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AUGUST «, 1*75 - PLAIN DEALER CENTENNIAL EDITION-PAGE 4 (Continued from page 3) In 1901, E C. Fisher became superintendent, remaining for five years. He enlarged the course of study, organized the first basketball team in 1903 and introduced the study of music in 1905, with Miss Annis C. Jewett as the first instructor. Prof. Fisher later was superintendent of the public schools of Peoria. During Mr. Fisher's last year a four-year course was established and the high school was accredited with the University of Illinois. In 1910 Mr. A. E. Nye became superintendent, and in 1913 three teachers were in the high school. The addition to the school was built in 1914 and in that year a commercial course was added to the curriculum. GRADE SCHOOL Various elementary area schools were closed by the district 15 board of education as they were deemed un­ necessary. Emerald Park school was closed in July, 1947, Lincoln school in August 1948, Ostend school in February 1951 and Lily Lake school in July 1961. In August 1947, the Christy "hoVne on Waukegan road was purchased for $7,750 for use as a kindergarten building. It was known as The Whitehouse Kindergarten Voters approved the sale of $295,000 worth of bonds for a new building on the Thompson property south of Kane avenue in November, 1948. The new building known as Edgebrook school opened in September, 1950, with Eleanor Foley as principal. Voter approval in February of 1955 enabled District 15 to plan for a new -junior high school adjacent to Edgebrook school. The school was dedicated in 1956 and named McHenry Junior high school. In September of 1955, enrollment figures revealed there" were 947 students in grades kindergarten through eighth. A new superintendent of schools was appointed in June of 1958. He was Carl Buckner, who served as superintendent of both grade and high schools. Buckner served until April, 1966, when he died unex­ pectedly. Merwin L. Schoenholtz was appointed acting superintendent until June of that year, when Dr. Carl Bergstrom was chosen as superintendent of schools for Districts 15 and 156. Schoenholtz resigned from the school system the following August. In April, 1959, voters ap­ proved a bond issue for $400,000 to build a new grade school and to construct an addition to McHenry Junior high. The new school known as Hilltop school on West Lincoln road opened in September of 1960 with Dorothy Ullrich as principal-teacher. A $350,000 bond issue was passed in March, 1960, and Valley View school located on West Route 120 opened in September, 1961, with Barbara Hirt named as principal. In 1961, the board of education granted permission for Cherry Valley and Lily Lake school buildings to be used for Trainable Mentally Handicapped. However, in November of 1962, the board authorized the sale of Cherry Valley, Lily Lake and Griswold Lake school properties. A $675,000 bond referendum for additions to Valley View, Edgebrook and Hilltop schools was passed by the public by a vote of 960 to 387 in December, 1964 Enrollment figures for September, 1965, indicated there were 2,355 students in the schools. This was an increase of 1,408 over the 1955 enrollment. In November of 1964, a Citizen's Advisory council recommended discontinuance of Landmark school and the construction of additions to Hilltop, Valley View, Edgebrook and McHenry Junior high school. The following November, Supt. Carl Buckner asked board members to consider what should be done with Landmark school and the Whitehouse Kindergarten. Consideration was given to moving the administrative offices to Landmark. However, in July of 1967, the board decided to proceed with arrangements to sell Land­ mark school at auction. This decision was met with disapproval as witnessed by a petition containing the names of over 1,000 voters who protested the sale of Land­ mark It was presented to the board in August of 1967 with a request that the board reconsider. The board did drop the idea of using Landmark for ad­ ministrative offices and pur­ chased a building at 3926 W. Main street for this purpose in September of 1967. However, the fate of Land­ mark was still being discussed through 1967 and 1968. So strong was voter protest on Landmark - that bond referendums seeking $2,000,000 to build a new grade school failed three times - in December, 1967, March, 1968, and October, 1968. A bond referendum for $2,200,000 did pass in January of 1969 after it was stipulated that $2,000,000 was for purchase of a site and construction of a new srhool and $200,000 would be used for renovation of Landmark school. Landmark reopened in September of. that year and was used for kin­ dergarten and first grade students after extensive remodelling and renovation had taken place. A new school. Parkland Junior high school, opened in September of 1971 for students in sixth, seventh and eighth ' grades. High school board of education, District No. 156, and elementary board of education, District 15, agreed to separate administrative services in April, 1971. Instead of one superintendent of schools, each district employed its own superintendent and its own central administrative staff. Dr. Robert W. Boos was em­ ployed in July of that year as superintendent of schools for District 15. Enrollment figures for 1975 showed that approximately 3,000 students were being educated in grades kin­ dergarten through eight. The administration of McHenry Elementary School District No. 15 for the 1974-75 year was as follows: Superintendent, Dr. Robert Boos; director of instruction, Eugene E. Paulausky; director of business services. Bill Landis; principal of Edgebrook school, Dan DeRoche; prin­ cipal of Hilltop school, John Nilles; principal of Valley View school, Ed Sobotkiewicz; principal of Landmark school, Al Boeldt; principal of Parkland school, Don Toole. " and principal of McHenry Junior high school, Fred Kusch. HIGH SCHOOL Until 1919 the high school district included onlv the city of McHenry and was supported by the grade school district. Impelled by a few leading citizens, an election was held Sept. 20,1919, for the purpose of forming a new high school district. By a vote of 312 to 87 favoring the proposal, the boundaries of the district were changed. The new district included all of McHenry township with the exception of a half-mile strip four and one- half miles along the northwest side. It also included a two-mile strip of Nunda township, with the exception of four square miles lying just south of Lily Lake. In 1940 the Wonder Lake district was added by petition and the present district in­ cluded sixty square miles. The first school election following the enlargement of the school district was Dec. 20, 1919. Five hundred and two votes were cast and resulted in the election of the following board: Thomas A. Bolger, president; Joseph W. Freund, John M. Schmitt, Charles W. Harrison and D.G. Wells. O.G. Treadway, who was superiiv tendent at the time, acted as secretary until April, when Jos. W. Freund was elected to the office. With the enlargement of the high school district the school boasted ninety students of which thirteen were to become the first graduates of the Community high school. These 1920 graduates included George Barbian, William Brunswick, Genevieve Carey, Jennie Mae Cooley, Frank Doherty, Blanche Myers, Clarence Niesen, Harvey Nye, Rosemary Nye, Kathleen O'Reilly, Mary Smith, Elsie Vycital and Robert Weber. Little did these ninety students, or their teachers either, dream that before fifty years had passed 2,205 students would be taking their place in well equipped classrooms of new and modern buildings. Four teachers were responsible for making graduation possible for these seniors in this memorable year. They were Miss Blanche D. Pryor, Miss Dora C. Kenny, Miss Monroe and O.G. Treadway. « NEW SCHOOL Until the erection of the new high school in 1924 the grade and high school classes were held in the same building. In 1920 and 1921 the gymnasium of the present grade school was used as an assembly hall for high school students. In 1922 a portable annex, which included two classrooms and a library, was added to the east side of the building. This was sold a few years later to the town of Grayslake and used as a church for several years. In the previous year of 1921~it became the hof>e of many citizens that McHenry would have a new and modern school building and in a special election in December of that year their dream became a reality. The majority of 1, 019 voters who went to the polls voted in favor of issuing $125,000, 5 per cent bonds for the erection of a new school. These bonds were to run over a period of twenty years. In the early 40's the board of education paid the last of these twenty-year bonds. The only bond indebtedness remaining was $9,000 worth of refunded bonds, incurred in 1932. It was not until 1923 that the bonds were sold, and in that year erection ol the present East campus high school began The building was not completed by Sept. 1, 1924. so the opening of school was postponed for two weeks. Even then it was necessary to enter the building on artificial steps, and for many months the students were hampered in studying because of the noise made by workmen finishing the building. In 1919 the choice of courses was somewhat limited in view of those offered today. Available were English, Algebra, Latin,,. General S c i e n c e , C h e m i s t r y , Stenography. Physics, Plane Geometry, History, Zoology and Botany, Erench and Bookkeeping. Even most of these were taught wi'th a minimum of equipment and can hardly be compared with the same courses offered today. For example, the typing class struggled nobly for several years to keep their six typewriters in good repair for the entire class. The first addition to the regular courses occurred in 1921 when Miss Cleora Johnson was hired to teach Domestic Science. It wasn't until 1923, when W.N. Sears came to McHenry, that any kind of instrumental m^jsic program was formed. For thirteen years he in­ structed in private lessons and directed both band and or­ chestra. In 1937 Paul Yanda took over the music program and became the first full-time music instructor. McHenry's orchestra, as well as some individual players, have made a name for them­ selves throughout the years. In 1931 the orchestra won the state contest for Class C and ranked well in the national contest at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1931 and 1936 two music students were selected to play in the all-state orchestra in Springfield. HEALTH SUPERVISION On 1926 the first program of health supervision was in­ stituted in the school. With the exception of the first five months, Mrs. Joanne Rulien was in charge of carrying out thev program for many years. Soon after she came a nursing course was started in the high school. Supt. C.H. Duker came when the Community high school was being built. Other teachers in 1936 were M iss Helen Stevens, Miss Lillian Doherty. Miss Dorothy Holden, Miss May Justen, Miss Margaret O'Gara, F.S. Orr, L.J. McCracken, Clarence Anglese and Mrs. Joanne Rulien, school nurse. With most- of the larger schools instituting trade courses, McHenry followed suit in 1939 when Elmer Baum was hired as the teacher. Needless to say, the course attracted many boys to whom the training will always be of value. A later addition to the list of courses was Agriculture, which was begun in 1941. Ralph Primm made a most successful beginning with a total of thirty- one students. Throughout the years many improvements were made in the^&iilding itself, and new land added to the original purchase. Originally the school grounds took in only the land upon which the school stands, and the football field. A few years later the board purchased all the lots along the north side of the building and in 1939 bought the Vasev property. The summer playground project was under the super­ vision of Leonard McCracken in 19fll. This project, made possible by the combined support of the city, grade and high school boards, was, begun in 1938. The addition of the Won^pr Lake district provided suf­ ficient additional taxes so that the board of education in­ stituted a new bus system,. In 1939 two drivers were.hired to transport all rural students to and from school, and the program, even in its first year, proved successful. In December, 1943, the high school board purchased property from Mr. Owen and leveled the land so it could be used for school purposes. Supt. Duker received board approval in 1944-45 to issue special war graduations to seniors under certain con­ ditions: 1-Seniors who entered armed services as a result of the selective service act and who left during the school year in good standing would be granted diplomas; 2-Seniors who completed first semester with satisfactory grades and entered service voluntarily would be graduated under certain conditions (a) attend school until the day they received induction notice, and (b) obtain written release from each teacher before with­ drawing from school. Credit would be given only^-if work done was of satisfactory standing at time of withdrawal. On Nov. 12, 1946, the com­ munity approved a referendum for $295,000 worth of bonds for the erection of an addition to East campus. Classrooms, a gymnasium and a cafeteria were erected from these monies. Another addition to East campus was passed in December, 1955 for a bond issue of $1,250,000. Exactly one year later, a referendum failed to* issue bonds for $250,000 for construction of a swimming pool. Starting teachers' salaries in April. 1957, were $4,000 per year 'for B.A. or B.S. degrees and $4.200for M.S. or M.A. degrees. Marvin Martin began his employment as principal of East campus in July 1957. In 1958, C.H Duker resigned as superintendent of schools. He was replaced the following year by y€farl Buckner. Assistant superintendent was Mervin Schoenholtz with Marvin Martin as principal. The building of an athletic field, later named McCracken field, was undertaken in April of 1958. A special election was held in April, 1962, for the purpose of building a swimming pool and tennis courts. Also included in the referendum was a question put to the public whether or not the board should be authorized to extend the school term beyond nine months but not to exceed ten months. The ex­ tension of the school term was passed but the bond issue for the swimming pool and tennis courts was defeated. In January, 1965, a high school advisory committee made two suggestions to the board: 1-A two-year high school should be built on 40 acres of land on Crystal Lake road, and 2-A swimming pool and auditorium should be included in building of the new high school. A bond issue referendum in May, 1965, for $3,200,000 to build and equip a new high school on Crystal Lake road was defeated by a vote of 1,657 no and 1,457 yes. In October of that same year, a referendum for ffiat'same amount was held and passed by a vote of 2,386 yes to 1,889 no votes. Supt. Carl Buckner died in A p r i l , 1 9 6 6 , a n d M L . Schoenholtz was appointed acting superintendent. In June of that same year. Dr. Carl T. Bergstfrom was awarded a two-vear contract as superintendent of Districts 15 and 156. The administrative office of the schools was moved from East campus to 3926 W. Main street, where it reamins today. James Althoff was elected to the board in April, 1967. Today he serves as president of the board. In December of that year, a bond issue referendum was passed for $550,000 to equip and complete West campus. Gerald Fain was appointed principal at East campus and Richard Swantz was named principal of the new West campus. West campus opened in August despite delays. Gasses were scheduled Sept. 5, 1968. There were no phones at the school because Illinois Bell was on strike. This prevented repair of damaged cables and in- • stallation of new phbnes. Added to that was the faci that not all the furniture had been received at the school. In 1968, new interest developed in tennis. Harvey ̂ Ahitow was appointed as coordinator between the newly formed Tennis club and district 156. Six new courts were con­ structed at West campus for use by tennis enthusiasts and school programs. West campus was dedicated Sept. 28, 1968, with Senator. Everett McKinley Dirksen, minority leader of the U.S. Senate at that time as guest speaker West campus high school was constructed on 40 acres of land to accommodate a student capacity of 1,200. The program of the school involves flexible modular scheduling which provides four phases of in­ struction: 1-Large group. 2- Small group, 3-Laboratory and 4-Independent study. Ultimate aim of the school is to use in­ structional time more ef­ fectively and promote in­ creased student responsibility. The gymnasium at WestX^ campus was named Buckner gymnasium in memory of the late Superintendent Carl Buckner. In 1968-69, the school marked a record high in MCHS Adult Education classes with an enrollment of 1,800 students. This was more than double the previous year's enrollment. The modular school system was evaluated in December, 1969, when questionnaires were sent out to parents, students and teachers. The program had been in operation for one year. The majority of parents seemed pleased with the system but felt modification was needed. On May 22, 1970, C.H. Duker died. He was superintendent of Public schools for 37 years. A scholarship fund was established in his memory. Ir June 1971, Dr. Carl Bergstrom resigned and Richard Swantz was appointed the new superintendent of Distrtict 156. A referendum passed in March, 1971, which approved an increase of 40 cents in the Educational fund. At this point, the high school growth rate had been 71 percent over the past ten years. If the referendum had not passed, the teaching staff would have had to have been cut, athletic activities terminated, counselors, nurses and reading instructor would also have been eliminated. The referendum passed with 3,108 yes votes and 2,432 no votes. Administrative services for Districts 15 and 156 split in April 1971. * In July of that year, District 156 offered to sell East campus and McCracken field to McHenry County college as the site for a proposed new junior college. If East had been sold, the money was to be used to build an addition onto West (Continued on page 5) We Are Proud of Our Fine Lines of Beautiful Clothing For Women \ ( rL ' * / ..." . e We at Genevieve's would like you to4 know~ that you can find the finest selection of women's apparel in this area at our shop. We pride ourselves on staying on top of fashion, yet firmly believe in the understated classic chic looks that set the pace for today's women. 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