Shawnee Mission West High School - Saga Yearbook (Shawnee Mission, KS)

Page 21 text:

Newly Installed Helmsmen Diagram District Course Amending and unifying, the Shawnee Mission District Administration adapted itself to better serving constituents. The original 13 districts merged into one, superivised by Dr. Arzell Ball. A larger, more inclusive budget required a newly elected board of education. Seven officers managed monetary matters, while an advisory council from each area functioned as a liaison between the com- munity and board officers. By centralizing school districts, administrators coordinated curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade, thereby eli- minating the possibilities of repetition or omission of necessary teaching. Maintaining uniformity, legislators improved less serviceable programs, lift- ing them to revised standards. The advantages of a bigger organization material- ized within a short time. Courses not offered by smaller systems because of a limited populous be- came possible. Computers, attainable by the con- solidated budget, enabled pupils to receive comput- erized grade cards and to acquire programing for use in technical fields. l ' 153-Q Dr. Ball accentuates a proposed map of the district as lVlr. Amos, board member, ponders new boundaries. Board of Education-Left to right: lVlr. Eugene Amos, lVlr. Walter Hiersteiner, IVlr. Joseph Sherman, lVlr. John Baeke, lVIr. Bill Nulton, lVlr. Bill Sparks, and lVlr. Rick Wendle. ACADEMICS-15

Page 20 text:

Dr. Arzell Ball-District Superintendent 14-ACADEIVIICS Q- .JJ uf r-fff' 5 Dr. Herbert Bruning-Deputy Superintendent -L ' W... ' li X Dr. Norman Babcock-Assistant Superintendent, West Area

Page 22 text:

Mr. Arthur W. Selves-Principal Administrotive Experts Activities of West's administrative guides encom- passed a vvide range of responsibilities. Aiding teachers and students in any capacity, principal Mr. Arthur Selves served in roles ranging from advising faculty concerning matters of school welfare to ad- dressing meetings of the entire student body. Vice- principals Mr. James Foster and Mr. Dean Johnson assisted wherever necessary, with Mr. Foster as Ac- tivity Director and Mr. Johnson as Athletic Direc- tor. Counselors Mr. James Loomis, Mr. Robert Welch, Mr. Paul Arnold, Mrs. Jo Carroll, and Mrs. Virnelle Fletcher contributed to student welfare by lending a hand in the planning of academic careers and investigating possibilities of scholarships and extracurricular employment. Many took advantage of the guidance offered them to remedy personal problems. Other counseling duties included supervision of various testings throughout the year. This staff ad- ministered to seniors College Board and ACT ex- aminations, required by many colleges. They help- ed juniors in tackling National Merit Exams, which qualified -scholarship semi-finalists, and introduced the sophomores to testing with DAT's. Mr. James Foster-Vice-Principal 16 ACADEMICS Mr. Dean Johnson-Vice-Principal Q 3 I-.