HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98-4715, by Representatives Mastin and Grant

     WHEREAS, In 1898, construction was approved for Sharpstein Elementary School in Walla Walla, Washington, with the first building being built later that year and in the early part of 1899; and

     WHEREAS, The initial building is still used, and has been continuously since the fall of 1899, which makes it the oldest continuously operating elementary school building in the State of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, When it opened, Sharpstein Elementary School included grades First through Eighth, and, when Kindergarten was added, the grades were changed from Kindergarten through Sixth, and several years ago, with the adoption of a junior high school system, the grades were changed from Kindergarten through Fifth, and it continues as such into its centennial year; and

     WHEREAS, There have been eleven principals, Mr. J. L. Bond believed to be the first, the current being Mrs. Norma Long, approximately forty thousand to fifty thousand students enrolled over the years, and approximately four hundred to five hundred teachers at Sharpstein Elementary School since its inception; and

     WHEREAS, There has been at least one family that has had nine consecutive generations of students who attended Sharpstein Elementary School;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the achievements of Sharpstein Elementary School and celebrate one hundred years of its contributions to the state's supreme purpose of educating all of our children.

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

Resolution 4715 adopted by the House of Representatives

                     March 8, 1998.

            ________________________________

             Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk