Milwaukee Public Schools 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.

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

In the following year, November, 1859, Mr.

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.

In 1873, the rules were again revised, being made more special and authoritative, and the graded course of instruction was expanded into nearly its present form.

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

The First Kindergarten In 1879 the School Board established the first city kindergarten under the management of an experienced kindergarten teacher, Miss Fisher.

The school was opened January 1, 1881.

Born in Wisconsin around 1895 to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, Ida Harwitz became a public school teacher, working at Keefe Avenue School.

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.

When the recreation department was created in 1911, Witt was, along with Dorothy Enderis, named an assistant to director Harold Berg.

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.

In that year, the City of Milwaukee spent $1,525 to purchase five lots on 24th and Mitchell and the next year allocated another $85,000 to tear down the existing buildings and build the nurses’ home, which was completed in 1924.

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.

When Witt died in 1939, at the age of 59, Ida – who had worked alongside him at the center – was tapped as his replacement.

“Even if (the seniors) don’t do anything but sit and talk, the meetings are worthwhile,” Witt told the Journal in December 1949. “Often these persons have only one or two relatives to talk to at home.

The usage was approved by the Common Council in January 1964 and on May 1, the City and MPS signed an automatically renewing one-year lease, agreeing that the lease would also automatically end if the senior center ever closed.

When Witt died in 1965, having developed 34 clubs, according to the Milwaukee Sentinel, she was succeeded by Nancy Williams.

18, 1967, a portrait of Ida Harwitz Witt was unveiled at the South Side Golden Age Center.

In 1972, the Sentinel noted that, “the format that she established still guides the program.”

Work began around the beginning of 1982.

In 1983, the facility – then called the Sixty-Plus Program – got a large addition and a complete remodeling at a cost of $1.2 million, including a $770,000 grant from the United States Department of the Interior and a matching grant from Milwaukee’s Community Development Agency.

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.

Principal Varela-Katz – Wanda Varela-Katz became the 12th principal of Siefert School in 2012.