Our School's History (1967-Present)

In the mid-1960s, following extensive enrollment studies that were completed to evaluate the needs of the District, Gates Chili Superintendent William C. Hagenlocher made the recommendation to the Board of Education to construct two new elementary school buildings. One would be a site on Paul Road, and the other would be constructed on Coldwater Road. The Board of Education accepted the recommendation of the superintendent and began planning the construction of our school building.

The bids for construction for the Coldwater Road School were opened on March 22, 1967. On March 27, 1967, the contract was awarded to the architectural company of Walzer, Miller and Genga. The estimated cost for building the Coldwater Road School was $1,317,824.00.

The design of the Coldwater Road School was unique for its time. This innovative design featured no load-supporting walls. Due to this unique project, construction workers and contractors could actively work both inside and outside the building during the construction period. This allowed for the most efficient use of time and talent for all of the workers on site. Coldwater Road School was dedicated in 1968 with a cornerstone marker. A time capsule was put together by the students and staff and was placed behind the cornerstone before being sealed up. There are no records, of which we are aware, that list what was put in the time capsule.

In the early 1970s, the Gates Chili Central School District sponsored a school naming contest in which elementary students were provided the opportunity to name their school. The students at the Coldwater Road School proposed, and overwhelmingly supported, changing the name of their school to Walt Disney Elementary School. The district skillfully navigated the legalities associated with this particular name change in the years that followed and eventually received written permission and naming rights from the sitting Walt Disney CEO.

Two major renovation projects have occurred since our school was built. The first was in 1994 when our student population exceeded 650. Construction began on a new, fourth, wing at Walt Disney Elementary School. This wing added eight classrooms, a new computer lab, and enlarged the existing cafeteria. Our parking lot was expanded to its current footprint in 1996. The second renovation occurred in 2020. An entire wing of classrooms, the school’s main hallway, the nurse’s office, and the main office were renovated while our teachers and students engaged in hybrid and remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The history of the school is difficult to summarize in just a few short paragraphs, but it is certainly more than just its bricks and walls. The rich culture of our building can be felt when our community walks into Walt Disney Elementary School. It is the warmth, the friendliness, the professionalism, the relationships, and most importantly, our students that make Walt Disney Elementary a special place to work and learn.

We look forward to the future. We know that our students today are the future of our community, and our world. It is a great responsibility, but we are eager for the challenge and excited for the opportunity!

Principals of Walt Disney Elementary School

• Mr. Jack Story (1967-1973)
• Dr. James Nugent (1973-1975)
• Mr. Hutton (1975-1990)
• Mr. Richard Carmen (1990-2005)
• Mr. Brian Brooks (2005-2009)
• Mrs. Denise Tepas (Interim 2009-2010)
• Mrs. Elaine Damelio (2010-2022)
• Dr. Daniel Zdanowski (2022-Present)