School Consolidations

This is from The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa 31 Aug 1939:

Delmar Consolidated School Opens Monday

Delmar, Ia -- (Special) The consolidated school opens here Sept. 4.
The teachers are as follows: Superintendent, H. M. Drake; principal, James Larson; home economics, Miss Elizabeth DeCock, DeWitt; commercial, Miss Dorothy Vesely, Cedar Rapids; music, Miss Phyllis Rathbun, Pre-emption, Ill.; coach and seventh and eighth grades, Wilmer Lary; fifth and sixth grades, Miss Doris Watters; third and fourth grades, Miss Margaret McAndrew, Lost Nation; and first and second grades, Miss Hildred Nerhus, Calamus.
Rural school teachers are as follows: Franklin independent, Miss Flossie Petersen; Wilson independent district, school No. 1, closed; school No. 2, Miss Renolda McDermott; school No. 3, Miss Martha Bennis, and Riggs school, Miss Loretta Powers.
The following teachers will leave during the next few days for the locations: Miss Evelyn Foley and Miss Ethel Wintersteen to Audubon; Miss June Bollinger to Keithsburg, Ill.; Miss Janet Goodjohn to Mt. Vernon, and Miss Irma Steen to Marion.

These articles are from the Clinton Avertiser, November 1920

DELMAR FIRST CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL WITHIN THIS COUNTY

(This is the first of a series of articles that will be published in this paper concerning the progress and achievement of the consolidated schools in Clinton county. The story today is somewhat in the nature of a history of pioneering. It deals with Delmar, the first consolidated school to be esablished in Clinton county and at the time quite isolated in this part of the state.)

In the fall of 1915 Superintendent Charles F. Martin, then at the head of the school system at Delmar, together with other progressive citizens of the community, began talking consolidation of schools in Bloomfield township. All phases of the question were discussed and explained as well as could be done and to complete the education campaign, Mr. A. C. Fuller then state inspector of schools, came to Delmar on the afternoon of March 21, 1916 and gave a complete discussion of consolidation. He was greeted by a large audience who were anxious to know about this new type of school. The election was called for March 22, which happened to be a very rainy, disagreeable day, however, a large vote was polled. The vote gave a majority of five in favor of establishing the consolidated school. The district consists of 19 sections of land all in Bloomfield township. This is the smallest district in the county. A board of directors was then elected consisting of O. W. Babcock, president; A. W. Kendall, J. F. Rossiter, Oliver Koon and W. H. Cook. H. M. Cassin was elected treasurer and J. P. Foley was appointed secretary.

Site First Problem.
The first important problem that confronted this new board was to provide a suitable place in which to conduct this school. The building then in use was not large enough to meet the needs of the Independent district of Delmar, alone. The small hall on the upper story was then being utilized as a recitation room and a small wooden shed used for manual training Domestic science was taught in the basement of the Methodist church. There was no provision for a gymnasium or much that is now considered essential to a good high school. After considerable deliberation and consultation with an architect it was decided to remodel the old building and use it for the grades and build a new high school building. In order to do this is seemed necessary to call for a bond issue of $25,000 which was at that time considered quite a large amount to ask for. Today $75,000 to $100,000 issues are considered just ordinary. With the money thus authorized the board managed to purchase five acres of land, remodel and repair the old buildings, purchase six busses, build and equip an eight-room high school building which stands as the pioneed in the building campaign which has spread over the county. Eight school buildings have been built or are now under construction since that time.
The building is located on the same lot with the old building which adjoins the five acres purchased for play ground and agricultural plots. It is modern and fire proof. The lower floor or basement is appropriated to the gymnasium and locker rooms with a hall or alcove along one side which provides a place for spectators at atletic contests or entertainments. On the second floor is the manual training and domestic science rooms. A spacious hall between these and the upper part of the gymnasium affords further space for spectaters to the gymnasium activities. this hall is shut off from the gymnasium by sliding partitions which are ordinarily closed. The upper floor is arranged in classrooms, an assembly room, and pricipal's office. The toilet are located on this floor. There are also two small rooms that are used for various purposes. One of them was used last year as a print shop, printing being one of the high school subjects taught during that year.

Work Runs Smoothly.
Mr. Martin continued to superintend the school for three more years and work has gone along smoothly. The board has always employed good instructors and a large number of pupils from other adjoining rural and town districts have taken advantage of the better schooling offered at Delmar. The school is established on the Six and Six plan, whereby the first six grades are conducted in the graded rooms, the upper six grades have departmental work and are seated in the high school assembly room. this year there are 152 students enrolled. Eight teachers are employed and eight busses transport 105 children. Three teachers have had full four-year-college courses, two have had two year's training. Six of the teachers have had special training for their work. The corps of teachers are: A. A. Siefert, superintendent; Mrs. A. A. Siefert, principal of high school; Ruth L. Kimball, Latin; Ethlyn Rossiter, home economics; Lyman Robinson, manual training; Minnie Sloan, primary; Ethel Wintergreen, intermediate; Mary Waters, grammar.

District is Progressive.
The school has had some very successful athletic and oratorical contests and there is a good community spirit shown. The school owns a lantern for use in school and for entertainments. Literary societies and class organizations lend favor to the success of the social phase of education. Two glee clubs and a school choir are also included in the program of broader development. The pay is supervised by the teachers and a coach is employed for the high school athletics. The school plant has been used for Farmers' Institutes and plans are underway for such a meeting this year.
Although a small district the success of the school is evidenced by the enthusiastic support and commendation given it by the patrons. The present school officers are: L. L. Kinner, president; J. P. Foley, secretary; H. M. Cassin, treasurer; Geo. H. Sidle, J. F. Rossiter, F. N. Lohmeier, O. W. Babcock. Four of these men were members of the original board and have given much thought and time to making the school a success.

ELVIRA HAS FINE SCHOOL; HISTORY OF THE PROJECT

(This is the second of a series of special articles on consolidated schools in Clinton county.)

For two years, from July 1, 1917 until April 8, 1919, the consolidated school law in Iowa was in such a confused condition that it was impossible for communities wishing to consolidate their schools to do so. As a result when the law was changed, on April 8, 1919, a great avalanche of consolidation took place all over the state. Petitions for the Consolidated School of Elvira were filed in the office of the county superintendent a few days after the present law was signed by the governor and the election held May 27. the district comprises 31 1/2 section of the best land in Eden, Center and Lincoln townships.
After the school board was chosen their first thought was for the future provision for conducting school. It was decided to call an election for the purpose of authorizing a bond issue to provide money for erecting a building for the community. In the meantime, however, school buildings were moved in from the surrounding territory to Elvira in which the school work was carred on last year. These are still being used while the new building which is about compled is being finished. The new building is located in the northwest part of the town of Elvira on what is commonly known as the Gibson orchard. The site of five acres includes the old school ground. The arrangement of the grounds has been planned by a landscape architect and devinite provisions for drives and shrubbery have been worked out. The building which is nearly completed at a total cost of between $60,000 and $70,000 provides for all that a modern school requires. The building will be electrically lighted, receiving the current from high tension transmission line which extends from the Ten Mile House to Elvira connecting with the main line between Clinton and Maquoketa. A pressure water system has been installed which will provide an adequate supply of water for all purposes throughout the building. The building has special rooms for the teahing of manual training, domestic science, also a large gymnasium, lunch room, laboratory, assembly room, two recitation rooms and four class rooms. The building will be heated by steam and good ventilation of the entire building is assured by the installation of a motor driven fan which will change the air in each room from four to six times an hour. A special feature of the exterior of the building is the porte-cochere, or covered driveway in which the children enter and leave the busses. This is located at the south entrance of the building and is thus protected from the severe north winds of winter. In addition to the school building proper a superintendent's home has been provided which was made possible by remodeling one of the school buildings which were moved to Elvira last year as temporary quarters for a part of the school. The building is situated on the south side of the school site facing the road and will be modern in every particular including a garage for the superintendent's automobile. Water and light for the home will be available by connecting with the school building.
The transportation for the district is in somewhat of an experimental stage. No definite plan has been adopted, however, the six of the eight routes are now being covered by motor vehicles of some kind, two of these being special motor busses owned by the drivers. The smaller loads are carried in ordinary automobiles and two drivers are using horse drawn busses. One hundred of the one hundred twenty three children attending the school are transported. The longest ride for any child is eight miles. The shortest rout is three and one-half miles.
That the school is destined to increse in attendance is assured by the present enrollment. The enrollment by grades is: First grade 27, Second 17, Third 11, Fourth 11, Fifth 18, Sixth 10, Seventh 15, Eighth 5, Ninth 5 and Tenth 5. The plan is to increase the number of grades taught each year until in 1923 the first class will graduate from the twelfth grade.
But few outside activities have been carried on by the school because of the building conditions. As soon as the new building is ready for occupancy it is planned to make extensive use of it as a community center. The community and school deserve special commendation for the splendid hand work they have done and for the large number of prizes they have received at the DeWitt Fair, also for the number of entries and prizes won by the boys and girls of the district in the Canning, Calf and Pig Clubs.
The organization and operation of a consolidated school requires the time and services of progressive, public spirited men and women. The affairs of the Elvira district have been managed by:
John Smith, president
C. H. Joehuk
S. S. Cromer
Herman Dethmann
Wallace Fatchett
Wm. Seamer, secretary
Wm. Schroeder, treasurer.
The school board have employed as instructors this year:
Mr. C. W. Stevenson, Supt.
Mrs. C. W. Stevenson, Domestic Science and High school assistant
Miss Thea Vosburg, Grammar
Miss Bessie Mulholland, Intermediate
Miss Katherine Knott, Primary.
With this corps of teachers, all of whom have had special training for their work, Superintendent Stevenson being a graduate of the Iowa State college at Ames, the school work is progressing nicely and a high grade of work is being accomplished. The patrons of the Elvira district are to be congratulated upon the splendid accomplishments and future prospects of their school.

CALAMUS IS CONSTRUCTING A BEAUTIFUL NEW SCHOOL

(This is the third of a series of articles on Clinton county's new consolidated schools.)

For the past five or six years there has been a strong sentiment in favor of consolidated schools in Olive township. The point on which there was a difference of opinion was whether the school should be located in Calamus or in the country south of town. Petitions had been circulated twice and this question each time came up and sentiment was so much divided that the question was not put to a vote. In the spring of 1919 those who favored the rural site called a meeting and after discussing the matter it was decided that their proposition of locating the school in the country was wrong. The main objections to a strictly rural onsolidation are expense of private electric and water plants, expense of building special home for superintendent and teachers, dificulty in securing drivers, the general added expense for everything that must be hauled from the railway. The wealth is more scattered and large areas are required to support a school than in districts where considerable wealth is centered in a town. The greatest disadvantage to the strictly rural consolidation is the lack of scholars. The first essential to a good school is scholars to teach. To secure the best results 150 or more pupils should be enrolled. The small town with its quota of children supplies a considerable number of pupils so that the district is not required to take in so large an area that the transportation routes will be too long. Considering these and other questions the people of the township took up the matter and an election was called July 15, 1919 to vote on the question of establishing a consolidated district with Calamus as the center. The election carried with a five to one majority. Only eleven votes were cast against the proposition by the voters residing in the territory outside of the town of Calamus. In less than a week petitions were received by persons from territory outside of the district asking to be taken into the district. As a result, to the twenty-three sections comprising the original district, twelve more have been added by concurrent action of the school boards. Eight of these twelve sections came from Grant township and for from Olive. A splendid spirit of cooperation is manifested by the patrons of the district and all are boosters for their school.

Is Admirably Located.
The new $100,000 school plant now under construction is admirably located in the south part of the town of Calamus, the building being so situated as to have one entrace facing the main street of the town. The porte-cochere will be at the east entrance of the building. The site of five acres is almost square in shape and it is planned to have the grounds laid out by a landscape architect with walks, drives, shrubbery and trees arranged to make the grounds as useful and beautiful as possible for school purposes. Adequate space will be provided for play and athletic grounds, also for experimental agricultural plots. The building will be completed some time during the present year and will be modern in every respect. The building has a capacity of from 250 to 300 pupils with six class rooms having separate cloak and toilet room in each and gymnasium, domestic science room, manual training room teachers' room, principal's office, dining room, laboratory, library, assembly room and two recitation rooms. The library is shut off from the assembly room by a porable partition and is about three feet higher than the assembly room. By this arrangement the library can be used as a stage for entertainments. The recitation rooms are also separated from the assembly room by movable partitions. This plan makes it possible to seat a large audience and have speakers in view of all. Rest rooms and consultation rooms are also provided for on the upper floor. A special feature of the gymnasium is the abundant space for spectators and the showers and locker rooms at either end of the room. The primary room is larger than the other class rooms and is provided with a kitchenette as an extra feature. The school is equipped for visual instruction now coming to be a very popular method of presenting school work. The transportation of the children from the country is provided for by seven one-ton Ford trucks. Patrons of the district are well pleased with this sort of transportation and children prefer riding in the busses to going in a any other way One hundred sixty-one pupils are transported in these busses and no child is on the road more than one hour.

Has Large Enrollment.
The school, which is approved for twelve grades of work, has an entire enrollment of 228 with only seventy-seven pupils from the town of Calamus. The enlistment by grades is: First 28, Second 30, Third 26, Fourth 23, Fifth 16, Sixth 21, Seventh 21, Eighth 24, and High School 49.
The boys and girls had basket ball teams last year, also High school and grade base ball teams. In basket ball the boys won 50 percent of their games and in base ball 100 per cent. A fine showing for the first year of interschool games. A community scrap paper collection, Oct. 4 to 9, netted the school $34.10. The teachers are James I. Baliz, superintendent; Daisy Marston, High school assistant; Louise Harding, home economics; Svanhild Pedersen, Elizabeth Boyd, Grace Christensen, Hilda Copp, Rosa Pousselot, grade, and Ina Cruise, primary. The average training beyond High school of all teachers is one year and five months, their average salary of $1,255 per year. The average number of years of experience for all of the teachers is three and two-tenths years. There is a full equipment throughout the grades with state list of high school laboratory apparatus for physics and agriculture.
From present indications the Calamus district bids fair to become one of the most efficient consolidated schools in Iowa.

WELTON SCHOOL ONE OF FINEST IN THE STATE

(This is the fourth of a series of special articles on Clinton county's consolidated schools.)

After observing the progress of the Delmar Consolidated school for three years and having several students from their township attending school in that place the people of Welton township began to consider the possibility of a similar school of their own. Consequently after discussing the matter privately and in public meetings it was decided to circulate petitions in order to discover the sentiment of the people in the district. As a result an election was called September 15, 1919 for 21 1/2 sections of territory in the township, leaving four sections in the northeast corner and six and one-half section in the southwest corner of the township to remain unconsolidated. The four northeast sections were later joined to the consolidated district by petition and concurrent action of the two school boards. The vote gave a comfortable majority in favor of the consolidation and the present board of directors was then elected. They are Warren Walrod, president; Herman Christiansen, secretary; F. L. Beal, treasurer; Fred Maltas, W. J. Loofboro, M. L. Crowley and Louis Toedt.
The necessity for a new building being apparent, $100,000 bonds were authorized and the electors of the district were permitted to vote on the location of the building. The site most favored was immediately south of the town of Welton on the east side of the road. The new building is now in the process of erection and when completed the entire plant and equipment will cost in the neighborhood of $90,00. The building will face the Davenport-Maquoketa road and the covered driveway will be at the south entrance of the building. The building will have a capacity of 250 scholars and will have all of the conveniences now considered necessary for a modern school building. The five-acre plot on which the building is located will afford ample room for play ground, athletic field and agricultural plots.
No effort has been made to conduct a central school as it was decided not to transport any children before the building is completed the schools are being conducted as formerly with the exception that ninth and tenth grade classes are being conducted in temporary quarters in the town of Welton by Miss Dorotha Wood. The plan is to begin school next fall with eleven grades and carry out a full consolidation program. From present indications it would seem that there are unlimited possibilities for a successful consolidated school at Welton.

GOOSE LAKE SCHOOL WILL GIVE GREAT FACILITIES

(This is the fifth of a seriew of special articles on new consolidated schools in Clinton county.)

Several years ago some of the people of Deep Creek township came to believe that the ordinary one-room school was not affording their children as good advantges as town school nor as good as they thought they should have. They believed their teachers were doing all they could under the conditions they were required to work but they felt the system was not as efficient as it should be, therefore a movement toward consolidation was inaugurated and an election was called to vote on the question of establishing such a school. The vote at this time was unfavorable mainly beause of lack of information on the subject and partly because of disappointment with the outcome of a meeting that was called at which time the subject of consolidation was to be discussed by P. G. Holden. During the meeting Mr. Holden discussed ohter agricultural problems and avoided the consolidated school, hence many believe that there was something wrong with the plan. The idea however, still persisted in the minds of many and in the summer of 1919 the question was brought forward again by the proposed consolidated school movement at Charlotte. the voters in Black Bird district preferred Goose Lake as a school enter and encouraged the circulation of a petition of an election, which was done. The election was called and the vote revealed a decided change of sentiment. It stood better than two to one in favor of forming a consolidated district. The new district included all the West Deep Creek, Black Bird, Center Deep Creek, Goose Lake and District No. 2 Center Township which comprises about 23 sections of land.
The board of directors were elected and a special election was called which authorized a $60,000 bond issue the proceeds of which was to be used for purchasing a site, erecting and equipping a building thereon. An excellent and convienient site in the east part of Goose Lake was purchased and a building is being erected. The building will be modern in every particular but not as large as the other buildings being erected. The district is small and it was not thought necessary to put up so large a building. There is a decided advantage to this district in being able to connect with the high power electric line which passes through Goose Lake, as well as the city water system. The building will accomodate 15 to 200 pupils when completed.
No high school is attempted in the district this year. All pupils from that territory attending high school go to Clinton and Lyons. A complete consolidated school program will be established next fall as the building will be completed by that time. It is planned to emphasize the agricultural side of the curriculum and make it a really rural school with a complete twelve grade course. The twelfth grade will not be offered, however, for a few years. The personnel of the board is:
President -- Paul N. Harksen
Secretary -- Adolph Stampe
Treasurer -- Herbert C. Jepsen
August Kruse
Carl Kruse
John Hansen
Peter Eggers
Only those who have gone through the organization of a consolidated school can fully appreciate the services a school board renders to the community.
Goose Lake is admirably located as a center for a consolidated school and in due time this school will come to hold a large place in the affairs of the community.

ELWOOD GETS NEW SCHOOL AFTER DECADE OF ENDEAVOR

The newest consolidated school district in Clinton county is at Elwood which was established early last spring with an area of 24 sections. This movement marks the consummation of a program for better schools extending over a decade. The first movement toward consolidation in this sectin of the state was begun at Elwood and would have been an accomplished fact years ago had there been a clearer statement and understanding of our school laws.
The Independent district f Elwood built a good brick building five years ago that would cost from $25,000 to $40,000 at present prices. This building contained four class rooms, besides a Manual Training and Domestic Science room, was steam heated and equipped with cloak rooms and modern indoor toilets. A bond issue of $60,000 has been floated to furnish funds for building an addition to this building. The addition will be 30 ft. x 76 ft. with an additional part on the rear which will take care of stairways and additional cloak and toilet rooms. In the basement of the new part is a gymnasium 60 ft x 29 ft. boys and girls' lockers and showers besides the boiler and coal rooms. The entire building as now being constructed will provide for five class rooms, a laboratory, Principal's office, assembly room, three class rooms, and a library together with the necessary auxiliary rooms.
The old building, having been planned with the thought of enlarging, makes it work in admirably with the new addition. The building is located in the northwest part of the town of Elwood where five acres will constitute the entire site. The school board has purchased a home for the Superintendent adjoining the school grounds and the teachers this year have rented a house in which they live. The teachers employ a housekeeper and find the arrangement very satisfactory. The city water and electric lighting systems make the problems related thereto less difficult of solution.
One hundred fourteen children are transported to the school in motor busses; the school board having purchased two G. M. C. and two International trucks for the transportation. The large powerful machines make good time and are comfortable vehicles for the children to ride to and from school in. The school is offering twelve grades of work for the first time. In former years ten grades of work was all that could be handled in the building then in use. The school is graded as follows: First grade, 18, second 21, third 11, fourth 18, fifth 8, sixth 14, seventh 12, eighth 16, ninth 13, tenth 14, eleventh 3, twelfth 2. The school is a member of the State Athletic Association and will have athletic teams, it is also a member of an Oratorical Association. The plan to make the school a communtiy center is one of the definite objects the school board has in view. The town already has a communtiy hall for this purpose an has done much in encouraging the community spirit. During the time in which the addition to the building is under construction all high school classes will be conducted in the Community Hall which was the original town school building.
The school officers are:
A. J. Wirth, President
W. S. Hill, Secretary
C. C. Irwin, Treasurer
J. W. Anderson
S. A. Bloore
Wm. Herkelmann
H. P. Hicks
The corps of teachers are:
U. S. Webber, Superintendent
Fern Faselow, High school assistant
Mildred Dasher, Home Economics and Mathematics
Ella Paulu, 7th and 8th grades
Harriet Flint, 5th and 6th grades
Dorothy Blanchard, 3d and 4th grades
Ruth Rowser, 1st and 2d grades
The teachers have all had special training for their work in every department. The grade teachers will rank as a school above any school in the county in special training as they are all high school graduates and have an average of a little over 1 1/2 years of special training above high school. This speaks well for the school and indicates that the school board believe that special training is needed for grade teachers as well as for high school teachers, a matter that is often not considered but which is of vital importance in insuring the better type of teaching. A consolidated school, supported by a progressive educationally awake community and directed by men of the type that constitutes the Elwood school board cannot fail to become a leader among the educational institutions of its kind in the state.

From the Clinton Herald 03 Feb 1945

Proposed to Submit Questions to Voters at School Elections.

Looking forward to a more completely united postwar city with equal opportunity for all, two committees joined yesterday in sponsorship of the proposed consolidation of the two Clinton independent school districts.  One committee is representative of membership in the Lyons club in the Lyons district and the other of the Clinton district.

Petitions addressed to the boards of directors of the two districts, respectively, will be in circulation early next week and will be presented to the boards at their regular meetings, Monday evening, Feb. 12.

To Be Submitted March 12

It is proposed that the question of consolidation shall be submitted to the voters in each of the two districts at the regular school election, Monday, March 12.  The question must carry in both of the districts to become effective.

Organization of the united committee was affected yesterday afternoon when the two committees met in the council chamber in the city hall.  After discussion of the proposal, the committees adjourned to meet again in the city hall council chamber at 4 o'clock next Tuesday afternoon.  All interested citizens are invited to attend that session.

Members of the Clinton committee are volunteers, interested in the consolidation proposal submitted by a committee, representing the Lyons club, which made its recommendations after a thorough study of the project and of existing and prospective conditions.

Members of Committee

The Clinton committee is composed of E. M. DeMoss, chairman, Gilbert Henning, secretar, Municipal Judge W. A. McCullough, Dr. L. A. Gustafson, Paul Nadelhoffer, Rodney Fitch, Morgan Sexton, Dr. R. F. Herrick, LeRoy Jones, Dean Boyce, Harold Barnes, Clyde Hendrix, John H. Irey and W. C. Eastland.

Appointed from that committee are two sub-committees as follows.

Executive -- W. C. Eastland, chairman, W. A. McCullough, Rodney Fitch, Clyde Hendrix, Dr. R. F. Herrick and LeRoy Jones.

Publicity -- Morgan Sexton and W. C. Eastland.

Lyons District Committee

Members of the Lyons district committee, named by President Wayne Shadduck at the last meeting of the club, are:

Dr. W. L. Scott, chairman, A. B. Oakleaf, Paul Christiansen, Attorney Glenn T. Cousins, Jens Paaske, Lloyd Peterson, L. J. Derflinger, Frank Martin and Walter Stuedemann.

Clinton civic organization, including the Lyons club, Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Labor Congress, Rotary, Kiwanis and Gyro clubs are represented in the two main committees.

It is proposed, however, to expand the committee membership to include representatives of all educational, patriotic, civic and service organizations and all industries in the city.

Various members of the committee have been named to communicate with the latter bodies and invite them to appoint representatives to serve on the united committee.