All the designs showed that the Ronald School would remain and there was absolutely no hint whatsoever that the the Museum would be evicted from the building. This cannot be said to be "transparent".

It is quite possible that the Museum would still be unaware of the School District's plans if I hadn't seen an announcement in Boeing Creek Park of a meeting that the Richmond Highlands Neighborhood Association was to have with Superintendent Walker on April 5, to discuss the future of Shorewood High School. Since any rebuild of the high school could impact the museum, I attended the meeting (along with ten or so other people from the neighborhood) and naturally asked about the future status of the Museum. I was stunned when Ms Walker stated that she could find a couple of other sites where it could be located in the future. That is absolutely the first time anyone connected with the Museum knew of the School District's plans. Moreover, I hadn't introduced myself at the meeting as a member of the Museum Board, simply as a retired math professor (since Ms Walker introduced herself by saying that she had started out teaching math at Shorewood).

It is very difficult for me to conclude that "the process has been transparent and inclusive"; quite the opposite.

Bob Phelps

Link to read all posts about this issue

Shoreline Schools says no decision yet concerning future of Ronald School and Shoreline Historical Museum

We recently posted information from Shoreline Historical Museum that the Museum was going to be forced to move from its current location at the old Ronald School.

Among the information we got from the Museum was a copy of a letter sent to "Members, Donors and Friends." The letter was written by Robert Phelps, President of the Shoreline Historical Museum. Part of his letter reads as follows:

Two weeks ago we accidentally became aware that the Shoreline School Board is planning to move the Museum out of its present place in the 1912 Ronald Elementary School, where it has resided for 33 years. Of course, this was a great surprise to all of our Board members, who have worked toward restoration of the building, and toward fulfilling the educational mission of the Museum.

Despite the fact that the School District has 26 acres of property on which to site their new building, the superintendent said at a public meeting of the Richmond Highlands Neighborhood Association on May 5th that the Museum would not be staying in the Ronald School building. The school board has never openly asked or involved the Museum, which is a stakeholder on the property. In all the months of planning, this is the first time such a specific pronouncement has been made, and it was not made to us directly.

Up until a few days ago, no one from the school district had formally contacted the director, board members or anyone else at the Museum, except for a letter of April 30, 2008 stating that they were analyzing the rebuilding of Shorewood, but saying nothing about evicting the Museum. We invited the school board president and representatives to attend our board meeting on May 20, 2009. At that meeting, they stated that “no decision has been made” however, they did say that none of the preferred plans include keeping the Museum in the Ronald School Building. (click here to read the letter in its entirety)

In response to that previous post, we were contacted by Craig Derringer, Public Information Officer with Shoreline Schools. Here is part of his message:

There is no "eviction" or "impending closure" of the Shoreline Historical Museum. The Shoreline School Board has not made any decision about the future of Ronald School which houses the museum.

The recent letter to Mayor Ryu (read it here) provides specifics related to the Historical Museum's lease, site issues and the Shorewood High School redesign process. As explained in the letter, the District has not reached any final decisions regarding the future of the Ronald School property and building, although the size of the Shorewood site is quite restrictive when trying to create equity with the Shorecrest site, which is 12 acres larger.

Museum leadership was specifically notified of this process as far back as April 2008. Members of the Museum staff and board have been present at all of the Community Outreach meetings for the Shorewood design planning, where the process has been transparent and inclusive.

We (Shoreline Schools) invite the community to our next community outreach meeting on June 4, 7 pm at both high schools.

Link to read a letter written from School Supt. Walker to Museum director Vicki Stiles in April 2008 regarding the District beginning the Shorewood High School design process

Shoreline Historical Museum is in trouble: being evicted by Shoreline Schools

(photo is part of a display at the Museum)

The Shoreline Historical Museum is in trouble. It looks like Shoreline Schools is evicting the Museum from the old Ronald School. Here is some information about the Museum followed by links to more information about the impending closure.

Important Dates in the history of the Shoreline Historical Museum

1976 - the Shoreline School District Board of Directors affirmed that not all learning happens in a classroom and as a bicentennial project, they and community members and leaders established the Shoreline Historical Museum.

1989 - the importance of the Museum to the community was reaffirmed by the School District Board when they deeded the building to the Shoreline Historical Museum organization for use by the community.

2000 - the Museum completes its accessibility project, installing an elevator to make sure all students and citizens can use the Museum.

2008 - After 20 years of planning and restoration work, the Museum’s Ronald School building becomes a Landmark.

Educational Activities

◊ Led by trained docents on curriculum-based tours, over 25,000 Shoreline elementary children have visited the Museum, learning valuable lessons in community responsibility and pride.

◊ The Museum has assisted teachers in providing real-life experiences that enhance and support the curriculum. With the help of Shoreline district teachers and grants, the Museum’s tours have been revamped numerous times over the years to meet teachers’ changing goals for their classes.

◊ The Museum’s Passport Program aids school children and other young visitors in exploring the exhibits, learning about community history and the historic Ronald School. Each child’s completed passport is theirs to keep.

◊ A specially devised tour program has served over 100 special education students who visit the Museum. This program also serves adults who have graduated from Shoreline Schools who participate in other community programs designed to assist them.

◊ The Museum’s education programming has served over 300 individual high school students who have availed themselves of the Museum’s Community Service/Student Museum Assistant Program. This supervised program invites Students from both Shorewood and Shorecrest high schools to earn community service credits by volunteering at the Museum.

◊ Students have contributed over 25,000 volunteer hours to the community through the Museum’s program, and at the same time have found within themselves the spirit of participation and giving back within their own community.

◊ The Museum also takes under its wing high school students who have been ordered by the court system to perform community service. We are one of the few institutions willing to give children in trouble a chance to regain their footing and their personal pride.

◊ Assistance is available for students doing social studies projects, such as History Day projects and theme papers. There’s something for every student at the Museum.

◊ Hands-on activities for young people, run by high school volunteers, teaches children about self sufficiency and community history.

◊ Three floors of exhibits focused on community history

◊ A large public research archive utilized by students and other researchers

◊ 10,000 visitors every year

◊ Over 1,000 regular members and donors

Funding

◊ Members, donors and public funds from the State of Washington and King county have helped the Museum with $1.5 million dollars worth of capital projects in the last 16 years, including an elevator that enables special education students and other disabled citizens to participate in Museum tours and educational programs.

◊ Over $2 million more dollars of community donations and grants have paid for educational programming, exhibits and operations.

◊ A contract for services from the city of Shoreline for full time Museum services.

◊ Sustained support and Special Projects from 4Culture, King County’s heritage grants arm.

◊ Adult volunteers contribute over 5,000 hours per year to Museum operations, exhibits and programs.

The Ronald School building is an integral part of the Museum organization and the Museum’s programming. With our nearly 100 year old building, we are able to demonstrate to both students and adults that history is real - not just an abstract concept. With our building, we are able to illuminate the history of a community that has a school district that has long cared about giving all of its people a sense of belonging and rootedness in the traditions of education, sharing those ideals in a very real way with everyone through its gift to the community, the Museum, which provides lifelong learning for everyone. The Shoreline Historical Museum is more than a collection of artifacts.

(The Shoreline Historical Museum Board of Trustees)

Read the Letter to Members, Donors and Friends

Read the Petition to the Shoreline School District Board of Directors

Read all posts about Shoreline Historical Museum

Link to Shoreline Historical Museum

Please post your thoughts to the "comment" section!

Shoreline Historical Museum presents Our Wicked Past

Continuing through September 20th at the Shoreline Historical Museum, check out an exhibit called "Our Wicked Past" and learn about crimes in the untamed Northwest King County of the early to mid-1900's.

Then, on Saturday September 20th at 1:00pm crime historian Tom Hitzroth will discuss a local cold case file (the Kenmore Bridge Murder) and its possible solution.

Here are a few photos of the exhibit.

A display about bootlegging

Echo Lake Tavern was built by a bootlegger!

Link to: Shoreline Historical Museum exhibits information

Car show at the Shoreline Historical Museum

These photos were taken Saturday June 21st, in the parking lot of the Shoreline Historical Museum. they call it: "The History of Racing on Aurora"

It's the Shoreline Historical Musuem's annual outdoor 'Golden Wheels' exhibit of local historic race cars.

This was the first thing on display, right at the front of the lot.

It didn't really seem to fit the theme.

Spinning yarns, no doubt

Groovy old skool controls

The Mighty Solar Midget

Cute, eh?

John Zink Special

This sign is describing the car in the next photo

William Clay Ford's midget race car

This little guy has 3 wheels (only 1 in the back) and is covered in leather!

Link to: Golden Wheels Fraternity

Link to: Shoreline Historical Museum

Link to: all posts about Shoreline Historical Museum