Southwestern High School - Shield Yearbook (Shelbyville, IN)

Page 12 text:

Opening day, August 27, 1958, was probably the most exciting ever experienced in the school life of either pupils or faculty As we entered the lobby of our beauti- ful, though uncompleted, new building, en- rollment cards and schedules of classes were issued--Then began the real tour of our new world--- Where is Is this the way? Do you know where were heard on all sides as we found our way among many new faces, some fellow classmates, others upper or lower classmen, faculty and administrators---such a lot of people! Sea of New Faces Kr,

Page 11 text:

August, 1958 After the plans for the new building were completed, contractswere awarded for con- structing and equipping the proposed new high school. Directors of the school building corpor- ation were charged with financing and con- structing the new school, and they in turn were to lease the new educational facility to the district school corporation for a 30 year period. At the termination of30 years, when all bonds will have matured and have been paid, ownership ofthe entire facility will go to the district school corporation. Contracts were eventually awarded in three categories, namely: I. General construction, awarded to I. Bush and Sons of Louisville. II. Heating, plumbing, Ventilating, and sewage work, awarded to Burton Plumb- ing and Heating, Rochester, Indiana. III. Electrical work awarded to the Harbstreit Engineering Company, Inc. , Bed- ford, Indiana. November, 1958 i,i- ,.,--P The Southwestern Consolidated School Dis- trict met on January 10, 1958, and divorced it- self from the county school system, selected a district superintendent, and decided to meer state standards with a first class commission for the high school. The board decided to offer four different curricula in the high school. These four are college entrance or academic, agricul- ture, vocational home economics, and business or commercial. Mr. Charles Wetzel was chosen as superintendent and began his new work in this carries out the policies and directives of the board and works in co-operation with the office of the county superintendent of schools in the operation ofall educational facilitieswithin thethree-tovvn- ship district. Grass was growing in gym when school began. All three bids were the lowest in their respective categories. In addition to these contracts other costs involved in the overall project were equipment for class rooms, black topped driveways and parking area, architectural and engineering fees, attorney fees, interest on bonds, insurance of building during construction, and other contingencies After the lease between the building corporation and district school corporation was executed bonds were sold collectively to four firms The City Securities Corporation Indianapolis Bond and Share Corporation Raffensperger Hughes and Company, Inc all of Indianapolis and Cruttenden Podesta and Company of Chicago These bonds bear the maximum rate of 5011: per year and are payable overatotal period of 30 years Mr Robert W Wade, former principal at Mt Auburn was chosen as principal The new building, although not quite completed, was ready for occupancy at the beginning of the 1958-1959 school year. By December 1, the gym was completed, and all functions of the new school were in operation. Total cost of Southwestem High School was approximately Sl, 190, OOO. The dedication of the new building was held March 15, 1959, with an 'Open House' and program. Reality -- Construction ofHce on June 1. In this new post, Mr. Wetzel

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Find o New Woy of School Life Pupils, faculty, and administrators all experienced a certain amount of pressure those first few weeks as they realized the ne- cessity of formulating a smooth-running organization with new routines and regulations, longer class periods, heavier schedules, and larger classes. All this was accomplished with a minimum of provocation despite the shortage ofdesks, tables, chairs, books, and the fact that so many parts of the building were still incom- plete. Perhaps the greatest task of all was the molding into a South- western student body, boys and girls whose loyalties were deep- rooted in other schools. But the excellent co-operation and desire to make adjustments by all students, soon made this transition from old ties into an intense pride and loyalty of S. H. S. , this new quality that we call the S spirit. Mr Walters helps Doug Stacey solve a problem on the adjust- Edwin Sanders and David Smiley able chalk board, my their locker combinations. ' s. 'us A - ig-isa' -P Bus Drivers Front Row: Lewis Hammer, Oral Pile, Virgil Brown, Raymond O'Bannon, Earl Stillabower Back Row: Charles Tennell, Carl Sampson, Wayne Weinantz, Ival Coy Boxes of new equipment arriving made it seem like Christmas every day. lx- Steve Wells and David Piercefreld decide which classroom chair is preferable.