Honoring and remembering the past, while looking toward the future isn’t always handled in the exemplary manner that the Renton School District chose in holding an open house at the Sartori Educational Center on July 16.

When I learned that the district would be demolishing the venerable old building that was my elementary school from 1964-1970, I contacted the district and asked if they could make available the opportunity for all former staff and alumni to walk through the halls one last time. To reconnect with former teachers and classmates, and to say goodbye was very important to me and I hoped it would be to the district as well.It would have been much easier for the district to say no, for a fair amount of planning and effort went into making the open house a reality. Instead the district chose to honor their past by welcoming all who chose to take one last stroll through the halls. These halls once rang with the laughter of children, housed one of the very first self-contained programs in the state for special needs students, and was just the third school built in the Renton School District. In doing so, the district demonstrated to all citizens that the Renton School Districts priorities are indeed in good order.

While attending this event with my three brothers, my past blended with the present, as hugs were exchanged with friends and neighbors from 50 years ago. There were shouts of recognition as classmates retold stories of past Christmas pageants, favorite teachers, riding busses or walking to school together. Amid laughter and a few tears, we were able to bid a very fond farewell to an old friend.

A new Sartori Elementary will soon stand in the same block on Garden Avenue, and when its doors are open, it will greet bright and eager faces, ready to learn and to grow and to make memories in a place that will one day be their old school, their old friend.

One can look at a community and tell a great deal by the way they educate their children. I was born in, attended grades 1-12, and lived for 30 years in Renton. Those of you who still call Renton home can be very proud that your public school district knows that honoring and respecting the past, while building for tomorrow for all of its citizens is important. I know that I am very grateful.

Vicki Taylor Egeland George,
Roslyn, Wash.