HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT history

In 1905 the grade school’s name was changed to Hawthorne School.

School opened on November 18, 1907 with Mrs.

Hawthorne School opened in 1909 as an annex to the Columbia City School.

Rousch served as the first president of the Parent Teachers Association which was organized in Hawthorne in 1912 and soon had a membership of 180 men and women.

Lakewood School opened as an annex to Hawthorne in 1916.

In 1918, a new community township high school (District 88) was created and plans were made to build a new school.

The new York Community High School opened its doors in September 1920 with an enrollment of 153 students and nine teachers.

Beginning with just over 200 students, Hawthorne's enrollment reached 408 by 1921.

When it closed in June 1927, after enrollment fell to 16, the students were reassigned to Hawthorne and Whitworth.

The district sold the site on May 5, 1942.

In 1950, the Board of Education appointed a Citizens Advisory Committee to study the growing enrollment situation.

In 1951, the district purchased a lot to the south of the school grounds for an extra playfield.

Beginning in September 1952, Hawthorne's 7th grade classes were assigned to Sharples.

In 1962, the school board recommended that the Hawthorne building be replaced.

In 1972-73, the Boys' Basement was turned into the Reading Center, and the following year the Girls' Basement became the Math Center.

In 1977-78, only 260 pupils remained at Hawthorne and the following year the number dropped even further to 213.

In 1978, the district estimated that it would cost more than $1 million to remodel the building and add a gymnasium, lunchroom, and auditorium, and an additional $340,000 to bring the facility up to seismic standards.

When Briarcliff closed in 1984, all former Hawthorne students transferred to a reopened Blaine.

In April 1993, the chess team won the state championship.

By December 2003, the York project was complete (nearly six months ahead of schedule and on budget) when the final phase, a 59,000-square-foot field house, was opened.

College and in 2004 was sold to the EPD and opened as the Wagner Community Center.

On March 21, 2006 the community overwhelmingly approved two referenda questions—the first to add additions at all elementary and middle schools including a complete renovation for Hawthorne School, and the second to increase the tax rate by $.30.

Much-needed additional classrooms will be completed at most sites for the beginning of the 2007-08 school year.

The Hawthorne School project is due for completion by fall of 2008.

In 2009, the District Administrative Offices moved to 162 S. York freeing up the entire space at Madison for the pre-K early childhood program.

ACSA Superintendent of the Year 2012