Buildings & Fleet Div history

At a meeting of the Commissioners in June, 1847, it was determined to declare the school kept by S. Cleveland, in the Baptist church, corner of Wisconsin and Milwaukee streets, a public school for the accommodation of the First and Third wards, which were largely increasing in school population.

High Schools The propriety of establishing a high school in Milwaukee was first called to the attention of the School Commissioners, April 5, 1852, in a resolution offered by Mr.

However, in August, 1857, the Board reached some conclusive decision in the form of a resolution, which was adopted, as follows:

On the 23d of December, 1858, the Seventh Ward High School celebrated the first anniversary at the Newhall House.

In the following year, November, 1859, Mr.

Records Destroyed On Sunday morning, December 30, 1860, between 1 and 3 o'clock, Cross's Block, in which the office of the Commissioners was situated, was burned to the ground.

No ward other than the Sixth profited by this arrangement, and even there instruction was discontinued in 1861.

Fifth District School (Mitchell)-Corner of Hanover and Park streets; building erected in 1862-3, at a cost of $15,000; has a seating capacity of 424, containing eight rooms.

In the latter part of 1870, a series of rules for government was adopted, and the course of instruction revised; but as each teacher felt at liberty to pursue his own course, no uniformity was attained.

In 1872, the study of German was put under direction of a standing committee, with Commissioner Trumpff as Chairman.

The building was burned in 1873, and the school was removed to the old Baptist church, on Sycamore street, between Third and Fourth, where it remained until the Spring of the following year.

In the mean time the First Ward school-house had been repaired, and was occupied by the High School again until 1877.

The school was opened January 1, 1881.

Principal Tiefenthaler – In 1903, Ninth District #1 was opened on the corner of Fourteenth and Galena.

Principal Siefert - In 1906, Henry O.R. Siefert replaced Tiefenthaler as principal and served as principal of Ninth District # 1 for sixteen years.

The school was renamed Fourteenth Street School in 1912.

Siefert retired from Milwaukee Public Schools in 1922 at the age of 82, after serving students for 63 years in numerous capacities.

In 1923, the school underwent its first renovation.

The school, as mentioned earlier, was renamed Siefert School in 1928.

Principal Koepke – In 1929, William C. Koepke replaced Tienfenthaler as principal.

Principal Peck - Koepke’s principalship lasted until 1937 when Adelbert W. Peck succeeded him.

Principal Bachman - Siefert was nearing its third major renovation when Anton Bachman took over in 1964.

Principal Galitzer - During the last few years of Bachman’s principalship, which ended in 1972, and the first few years of Harold Galitzer’s administration, Siefert took seventh grade students to provide relief to Roosevelt’s Middle School’s overcrowding.

In 1976, Siefert began a Head Start program.

Tuition payments from the state to the schools participating were $2,464 per student, making the total state payment $2 million distributed to the 12 schools in 1978-79.

In May of 1979, federal judge John Reynolds approved a new integration plan devised by Milwaukee Public Schools.

Galitzer’s administration ended in 1986.

Principal Martin-Elam – Sarah Martin-Elam became the 10th principal of Siefert School when she succeeded Wood in 1989, and is currently the active principal.

In 1992, the school became involved with the High Scope program for kindergarten and first grade students.

Principal Hawkins – Janel Hawkins became the 11th principal of Siefert School when she succeeded Martin-Elam in 2001.