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(Editor's note: The following history of the Steger School Dis trict 191 was prepared by J. FR. Patton, superintendent of schools.) In the early days of the Village of Steger before the community became populous enough to sup port a school system of its own, children there attended Chicago Heights schools as residents of District 170. The first school constructed in the village was built while the area was still a part of District 170 and was known as the Co lumbia Heights school. Local residents began a move ment for creation of a separate district shortly after the turn of the century and the petition for detaching the area from 170 was filed in 1905 and the new unit was known as District 191 from that time on. The first board of education held its first meeting in 1906 with Thomas Northern presiding. Other members of the original board included Frank Wider, Frank Dassow, Henry Johnson, Ed Motlong, Ray Hewes, and J. E. Stoholm. First Principal Miss Ida Struckmeyer became the first principal of the Steger schools in 1909 and drew an an nual salary of only $750 for her efforts. She was succeeded in 1911 by P. A. Downey and other prin cipals who served before 1936 in cluded Jesse E. Morgan, Frank Jane John Bassler and H Lehmann. _. The present superintendent, J. FE. Patton, was appointed in 196. The original Columbia Heights school was enlarged during the first few years of the district's operation and in 1912 the Steger building, located at Park avenue and Richton road, was added to the school facilities. In 1929 the Central school, which included eight classrooms, Was constructed on 33rd Street at Emerald avenue and in 1931 a gymnasium-auditorium combina tion, a library and four more classrooms were added. Add Six Rooms Most recent addition to the Central building was another six classrooms added in 1949. A portion of Park Forest flies in the northwest corner of District 194 and pupils from that area necessitated the use of four rooms in the basement during the last school year In addition to the facilities already in use. Enrollment In District 194 schools for the 1950-51 school year totaled 1001 pupils. Of these, 124 are enrolled at the Steger building and 877 attend the Cen tral school. Four instructors hold classes in the Steger building and 3 teach in the larger school. A special music teacher holds classes in both units. The District 194 budget for the current year called for expendi ture of $118,000 for education purposes and $24,000 for building maintenance, interest and bond retirement. Assessed valuation of the school property for the 1949- 0 fiscal year was $7389 per child. Current membership on the board of education includes Pres ident Paul W. Storm, Secretary Ben E. Brown, Lawrence Buxton, Mrs. D. Carson, Mrs. Clarren, Gyl bert Reynolds, and Clyde Hayes, 600 in P.T.A. The district has an active Par ent-Teacher association, founded in 1917, with a current member ship of more than 600. The group soffers the school authorities co -operation via matters related to the welfare of children attending. President of the P.T.A this year is Mrs. Janet Brown. The basic principal on which 194 schools are operated is the theory that all children need a well-grounded foundation of axisls and fundamentals. Social attitudes, concepts and under standings are considered an im portant part of a child's educa tion. As many child expenences as are educationally sound are used to stimulate learning.
Newspaper Details
Chicago Star Publications
Chicago, Illinois, US
Fri, Jul 13, 1951
Page 50
Full Page
Clipped by
William J.
