Donald M. Cleland A History of the Santa Monica Schools 1876-1951, Santa Monica Unified School District, February 1952 (Copied for the Santa Monica Library, July 22, 1963). 140 pp., 1895, 1892, 1890s
In 1892 "South Siders" again began petitioning the board of trustees, this time for better school accommodations for their children. As the school had contained only the primary grades, parents were desirous of having the board provide facilities so that even the upper grade pupils would not have to walk the distance to the Sixth Street School. Finally, both schools became crowded; consequently, the Board, on July 6, 1895, resolved:
" . . . that it is in the judgment of this board necessary to call an election and submit to the electors of this school district, the question of whether such tax in said amount shall be raised within this district, the sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars, for the purpose of moving old building, building and furnishing a school building for the South Side on Lots 12 and 13, BLock F, Santa Fe Tract, and it is, in the judgment of this board necessary to call an election and submit to the electors of this school district the question of whether such tax in said amount shall be raised within said district for said purpose."
The tax was passed on August 5, 1895, and subsequently the Board awarded the contract to Charles H. Thomas for the erection of a large one-room frame school building, complete with bell-tower. The contract price was $1065. The smaller building, later called the annex, was moved to the rear of the lot to make way for a better constructed school which provided seating for fifty-four pupils, although an additional number were soon taken in. [38. Pearl, Santa Monica City Schools, p.23]