By Lisa Meoli
Magnolia Historical Society Board Member & Environmental Historian at Floyd|Snider
Then…
Magnolia School, the former elementary school has been given historical landmark status making it one of many Seattle Public Schools (SPS) historical schools in need of rehabilitation and renovation. Designed by Floyd A. Naramore, a Seattle schools architect, Magnolia School opened in 1927. Naramore designed over thirty other schools in the Seattle area in the 1920s and 1930s, in his signature Georgian Colonial Revival style. It is located on 28th Avenue West.
Magnolia School was built for the purpose of teaching Grades 1-6. The school was later expanded to include Grades 7 and 8. By 1929, 235 students were enrolled and it was determined that additional space was needed. The school underwent a series of build-outs to accommodate a growing population in 1931, 1939, 1941, and again in 1969 by the Seattle School District. By 1947, the school became overcrowded, prompting construction of Catherine Blaine Junior High School in 1952. It was the first school west of the Mississippi to be financed by both a school district and parks department and having an adjoining community center, according to Seattle Public Schools, 1862-2000: Catherine Blaine School, HistoryLink.org Essay 10462.
A Brand-New Magnolia School in 1927
(Courtesy Seattle Public Schools)
According to the Landmarks Preservation Board, Magnolia Elementary School was paired with Dearborn Park Elementary in 1978 to address issues of racial imbalance. It became a 1-3 grade school and Dearborn Park served as the 4-6 grade school for students in the assigned boundaries.
Third grade at Magnolia, 1935.
(Courtesy of Hal Will)
“This plus the demographics of fewer children going to SPS schools city-wide led to significant closures in 1984. On Magnolia, through recommendations of a district-wide citizen’s advisory board process Magnolia Elementary and Briarcliff Elementary were selected to be closed because of issues of earthquake safety amongst others (One other being: Magnolia School having its playground on city land – which has since become Ella Bailey Park). Blaine, traditionally the Magnolia middle school, became an elementary and Lawton Elementary was re-built. Middle school children from Magnolia were (and, still are) bused to McClure. New elementary school assignment boundaries were re-drawn, from the traditional and long standing north and south division to an east and west one, to help balance the schools with comparable student populations,” according to Monica Wooton who served on the Magnolia school’s closure committee.
An aerial photo of Magnolia School, ca. 1960
(Courtesy Seattle Public Schools)
After Magnolia School closed, the building was used as an interim site for several schools as their buildings were being renovated, including Adams Elementary from 1987 to 1989, and John Muir Elementary from 1989 to 1990. The African-American Academy occupied the building from 1993 until their new school was completed in 2000 and Franz H. Coe Elementary used the building between 2000 and 2002 during a renovation of their facility after a devastating fire.
Magnolia School was boarded up in 2002, and remains empty today. Since closure, residents and community advocates have been asking the school board if the city can come up with the funding to rehabilitate and reopen the school in some configuration from elementary to high school.
Now…
SPS has long acknowledged the recent overcrowding of some schools and chronic underfunding. “…enrollment projections show an increase of 7,000 more students over the next seven years, making it necessary for the district to upgrade and open more schools to address its capacity needs.”
On February 5, 2015, members of the Washington Legislature’s Seattle delegation sent a letter requesting that the State Senate Capital Budget Committee set aside $33 million in the Seattle Public Schools capital budget “to meet urgent capacity and safety upgrade needs” and “to meet Seattle schools’ severe overcrowding problem”. Noting projected enrollment forecasts averaging a growth of 1,000 students per annum, they pointed out that the Seattle School District could have an enrollment of “approximately 60,000 students by the year 2020.” The request identified three projects for funding, including the Magnolia School.
Despite the State’s long standing failure to demonstrate sufficient progress to fully fund education reforms by the 2017-2018 school year, State Representatives Reuven Carlyle and Gael Tarleton who represent the 36th Legislative District announced on March 27, 2015 that part of the capital budget will include plans to repair and reopen the Magnolia School. The capital budget includes $7.7 million for repairs and renovation. While they have committed to funding, a final determination of use has not been made.
According to an article by Eric Mandel, Magnolia Elementary School to Reopen, in July 28, 2015, Magnolia Community Council President Carol Burton supported the issue of historic preservation of the Magnolia School by writing a letter calling for preservation and stressing the need for another school in the neighborhood. The Council informed the Landmarks Preservation Board that it supported historic landmark designation of the Magnolia School, and unanimously approved landmark status for the school on July 15, 2015.
According to Richard Best, Director of Capital Projects and Planning at SPS, “Seattle Public Schools is planning to reopen Magnolia School as an elementary school. We have received some funding from the State of Washington and have another funding request before our voters, Buildings, Technology and Academics/Athletics IV (BTA)
that will be determined on February 9, 2016. Successful passage of the BTA IV capital levy will allow SPS to implement building systems improvements that meet the City of Seattle Substantial Alterations code designation (i.e., seismic and energy conservation improvements). A small addition is being planned for the east side of the building to house six additional classrooms and a new gymnasium. We will provide more information after the BTA levy as we are currently collecting existing systems information.” Magnolia School is projected to open Fall of 2018. It’s unclear at this time if future plans for the Magnolia School will have any impact on current use of other SPS facilities.
For more Magnolia history, check out our books and Society events at: www.magnoliahistoricalsociety.org and like us on our Facebook page. If you are interested in serving on our Board call 206.261.0255.
