Saturday, October 23, 2010

School District 92 1/2 , The Early Years.

Elections, District 92 ½: Curriculum --  1929 - 1949Compiled by Charles N. Field, 1949
Until September 1929 pupils were transported to "country type" schools in nearby communities. In September, 1929, new residences at 1623 Newcastle Avenue and in the 700 block of Newcastle Avenue, with one teacher at each location, were operated as "country type" schools with about 15 pupils of all grade levels at each site. This plan was continued until September, 1934 when pupils of on grade were consolidated in a classroom at one of the new school buildings and pupils were transported.
August 31, 1933, minutes disclose the first kindergarten was established, located at Britten School in the same room with first and second grades and south side kindergarten pupils were transported to the Britten School.
Dr. M. W. Sweeley of Bellwood was appointed health officer on August 31, 1933.
The minutes of August 13 and 17, 1934, adopted the plan of consulting pupils of one grade level in one school. In the two rooms at Nixon School were assigned grades 1, 6, 7 and 8. In the two rooms at the Britten School were grades 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • Mrs. Crook had second and third grades.
  • Mrs. Hallin had fourth and fifth grades.
  • Mrs. Kleinlein had first grade.
  • Mrs. Plocker had sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
Bellwood Transit paid $7.50 per day, four trips, five-mile route.
On August 14, 1935, a policy was adopted wherein a child had to be six years of age by December 1, 1935 to enter first grade.
Dr. H. Tosney was appointed health officer on August 14, 1936, at $50.00 per year.
A contract was made on August 28, 1936, with Bellwood Transit at $5.50 per day.
The minutes of April 13, 1938 show the graduating class of 1938 would be the first class to have pupils that had attended all eight grades in Westchester.
On June 15, 1938, the Book Rental Plan was adopted, by resolution.
September 2, 1941, the first day of the 1941-42 school year, there was an enrollment of 109 pupils. There was a shortage of desks.
September 14, 1941, Mrs. V. Anderson was hired as an assistant in the first grade, at $1.50 per day, from 1:00-3:00 daily.
On July 31, 1942 the first contract for use of the basement of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church for classrooms was made at $860.00 per year.
A resolution was passed January 25, 1943 that all new pupils enrolling form the Sudler Housing Project (north of Gladstone) be sent to the Wilson School, Bellwood, District 88, on a tuition basis of $0.50 per pupil per day.
The April 14, 1943 minutes record the first Board and Teacher banquet as being held on April 2, 1943.
June 16, 1943, the PTA summer round-up showed the population to be 1,631 with 341 children of school age.
On August 11, 1943, Dr. Orrin MacDougal was appointed health officer as Dr. Tosney had entered the (military) service. Double sessions in all grades where necessary was approved.
October 13, 1943, an investigation regarding transfer of a handicapped pupil to a special school in Cicero show that District 92 ½ per pupil cost for 1942-43 was $92.00.
March 8, 1944, there was an expected 15% increase in enrollment due to 100 new homes being erected in the Highridge section.
On April 12, 1944, it was agreed to transport parochial school children from regular bus stops on regular runs to West Town Bus on 12th Street as long as it did not overtax the school bus.
The minutes of may 10, 1944, showed the first graduation exercised not in the school buildings themselves were to be held at the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Westchester.
The second annual Board and Staff banquet was held may 11, 1944.
An agreement was signed with the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church for use of the basement at $500, plus heat, water and electricity.
September 13, 1944, there was an enrollment of 267 pupils.
On April 11, 1945, Dr. Harold Tosney was appointed health officer for the year 1945-46.
August 23, 1945, a bulletin was sent to the parents of the seventh and eighth grade pupils advising them these two classes would share a classroom and each grade would attend school half a day.
Dr. H. P. Rasche appointed health officer, December 12, 1945, to replace Dr. Tosney who resigned on account of ill health.
April 29, 1946, the annual dinner of the Board and Staff was scheduled for May 14, 1946.
May 18, 1946, results of the PTA summer round-up showed a total of 15 for first grade, necessitating two rooms instead of one room.
June 12, 1946, approved a contract with the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church to use their basement for a fee of $750 plus coal, janitor and re-decorating.
September 11, 1946, the initial enrollment of 268 pupils required the seventh and eighth grades to share one room on a half-day basis, and the fifth and sixth grades to share the other room at Nixon School until Romilly Hall was finished.
Approved a recommendation that a physically handicapped pupils be tutored at home.
October 11, 1946, State approved an application for home tutoring and Mrs. Kohl was hired at $1.50 per hour.
November 30, 1946, the schools were closed until further notice because of eight cases of polio, including one death, within the Village.
March 12, 1947, the annual dinner-meeting of the Board and Staff was set for the week of April 20.
May 15, 1947 the PTA summer round-up, summarized by Superintend Beamish, showed a total of 717 families, with an expected enrollment of 295, the bus to transport 225 pupils. Tentative class assignments were as follow:
1st gradeBritten SchoolMrs. Berthold & Miss Calo
2nd gradeBritten SchoolMrs. Beavins & Mrs. Cooksey
3rd gradeRomilly HallMiss Wimmer
4th gradeRomilly HallMrs. Rudd & (vacancy)
5th gradeNixon SchoolMrs. Blank & (vacancy)
6th gradeNixon SchoolMr. Cidell
7th gradeNixon SchoolMrs. Dameron
8th gradeNixon SchoolMrs. Green
September 10, 1947, approved holding a morning kindergarten in the basement of the Lutheran Church, limited to 60 pupils, at a monthly fee of $5.00 per pupil, with parents to transport pupils to and from school, the Board to supply two teachers, books and supplies and pay rental to the Church.
A tuition fee of $116.00 for a non-resident pupil was established.
Superintend Beamish announced the initial enrollment to be as follows:
SchoolTeacherGradeNo. of Pupils
BrittenMrs. Berthold1st25
 Mrs. Ciello1st25
 Mrs. Beavins2nd21
 Mrs. Cooksey2nd16
    
RomillyMiss Wimmer3rd30
 Mrs. S. Williams4th17
 Mrs. Rudd4th22
    
NixonMrs. Blank5th18
 Mrs. Voorhees5th27
 Mr. Cidell6th36
 Mrs. Dameron7th23
 Mrs. Green8th22
   =====
  Total282
October 7, 1947, approved Mr. Trian’s plan to organize the first school band: Fee of $4 per pupil per month to include $3.50 per pupil per month for salary of bandmaster and $ 0.50 per pupil per month to go in the band fund.
Approved agreement with Lutheran Church for use of the basement for morning kindergarten at a cost of $400 per year with the school furnishing a custodian, and re-decorating at the end of the school year.
October 17, 1947, due to increased enrollment, the Board approved the division of sixth grade of 36 pupils and hiring another teacher.
The Nixon School Safety Patrol was re-organized after a lapse of many years. Minutes do not show when the first patrol was organized or for how long it was maintained. However, newspaper story on original dedication of Nixon School referred to a School Patrol.
November 20, 1947, the Board approved sending a handicapped child to Lowell School in Oak Park.
Superintendent Beamish reported that a full departmental instructional plan was now in effect for all grades, five through eight, at Nixon School.
May 28, 1948, Dr. Herbert P. Rasche retained as school doctor for the coming year at $165.00.
July 15, 1948, a base horn and baritone horn were purchased for the band. The school previously had purchased a base drum.
An agreement with the Lutheran Church was approved for use of the basement for the fourth and fifth grade at a yearly fee of $1,500, plus a custodian.
Approved the following recommendation of the Education and Administration Committee:
  • Age for admission to first grade – pupil must be six years old by December 31, 1948.
  • Continue to only transport pupils who must cross arterial highways.
  • Continue with recently adopted salary schedule and sick leave plan.
  • Continue compensating teachers for noon duties.
  • Tuition fee for non-resident pupil set at $194 per school year.
  • Continue $0.05 per mile car allowance and requiring $20/40,000 P/L and $5,000 PD insurance, to employees using cars for school business, with Board paying one-half of premium charge.
  • If kindergarten can be held, it should be on a tuition basis.
  • Set a $5.00 rental for school facilities, plus custodian charge. Nor charge for scout organizations.
August 19, 1948, band fee set at $2.50 per pupil per month, and District to contribute $2.25 per pupil per month in order to pay bandmaster $4.00 per pupil per month and put $0.75 per pupil per month in band fund.
September 16, 1948, Superintend Beamish reported an enrollment of 393 pupils in the fifteen classrooms and expected the enrollment in September, 1949 (unless Catholic Parish has a school) to be 567 pupils in the twenty rooms that will be available. Based on this information, motion was approved to refuse any tuition students who might apply. Also, Superintendent Beamish was instructed to investigate B2 Application forms of new pupils this year and subsequent years for any pupils not residing with parents or legal guardians in Westchester, and report circumstances, as the Board can legally refuse to admit such pupils. In hardship cases, the Board can admit individual cases.
Extra curricular activities are in charge of:
  • Mr. Poggensee -- Band
  • Mr. Cidell -- Boys' Athletics
  • Mrs. Eisenberg -- Girls' Athletics
  • Mrs. Patton -- Art Club
  • Mrs. Baker -- Choral Club
Accepted the bid of Hinsdale Cab Company to transport two mentally handicapped pupils to the Lowell School in Oak park at $6.00 per day.
Board approved the motion that non-resident children may not enroll in the school band.
November18, 1948, the Board approved permitting four children in hardship cases, not living with parents or legal guardian in Westchester, to be accepted for this school year.
First Fall dinner of Board and staff was held in October.
Two physically handicapped pupils are being sent to Lowell
School ,Oak Park and two pupils are being tutored in their homes.
December 16, 1948, Superintend Beamish reported a current enrollment of 420 pupils, with an overload in 3rd grade (Miss Wimmer), 3rd and 4th grade (Mrs. Blank) and 2nd grade {Mrs. Selma Williams), and recommended that a assistant teacher be hired for Miss Wimmer's room. The Board approved the recommendation.
March 22, 1949, the Annual Dinner for the Board and Staff is to be held May 10.
April 21, 1949, Superintendent Beamish summarized the PTA summer round-up as follows:
  • 990 occupied homes
  • 3,238 people in school district
  • 638 children under six years
  • 91 children five years of age by December 1, 1949
  • 145 families, Buckingham area
  • 147 families, Highridge area
  • 392 families, Britten area
  • 36 families, west of L, East of Mannheim
  • 21 families, Civic Center
  • 249 families, Nixon area
Expected enrollment for 1949-50:
  • 1st grade, 3 rooms, 73 pupils
  • 2nd grade, 3 rooms, 86 pupils
  • 3rd grade, 2 rooms, 46 pupils
  • 4th grade, 2 rooms, 43 pupils
  • 5th grade, 2 rooms, 35 pupils
  • 6th grade, 2 rooms, 40 pupils
  • 7th grade, 2 rooms, 43 pupils
  • 8th grade, 2 rooms, 43 pupils
  • Total = 409 pupils
April 21, 1949, due to one vacant room at Romilly Hall, the 'Board authorized a kindergarten for 1949-50, the hiring of a teacher, the charging a fee of $5 per pupil per month, the parents providing transportation, and that the enrollment be limited to 30 pupils for the morning session and 30 pupils for the afternoon session.

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