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Waller
School 2000 Project |
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Waller ISD Launches Waller School
2000 Project
The Waller School 2000 Project, a special community/school project to commemorate the new millennium, was officially launched on November 2, 1999, when long-time Waller resident and former WISD teacher, Wanda Schultz, returned the 112-year-old original Waller School bell to the district. The bell, which will be the focal point of the project, has not rung in a school building for a number of years and has been in safekeeping with Schultz since the mid-1980's. The Waller School 2000 Project involves the display of donated old Waller School items throughout the new administration building scheduled to open in the Fall of 2000. "The Waller School 2000 Project will preserve history that may otherwise be lost, and it will make that history available to the public and our students," said WISD Superintendent Robert Carruthers. "It will also be a great opportunity for the community and the school district to join in on an interesting and educational project that will benefit everyone, and the fact that it will result in the creation of a visible bond between the past and the present seems extremely appropriate during a millennium year." Carruthers went on to explain that the success of the project will depend greatly on volunteer community and alumni support. Although the school district has a number of old items in storage, donations from former Waller students and others who would like to have the school mementos they've kept over the years put to good use are being encouraged. The district has already received a 1940's-era oak teacher's desk, and a community member has volunteered to refinish it. Another volunteer has agreed to refurbish the bell. "Hopefully, someone will donate an old Waller student desk for a hands-on display of old-time schooling for our younger students," said Project Chairperson, WISD Curriculum/Instruction Director Sharon Clark, who added that someone is already trying to track down an old Waller School slate. Clark explained that the project would be ongoing and once the new building is completed, the displays will be available for public and student viewing during all hours the building is open. Current plans include hanging old photos throughout the building, with other items placed in display cases on a rotating basis, and a special archives/reference area set up for important Waller School documents, papers, yearbooks, etc. that need to be preserved but not put out for display. "We would really love for some area artist to step up and volunteer to make sketches of the first Waller School buildings for the new foyer. Old photos are available of all of them except for the first (1887-1899), but we have a written description of it," Clark said. Clark also noted that receipts will be given for all donated items and that any purchases, such as display cases or tables, picture framing, etc., made with funds from business sponsorships or memorials will be properly labeled to that effect. |
