Vandergrift High School - Spectator Yearbook (Vandergrift, PA)

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BOARD OF EDUCATION R. W. Dunmire, President J. N. Popfinberger, Vice-President Dr. R. H. Speer J. Q. Adams, Secretary The Rev. C. O. Frank S. J. Russell, Treasurer J. Buff Yount In 1897 a group of six men held a meeting in the offices of the Apollo Iron and Steel Company for the purpose of organizing the Vandergrift schools. The Vandergrift School Board was organized in the same year with Mr. P. Drayton, President, and five other members. The Vandergrift Heights School Board was organized in 1898 with Mr. R. M. Stewart, President, and five other members. These two boards were organized into the present one in 1915. Mr. S. A. Kinnard was the first President of the consolidated boards. Mr. Dunmire has been on the school board for the past five years. During that time he has held both the position of Vice-President and President. Mr. Poffinberger has been a member of the board for six years and has filled the position of Vice-President. This is Mr. Adams’ twenty-fourth year as a member of a Vandergrift School Board. He served on the Vandergrift Heights Board, before the two were consolidated in 1915. He held the office of treasurer from 1915 to 1920, and that of secretary from 1921 to the present time. Mr. Russell has served on this board since 1923, holding the office of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Dr. R. H. Speer has been a member of the board for the past six years. He has been both President and Vice-President during that time. He also served three years on the old Vandergrift School Board before the consolidation. The Rev. C. O. Frank has served four years and has held no office. J. Buff Yount was elected to the board in 1929. Previous to that he had filled a vacancy for one year. Mr. Yount has been both President and Vice-President of the organization. 7

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The Schoo Mr. J. R. Kurtz, Superintendent This is Mr. Kurtz's first year as Superintendent of the Vandergrift schools. However, he has been connected with the school system for the past fifteen years in the capacity of coach, instructor, and high school principal. He has taught General Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology in Vandergrift High School. His Alma Mater is Bucknell University. He has also attended Millersville State Normal School, Penn State, and the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating from college, Mr. Kurtz taught in Vermont, Eastern Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Illinois, before coming to Vandergrift. Altogether he has been a school instructor for twenty-three years. Since Mr. Kurtz has been principal, he has made several important changes in the school system. SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE “The interest and concurrent effort which has been given to me by the Board of Education, the teachers and students of our schools has made my first year of service as your Superintendent an agreeable one. “With this same desire and ability to work together, we can look forward to building a broader and more progressive school system in our city. 8