Jay Shideler was not always an elementary school. In fact when the school was first built in 1952 it was
Washburn Rural High School. Over the years, enrollment continued
to grow. Finally, in 1964, The Washburn School District consolidated with the Auburn School District to become
Auburn-Washburn USD 437. As the Auburn High School students began to attend Washburn Rural High School, there
just was not enough space on Wanamaker Road. So a new school was built on 61st Street and the old building
became Jay Shideler Junior High. The school was named for the principal Jay Shideler. They changed the name
to Jay Shideler Middle School in 1987 when the ninth grade moved into the high school. In 1991, Jay Shideler
Middle School ceased to exist and became Jay Shideler Elementary School.
The Jay Shideler building took off running in its first year of being an elementary school. The building housed
half-day preschool, half-day kindergarten, and first through sixth grades. Al Camblin was the first principal and
he remained at the school until 1999. From the beginning, Jay Shideler Elementary put effort into its Programs. By
1995 the school had several programs including a Fine Arts Festival, Foster Grandparents, and the USD 437 Early
Childhood Special Education Program.
In 1999 the School Board approved the installation of a fountain at the entrance of Jay Shideler. The fountain
was a gift from the Jay Shideler Student Council for their principal Al Camblin, who was retiring at the end of the
school year. The fountain still stands near the entrance of the school today.
Over the years the enrollment continued to grow. By 2007 a bond was passed which approved the building of a
new elementary school and the renovation of existing schools. As the new elementary school was being built
the district boundaries were recreated. This adjusted the boundaries of Jay Shideler and many of its students
started attending
Farley Elementary School in the
2009-2010 school year.
