Highland High School - Iris Yearbook (Highland, IL)

Page 12 text:

STORY OF O N W SCHOOL The construction of a new school in Highland has been a topic t'or discussion t'or atleast fifteen years, It was taken up in 1921 and again in l92li. Little action was taken in the following years on account of the depression. However, in 1933 it was decided that the time had come to submit the matter to the people. A group of interested citi- zens took up the cause ol' the new school and formed a com- mittee known as District No. 15 New School Committee . This committee soon represent- ed a well organized group and carried the message ot' the new school to the tax payers of district No. 15, Many mass meetings were held and within a short time the committee presented a petition to the Board of lfldu- cation requesting that steps be taken to proceed with the new school plans. As a result of the petition, the Board of Education took definite steps to proceed with the new building and the committee continued to carry on the campaign for the new school. As plans were formed, the old idea of erecting a high school building alone and maintaining the old building for a grade school was abandoned, and plans for a plant to house both schools were adopted. lf the old building were retained, it was evident that a large sum of mon- ey w o u l d have to be paid out ev- ery year, to keep it in a c o n d i t ion suitable t'or occupa n c y . Since t his expense was increa sin each y e a r because of the rapid de- preciation of the building, t lt i s w a s deemed in- advisable.

Page 11 text:

to t' Still- Zlllj' huil toll Ittlt plit- BO RD OF EDUCATIO 'l'ht- tztsk ot' st-rving as at llltiilllltll' ot' at ltoztrtl ot' ltltltlvzitioii is ont- which is not .ill torth mort- hlumt- than praise- :intl whit-h has no i't-wurtl ztttnt-ht-tl t-xt-t-pt tht- Qtzu-tion whit-Ii t-omt-s from pt-rt'oi'1i1i1ig we-ll at duty ont- has lllltlt'I'l2ll'it'll. No task llozxrtl muy lllltlt'I't1lkt' is likt-ly to ht- us thzinklt-ss as that ot' t'om+t1'l1c'ting at nt-w tliizu. 'l'ht- rt-ra-rtls ot our litlilfll show thatt tht- ht-t-tl for at HRW ptthlit- school has ht-t-n tor lll'lllj' yt-airs. 'l'ht- pit-st-lit ho.11'tl. liowt-vt-r, not only rt-t-oghizt-tl this he-t-tl sow iisiohs :intl tlrt-:tmt-tl tlrt-aims ot' ways in whit-h thits nt-t-tl might ht- sup- tl. Hur ltoatrtl lt4 mzitlt- up ot' ihtlivitluztls t-hinge-tl in husint-ss :intl proft-ssioliztl work whivh ttlaiims lllllt'll ot' tht-il' timt-. Hovt't-vt-1', tht-5' liuve ht-t-ii willing to tlvvott- long hours to tht- tasks wht-h ztrost- in t'0llllt'CtlOll with this t'lltUl'Ill'iS0 in ordt-1' that tht- vouth ot' this Vtlllllllllllltj' might ht- ht-ht-tilt-tl. 'l'o the tilt-iiiht-rs ot' out' liozlrtl tht- st-niors wish to t-xgtrt-ss. in tht- numt- ot' the fait-ulty :intl stuclt-nt hotly. our tlt-t-pt-st graitit utlt-. Yo trihutt- to tht- prt-st-nt llonrtl is coiiiple-to without rt-spt-t-tt'nl mt-ntion ot' tht- llilllloi ot two IHISI mt-mht-rs ot tht- liozxrtl who st-rvt-tl so wliolt-'lit-airtt-tlly :intl ul-ly ltl this t-nts-i'prist-, 'l'ht- staxtt lionors tht- lllt'lll0l'it'-4 ot' l i'zi1ik Rziwsoii :intl litlwztrtl Stout-kliii tor tht-ir long: :intl t'z1itl1t'ul st-i'vit'v to tllll' sc-hool. Ilrtum-inn, liot-h, Sit-grist, l.ory, Ammztnn, 'l'ihltt-tts, llt-t'ni:tmi

Page 13 text:

STORY OF O R N W SCI-IOGL The public was informed that no better time could be found to build a com- pletely new building. This was made clear by circulars that were distributed to every home in this vicinity. The main reason was that under the National Recovery Act, which allowed communities with sound finances to receive financial assistance from the government on projects approved by the Public Works Administration, we might receive a substantial grant which would pay part of the cost and provide means for caring for the bonded indebtedness. Besides securing our building at a minimum cost, the people of school district fifteen would be furthering the national program and creating many jobs for men in this district. The total cost of the project was estimated at bSl94.tl00, The United States government was to make a donation equal to the amount of thirty per-cent of the cost of labor and materials used and was also to purchase four per-cent bonds for the balance ot' the project. The government grant would a- mount lo approximately 550,- 000. The results of the election held lfebruary 24, 1934 proved that the community was con- vinced that these arguments were sound. The proposition carried two to one. Of the two sites offered, the people chose the one which was for- merly a part of the Highland Golf Course on Lindenthal Av- enue. This ten-acre plot would atTord an ideal location for a school since it is far removed from the noise and danger of the business district and has beautiful surroundings which are necessary to secure the best results in education. l The plans for the building were carefully made, Mr. Ewing, the architects, and members ot' the Board made many trips to new schools throuurhout the state to study the most recent improvements devised for modern school plants, The final plans called for a central unit housing a gymnasium to be flanked by a high school wing to the let't ami grade school wing to the right. The gymnasium was planned not only for athletics but also for music and dramatics, a field which has not received sufficient attention in the past. The plans called for a seating capacity nearing two thousand which would enable Highland to bid for meetings of large organizations. The gymnasium, in other words, was to become a center for com- munity life. The two wings were planned just as carefully, In each department care was taken that all educational needs were cared for in the best possible man- ner. Hope was felt that our new building might attract not only tuition pupils from neigliboring towns but also new residents interested in the welfare of their children. After the plans had been approved by government officials in Chicago, the Board was ready to receive bids for the building, heating, plumbing, and electrical work.