Family of Gail Shaw Donates $1.9 Million Property to Chehalis School District

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The family of longtime Chehalis leader Gail Shaw has honored one of his final wishes, donating a $1.9 million property to the Chehalis School District.

Superintendent Ed Rothlin made the announcement in a press release Friday morning.

The donation of 43 acres comes as the district is considering placing a $35.9 million bond measure on the ballot for residents to vote on whether to fund a new school to replace Cascade Elementary, build a new wing on Olympic Elementary and move classes out of R.E. Bennett.

Shaw, a founding member of the Chehalis Industrial Commission who acted as a mentor to many in Chehalis, died in June at the age of 96.

“Our dad’s vision was that this property would be the perfect location for the new school that is needed to replace Cascade school,” said Catherine Shaw, Gail Shaw’s youngest daughter. “He saw that the property would allow for the creation of a campus with Olympic and the middle school all being adjacent. My dad loved this community. That’s why he donated years of his life to making Chehalis a better place to live and work. My dad understood and our entire family knows that this property is one-of-a-kind and the very highest benefit to the community will be as school property.”

Rothlin said in the release that he began discussions with Gail Shaw last year.



“Gail knew that Cascade was built in 1922 and he had been briefed by a group of local builders and architects who concluded that building a new school will be less costly than trying to bring Cascade and Bennett up to modern standards for safety, usability and technology,” he said in the release. “Also, he knew having all three schools together would be more cost effective for operation and transportation.”

Rothlin said that Gail Shaw quickly understood that the property would be the best place for a new school, and that it would be large enough to allow longterm plans for the district.

School Board President Colleen State questioned how the district could adequately thank the Shaw family for the donation.

“The best we can do is to use the gift to carry forward Gail Shaw’s vision and make this property a permanent benefit to the kids and families of Chehalis,” she said.

Gail Shaw’s son, Larry Shaw, said his family, including his mother Carolyn Shaw and sisters Cynthia, Rebecca and Catherine, have remained committed to their father’s goals.

“My dad made it very clear to us he wanted this property to be used for a new school campus,” he said.