School History
History of the School
Education was very important to the early settlers as they had the first school open by the fall of 1884. The Glen Ullin School District was the ninth district in the county to be organized. This school was constructed in a style similar to country schools of that time and was located on the present site of Al’s Barbershop. It was 18x24 with eight feet partitioned off as living space for the teacher, Mrs. Kniffen, and her three children. In addition to being provided with these spacious living quarters, she received $20 a month for a 4-month term. The 15 students were seated at homemade desks and the teacher made do without the benefit of globes, maps, books, or blackboards. The playground had no defined boundaries, the only restriction being that the children remain within earshot of the school bell.
By 1889 enrollment had increased to about 30 pupils. This made it necessary to move to a larger building that was located on the block occupied by the Sacred Heart Church. However, as Glen Ullin continued to grow, the people felt a need for a bigger and better school. In 1897 the school district purchased the grounds upon which the elementary and high school buildings stood until 1980. The first school located on this site was a two-story, wood frame building. It was able to accommodate more students and three teachers with some high school work added later on. In 1908 this building was moved behind the fire hall and was used as a city hall. It was converted into apartments at the time of the construction of the Heart Butte Dam and was known as the Gerving Apartments.
In 1908, plans were made to move the old school and erect a brick building on the same site. In March of 1908, an election was held to issue bonds in the amount of $6700.00, payable in 20 years at 4% interest, to build the new school house. Construction began in May and the new school was ready for classes on October 5, 1908. It contained four classrooms, two on each floor, plus a room in the basement for industrial and domestic science courses. The first graduating class of 1912 began as freshmen in the new building in 1908. At first, the school used gas lights but they converted to electricity soon after the building was completed. The school’s water supply came from its own well, located directly west of the building and it had its own sewer system.
Increased enrollment made it necessary to have more room. In 1916 an addition was built on the south side of the original building. It contained the assembly stage, three classrooms on the main floor; a gym, a girl’s locker room, and a bathroom in the basement. A severe rainstorm in the summer of 1916 caused the shell and scaffolding to collapse and fall into the excavation for the gym. This delayed the opening of the school until October. After the addition was completed, there were three elementary teachers: Primary 1-3, intermediate 4-6, and grammar 7-8. The high school, with three teachers, offered a broad curriculum: Domestic Science (manual training for the boys), Latin, German, Mathematics, General Science, Psychology, Physics, History, Music, Typing, and Physical Education.
The growth of the Glen Ullin area is reflected in the increased school enrollment and the constant changes being made in the school. In 1908 there were 85 students enrolled in the public school. By 1910 three years of high school were being offered and, by 1911, a fourth year had been added. In 1911 four high school students from Elgin took advantage of our educational facilities and the first eighth-grade commencement was held. In 1913, there were 200 students attending the public school and three seniors graduated that spring. That same year Glen Ullin High School had the largest percentage of students passing exams in the state. The cost per pupil in 1913 was $6.57 and the school property was valued at $14,000.00. By 1923, the cost per pupil has risen to $126.00 and the cost of maintaining the school was $15,398.71.
A “headstart” program began in March of 1913 for children starting school in the fall. This was to help them become accustomed to school routines. This program continued for several years and eventually was converted to a WPA Nursery school in 1937, when 30 children, ages 2-6, were enrolled. During this time, the mothers of the nursery school students had an active organization that assisted the teachers and make toys for the children.
The years passed and enrollment and faculty gradually increased. The elementary grades occupied four rooms instead of three and the high school needed more classroom space. In 1957 it was decided to build another addition, again on the south side of the existing building for a Home Economics and Vocational Agriculture Department. This edition was completed in 1958.
About 1960 the school district put the question of reorganization before the voters. It took nearly three years for this issue to pass. In 1963 the school district began a reorganization process that brought the surrounding rural schools into the Glen Ullin School District. Approval of this plan by the voters again meant that more classroom space was needed. In 1966 a high school was completed southwest of the city. The elementary grades (1-8) remained in the old high school downtown. The 1967 senior class was the largest ever to graduate from Glen Ullin (56).
The closing of Sacred Heart School in 1976 increased the enrollment at the Public school from 120 the previous year, to 211. Because the elementary needed more classrooms, the junior high moved to the then vacant Sacred Heart School.
And building plans were put into effect to move them to the high school. A new vocational wing was completed at the high school in 1977 and the junior high moved into the area previously used for those classes.
In January 1980, a broken water pipe in the attic of the elementary school flooded the building and caused irreparable damage to the 1908 and 1916 structures. The first and second classrooms and the lunch room were located in the newest addition and were not damaged, but grades 3-6 moved to Sacred Heart School and continued to hold classes at Sacred Heart until the new elementary wing, was added to the high school was completed in January of 1981.
By the summer of 1981, the damaged portion of the school had been torn down. The newest addition was sold to the Glen Ullin Fire Department and, after 83 years, the education of students on that site drew to a close.
A parent-teacher group was organized in the early 1900s and remained active until the 1940s. They invited high school students to attend meetings and provide input. Their PTA meetings involved programs by the elementary students, whenever possible. Many of these meetings were jointly held with the Sacred Heart PTA organization.
Curriculum and materials have always been an important part of the Glen Ullin Public Schools. In 1910, the basement was outfitted with the “latest” science equipment; all requirements were met for third-class accreditation. By 1912 the school had reached second-class accreditation and was eligible to receive state aid. In 1913, the physics department purchased a self-changing static machine, fluoroscope, x-ray tube, and radiometer.
Extracurricular activities were at an all-time high in the early 1900s. There was a Home Economics Club, Drama Club, Music Club, Literary Society, Letterman’s Club, Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs, Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Basketball, Pep Club with boy and girl cheerleaders, Table Tennis, Checker Club, Boxing, Track, Baseball, Band, Orchestra, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts. Many of the community organizations, like scouting, were run through the school at the time and members of the faculty were advisors or leaders.