Altoona Area School District history

A school district was formed in early October, 1883, the 10th to be created in the town of Washington.

In June, 1888, the state school fund had allocated $291.35 to the Altoona District.

July, 1891, records show the state school fund allocation to be $283.00.

On July 14, 1893, the school district purchased Lots 7 and 8, Block 6 of the Original Plat, located on the northwest corner of 1st Street West and Hayden Avenue.

The school was first located at the Webster Building, then became established in a separate building until 1895.

In 1903, a class of fourteen was the largest graduating class in the school’s history.

In 1905, it moved to its present location on sixth avenue.

On March 10, 1911, it was announced that the district had received a state loan of $9,000 to build the new school.

February of 1912 saw the district sell the school building and land on the northwest corner of 1st Street West and Hayden Avenue to Christ Church of Eau Claire for $775.

The high school opened October 1, 1913, for an eight month term.

The class of 1919 had five graduates including the first male, Arthur Carroll.

In the spring of 1922 an addition was started.

An attempt to use the former Altoona State Bank building for a kindergarten for 1930-31 was dropped after state inspectors stated that renovation would cost $1270.

Transportation of students was begun when Felix Evert was hired on August 25, 1936, to transport students from the highway for $342 per year.

In July, 1937, a school band was started and Arthur M. Howe hired as band instructor, a part time teaching position.

The annual district meeting in July, 1948, authorized $1000 to start a hot lunch program and to purchase a gas stove.

Building a new school or an addition to the existing one was discussed at length at the district annual meeting on July 11, 1949.

The purchase was completed in February, 1951.

A new resolution was passed on January 7, 1952, authorizing the school board to proceed with the building of a high school-elementary school building, preparing plans and specifications for bids and to begin construction at the earliest possible date.

In February, 1954, Architect Playter was instructed to prepare plans for two additional classrooms and a gymnasium.

A special district meeting was held on June 30, 1955, at which the lease of school land was authorized to the non-profit corporation on which the corporation was to build a school building which they would lease to the school district for twenty years with the rent not to exceed $900 per month.

January of 1959 found the school board considering soliciting nearby schools for entrance into the Altoona School District in case the high school rezoning legislation passed the state legislature and was signed into law.

The need for another addition to the school was becoming evident and planning started in April, 1960, a preliminary sketch was presented to the district annual meeting in July.

New band uniforms, enough for 40 members, were purchased for the 1962-63 school year.

A new 1964 Dodge school bus was purchased.

Public transportation of students to and from private schools began with the 1967-68 school year.

On September 9, 1968, a new position, superintendent of schools, was created, and Principal Einar Pedersen was promoted to the new position.

The building remained much the same until the early 1970's when a $14 million project to completely refurbish the High School was begun.

Construction started in 1974 on a $750,000 vocation-physical education addition to the south end of the high school wing.

Voters at the July, 1980, annual district meeting authorized the school board to purchase land between the high school and 7th Street West for use as a future school site.

On January 19, 1982, approval was given for an offer to purchase land on the west side of the school, between it and 7th Street West.

Age continued to take its toll on the original structure at Sixth Avenue, and in 1985, a new wing was added to the front of the Pleasant Valley building and all four years of high school were brought together again.

A referendum was held on the bond issue on September 2, 1986, and district residents approved it 832 to 783.

On March 2, 1987, the school board approved the expansion of the summer school program to allow high school students an opportunity to gain credits required for graduation.

In 2002, school officials permitted an undercover female police officer to pose as a student for three months in order to identify drug transactions at the school.