Kokomo Schools history

The history of Central Middle School goes back as far as 1907, when Whittier School was built at Boeke and Ivandale.

The new school opened January 27, 1908.

In March of 1915, Whittier teachers and children moved from their classrooms into portable buildings at 10th and Ivandale, so the new editions and remodeling could begin.

After the creation of the San Carlos School District in 1916, classes for local students was held at a house, and then a one-building school, at the corner of San Carlos Avenue and Elm Street, where City Hall is located today.

The first graduating class in 1917 had 143 members.

In 1923, Northwest and Northeast Junior High Schools were established.

In 1939, through funding from the Federal Emergency Administration, local school trustees added an additional auditorium at the north end of the school building, which today is known as Mustang Hall.

In addition to the campus now encompassing the 1942 buildings formerly across Chestnut Street, local architect Delp W. Johnson designed an 8-room building in the center of campus and the library.

1951 Flood – July – The Wyandotte County Commissioners were granted use of the parking area east of Central Junior High School for storing wheelbarrows, boots, shovels, and other tools to be used in the flooded area.

Contracts for a new auditorium, seating 774 persons, a sound-proof music room and library to the west of the original building were signed in the fall of 1956 and the additions were ready the following year.

In 1957, an addition on west of building was built, also an auditorium, music rooms, and library.

In January 1959 the voters selected the Russell Site as the home for the proposed East Coldenham Elementary School, and the Muller Site for the junior and senior high schools.

By mid-March 1960, construction had begun on what was to become, at the time, Valley Central Jr.-Sr.

After 18 months of labor, the high school building opened on September 9, 1961, to 7th-12th graders and was dedicated that November.

The official seal of the district was developed by a group of students that formed the Seal subcommittee of the VCHS Student Government Association in 1964.

Jerry Ancona, Class of 1965, was the chairman of the committee and drew the seal.

In 1969, the district added Berea Elementary School as the three village elementary schools were again at capacity.

In 1970, Johnson's firm, Delp W. Johnson, Poole, and Storm, designed four octagonal "pod" buildings with exterior doors leading to open-air hallways and interior doors connecting to a study and storage room.

“In early 1977, the district received a decision from the United States District Court which did not require major and mandatory relocation of students, but did require the desegregation of Northeast Junior and Sumner High Schools.

As Central celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1980, traditions such as the annual Chickens' Ball variety show and the gathering of students in downtown San Carlos had become commonplace among Central students.

Elsewhere in the city and county, schools were experiencing decreased enrollment, which led to the closure of Tierra Linda Middle School in 1982.

In 1984, Chickens' Ball ticket sales allowed for the purchase of $12,500 worth of personal computers and computer-related programs for Central students.

By 1985, school consultants predicted increased enrollment in San Carlos schools, causing school trustees to move sixth graders back to Central and open six portable classrooms on the west side of campus.

In 1988, San Carlos resident Monica MacLean, known for her roles in Demon Seed and The Paper Chase, co-founded the San Carlos Children's Theater, a performing arts group, which brought acting classes to Central Middle School's range of electives.

On November 16, 1989, a wind shear with tornado force winds of over 60 mph shattered the glass wall of the cafeteria just as 120 first and second graders were having lunch.

New Whittier Elementary School was built in 1991 on the former ball field at Central Middle School (295 S. 10th St).

Central Middle School, the first middle school in Carroll County, Georgia, opened in the Fall of 1992 with approximately 700 students enrolled.

In June 1997, a bond measure was passed to allow the funding of a new gym and library on both campuses, in addition to upgrades classrooms for art, the performing arts, and science.

On September 5, 2000, Tierra Linda officially reopened as San Carlos' second middle school.

In 2001, voters approved a proposed $120 million bond issue at the Municipal Election Tuesday (April 3, 2001) to air-condition schools, improve technology, and make other upgrades to schools and public libraries.

Central Middle was part of Phase II, which was completed in the summer of 2002.

With the beginning of the 2004-05 school year, Central Middle School (both the operation and the building) will be going into it’s 89th school year.

The project was valued at $37.5 million total and financed through the Measure H Facility Bond Program, passed in November 2012 by San Carlos voters.

In 2013, the district closed Maybrook Elementary School in an effort to close a budget gap sending the students to Montgomery and Berea Elementary.

The building reopened in 2014 as an Alternative Learning Center for students at all levels with school anxiety to provide a place within the district to meet their needs.

In 2015 a district committee was formed to consider the creation of a new Viking.