Adrian Public Schools
| Adrian Public Schools | |
|---|---|
| 785 Riverside Ave Adrian, MI 49221 |
|
| District information | |
| Type | Public |
| Grades | Pre-K-12 |
| Established | 1828 |
| Superintendent | Robert "Bob" Behnke |
| Budget | $37,218,000 (2012) |
| District ID | 2601950 |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 3,098 |
| Faculty | 185 |
| Teachers | 223 |
| Staff | 408 |
| Student-teacher ratio | 14:1 |
| Athletic conference | South Eastern Conference |
| District mascot | The Maples |
| Colors |
Royal blue and White |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
Adrian Public Schools are a collection of schools in Adrian, Michigan, which have about 3000 students in four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Initially established in 1828, the school system has undertaken numerous transformations, including new buildings and schools, as well as the destruction of one through fire.
In 1828, a school committee authorized the building of a combination school and meeting house at the corner of South Main and Winter Street.
From 1828 to 1849, four school districts developed in Adrian. Each had its own building and equipment, hired its own teachers, and levied a tax on heads of families. The tax was based on the length of time the children in the family attended school. In 1848 a temporary Board of education was formed to combine the four districts. Funds were raised and the cornerstone for a new building was laid on July 8, 1851. Known as the Union school building it opened for classes on September 13, 1852. A report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction noted that the three story building often contained over 500 students.
The rapid growth of the school population in the late 1850s made it necessary to build four new school buildings:
In 1859 a resolution was passed to establish a free school paid for by levying a property tax on constituents within the district. The resolution came ten years before the State of Michigan declared the common schools in the state free.
On the morning of August 10, 1866 the Union school building burned down. Faced with full buildings at the branch schools, the district rented a number of buildings in the city to hold the 500 students that had been displaced by the fire. Property was purchased at the corner of Division and Church streets to build a new Central building. The new building was designed to accommodate 1000 students, and cost $70,000. On April 23, 1869 Central was opened.
By 1901 the building became so crowded that it was necessary to rent a room from St. John's Lutheran School. The next year a committee visited Detroit and Kalamazoo to observe various types of architecture and furnishings. In June 1907 a contract was given for a new building near Center Street. The school opened in September of that year and was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson.
During the same time plans for a new high school were also being drawn up. The project originally had a $50,000 that grew to $70,000 and finally reached $90,000. On November 1, 1907 the cornerstone for the new building was laid. By September 30, 1908 classes began in the new facility.
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Wikipedia