Continuing Growth
By 1950 Government commodities were available for hot lunch programs but at Appanoose there were no facilities nor space for this modern convenience. A cement block addition was put on the south-east corner of AHS. This new kitchen and combination lunch room was enjoyed by teachers, students and the principal Mr. T. Fleck. Delicious hot meals were served by Sue Crawford and Emma Hughes.
More schools consolidated and came to Appanoose,, Class rooms were crowded and another building was needed to alleviate the conditions. The Summer of 1953 was hot and dry -discouraging for the farmers- but good weather for pouring cement and laying up a 40 by 44 foot cement block building. The new structure had 2 restrooms, furnace room and a hall on the East side. There were two large classrooms, one facing the north and the other looking out on the playground to the South. The first 6 grades occupied this building and left the Junior High and High students in the main building.
As Appanoose continued to grow there was a decline in enrollment at Michigan Valley High School. When their principal resigned in 1958 they annexed to Appanoose and their 16 pupils combined with our 46 to make an enrollment of 62 Appanoose Indians. This worsened the crowded rooms and since Michigan Valley school was empty it seemed logical to buss all the grade school pupils over there and once again Appanoose was a High School only.
"Bigger is Better" was the slogan of the times and after many meetings and much discussion it was finally agreed that AHS would consolidate with Pomona High School. Mr. Loren Gaddis, principal, graduated the last class of 14 seniors, from AHS in 1962. Since it's beginning in 1919 there have been 430 proud and productive graduates. Appanoose High students are now a part of Pomona High School.
The buildings at Appanoose were newer, more spacious and centrally located so the grade school came back to Appanoose with Mr. Brock Winans as the principal. In January of 1963 Kindergarten classes were begun. Mrs. Mary Cearfoss was the teacher, classes met 3 mornings a week that first year. In 1965 paper work had increased and a part time secretary was added to the staff.
By the early 1960's the State Department of Education voted to discontinue the county superintendents and the individual school districts. Instead, county schools would unify and have their own superintendent. Appanoose Grade School became part of West Franklin Unified School District #287 with the central office in Pomona. Other attendance centers in our district are Pomona Grade School, Pomona High School, Williamsburg Grade School and Williamsburg High School.
No longer were the "3 Rs" all that was needed for a good education. Our school included vocal music, band, art, learning disabilities classes, speech therapy and gifted classes. All of these services required more room and teachers. A mobile unit was brought in for an additional class room. Even the playground was no longer adequate, we wanted a football field, track and more play area. Dr. Dale Crawford, a 1941 graduate of AHS, donated several acres from his pasture which borders the school yard. Mr. Lyle Parks was the principal during that period of growth and changes.
It seemed there was never enough money for everything parents would like their children to have at school. New basketball uniforms were desperately needed and the parents and community were willing, as always, to help so the first Chlil supper was held to raise money. This was a fun evening for the community, parents, teachers and students to work together for the good of the school. Next year it was decided to continue with the Chili Supper and use the money for play ground equipment. The Chili supper was a great money making project and next a carnival was added to make this one of the big events of the school year. Meat, pies, and other food items are donated, all the work is volunteer, local businesses give prize items for bingo and students sell tickets. Class room games, fans, projectors, T.V., computers, library books and an outside cement platform with 4 basketball goals are some of the items paid for with Chili Supper Funds. Each employee is given money to be used in their class room or department. The PTO was also organized and has been a very helpful organization to our school and also works in conjunction with the Chili Supper committee.
With the changing times, crowded city schools, crime and fear of drugs more and more families moved to the country where they believe their children will have a safer childhood and better educational privileges. This, of course, increased enrollment and rooms were remodeled and divided to accommodate the extra pupiles.
But still, AGS had run out of room again. Also at about this time the government passed the American Disabilities Act stating every school and all public buildings must be accessible to all handicapped persons. Not only was our building unsuitable for the handicapped but it no longer met the codes set by the State Fire Marshall. The only option was a new building. Work was started by Lyden Construction Co. in spring of 1989. The metal and cement block building with red brick siding was finished in November. This new structure is south of the original building.
One cool morning the Kindergarteners, both first grades, second, third and fourth graders emptied their desks into paper sacks and while adults moved all the desks the students marched in with their sacks and chairs, unpacked and were settled in their new rooms before noon. On moving day Deloris Schoepflin and Carol Adler served lunch from their new state of the art kitchen which includes such conveniences as a walk in refrigerator and freezer as well as a dish washer.
This latest building also has rooms for Chapter I reading, resorce room for learning disabled, nurses office and a room the Tri-Lakes Education Co-op uses for the speech pathologist, psychologist, gifted instructor and occupational therapist. Mr. Earl Payne settled into the principal's office while Terry Altic, secretary, finally had room for all her modern office equipment as well as a much needed storage and work room. One of the best things is air conditioning. The cost of this building was $670,000.00. The Appanoose campus then consisted of the new building with the cement block building with both K-4 5th grades, and the original building with 6th - 8th grades, art and P.E.
Appanoose has been fortunate to have many excellent teachers. Each one, through the years, has been instrumental in the quality of education our children received. One of our outstanding teachers, Mrs. Beth Gentry, was inducted into the Kansas State Teachers Hall of Fame in Dodge City, After 38 years of teaching, 24 at AGS. Her untiring devotion to education and love of children helped many students achieve their dreams before her retirement in 1990.
Dr. Dale Crawford gave more land for the sewage lagoon system and also to the Appanoose Recreation Commission for summer base ball. The mobile unit once used as a classroom was given to the ARC for use as a concessions stand and by 1995 lights were installed for night games. In all, Dr. Crawford has given more than 13 acres to Appanoose and for our ball diamonds are known as Crawford Fields. We thank him for his generosity and for making summer base ball available to our area students.
"Time goes you say - ah, no, time stays, we go." And as we go we constantly search for better teaching tools, new methods of presentation and updated curriculum. We are facing the age of technology and the school systems must constantly update to give our students their necessary education. The newest program mandated by the State is QPA or Quality Performance Accreditation. Our schools have been a pilot for this and our teachers have put in many extra hours. This program involves administrators, teachers, and parents serving on the site council offering input as to improvements helpful to better our facilities, curriclum and extra activities.
In 1993 it was feasible to add an East wing to the new building. When school started the additional class rooms were used to accommodate the split classes. By then there were 2 Kindergartern, 1 first grade, 2 second grade classes, a third grade class, 2 fourth grades and the fifth grade. Included in this wing are the central library, Apple computer lab, IBM Writing to Read computer lab and a handicapped room for a wheel chair student. Loyd Builders of Ottawa Completed this wing for $355,000.00. To make space for this East wing the old cement block building built in 1953 was torn down.
An election was held in the spring of 1994 and the vote was in favor of finishing the building project at Appanoose. Loyd Builders of Ottawa started work on the last addition in the fall of 1994-95 school year with hopes of having it ready for use before the end of the year. Loyd Builders was also building at Williamsburg Grade School and Pomona High School. Unavailability of some materials slowed down progress and none of the buildings were in use for the 94-95 school year.