Madera Unified born 60 years ago

For The Madera Tribune

Eastside School, shown here in 1900, was long gone by the time Madera schools became part of Madera Unified School District in 1965.

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Sixty years ago the schools in and around Madera were on the horns of a dilemma. They were facing the demands of a determined state department of education to create a more efficient educational system by bringing the nine elementary school districts operating within the boundaries of the Madera Union High School into one unified district.

When the call for unification went out, the Madera Elementary School District consisted of Washington Elementary, Sierra Vista Elementary, John Adams Elementary, James Madison Elementary, James Monroe Elementary, Millview Elementary, and Thomas Jefferson Junior High School. 

Madera High School formed its own Union High School District.