Growth of Kodiak’s School System
Shows Real Progress Of Community
Kodiak’s progress over the past
20 years can be evaluated in many
ways. But a look at the advance
ments made in its school system
tells the story more adequately
than any other means.
From an enrollment in 1939
40 of 194 to its present attendance
of 870 spells a continuing growth,
of course. And the improvements
in the physical properties of the
Kodiak Independent School Dis
tricts plant has gone right along
with its increased enrollment. Its
a far cry from the facilities of the
old school downtown, to the new
and modern plant atop the hill
which furnishes adequate facilities
for teaching for all ages from
grade school through high school.
The Hew elementary school wing
of the main plant was completed
ahd occupied first in the fall of
1953; the high school wing was oc
cupied in the fall of 1956.
There are presently 32 academic
rooms, 1 gymnasium-auditorium
facility, a library, csfeteria, a
home economics suite, shop space
aad one science sui/te.
The first annual report in the
local records is dated May, 1941,
and was written by Daisy M Spie
seke, principal at the time. At that
time there were 4 teachers, 100
pupils, a high school with two
9th graders and one 10th grader.
The tawth grader was A1 King, who
withdraw before the term ended.
The 9th graders were Percy Wat
kinswa and Verna Will*—only
Percy cMapietod the sehnol year.
At thnt tawn B»re «nru 15 *
grade 8, € in grade 7, 11 in grade
g, g ia grade 5, £1 in grade 4, 15
In grade 8, 10 in grade 2, and 19
in grade 1. Board noemhorc wore
Ben Craft, treasurer; C. R. King,
eierk, and C. Uagnusen, director.
In 1932, Hnrry L. Holt Was prin
eipal; a 1-yenr high eehnol with
fire 9fch grade and me 10th grade
students was conducted.
The first 4-year high ochool was
Maintained in 1935 With Paul E.
Garnett a* principal. There Were
four 12th graders, two 11th grad
ers, four 10th graders and nine
9lh graders.
In 1936, L. M Vincent was prin
cipal. In that year, the average
Salary of teachers was $2,900. To
day the average is $6,804.
In 1948, the Kodiak Indepen
dent School District was organiz
ed with John Hughes as president
of the board; Gene Marlar, clerk;
A. Holmes Johnson, treasurer of
the board; and Julia Beals and
William Stone members of the
board.
This fall, six more rooms were
added to the elementary school
wing making a total of 22 elemen- -
tary school rooms. For the first 1
time all classes are held in the f
combined elementary-high school <
building. '
In 1959, five additional acres i
adjoining the main school site were f
added to the property and will be
developed as a playground area, i
Plans for adding a vocational wing <
to the high school plant at an es- t
timafted cost of $300,000 are being (
♦ • . - - • .. . -
Seen above is the old school, familiarly known as the “downtown”
elementary school, where until in recent years, the children of Kodi
ak learned readin’, writin’ and arithmetic,
o o 1960 marks the first year the old building was not used for school
purposes. It is thought to some day turn the grounds and facilities
into a civic center. In the meantime, the building is used for public
meetings and other uses. o
, o o
c o o.
/orked out at the present time.
The cafeteria serves an average
if 400 meals each day. Pupils pay
5 cents; adults, 50 cents.
In 1939-40, there were 3 high
chool teachers, 7 grade school,
’his year there are 15 teaching
ligh school and 23 teaching the
Elementary grades. 34 students
/ill graduate from high school
fter the 1960-61 term and 47 from
;rade school.
The annual budget for 1960-61
s $498,007.08, of which the State
ontributes $326, 257.50; the Fed
ral government, $57,000; tee local
listrict, $114,759.58.
Above is pictured Ivor Schott, Superintend amt of
Schools, an able administrator under wham «pr
vision, the advancement in Mae school facilities
in the past few years have boon made, below *»
pictured the school library.
Attendam Record
Attendance figures aver the
years illustrate More thaa any
thing else the growth of the
school system in Kodiak. The
average attendance in 1939-40
as 194.9 and iu 196*41 there are
87* au the rail. Spat attendance
aver the years is as fallows:
Year Alt. B.S. 4. rad
194* 11 195.1 6
1959-51 326.14 10
1955- 56 6*4.93 *9
1956- 57 715.90 3*
More than 30 students have grad
uated each year since the*, with
the highest record last year, 35.
Bright, cheerful classrooms are the order of the day. Below is an
early schoolhouse picture.
photo by Amefcgh
VETERANS OF FOREION WARS
of
THE UNITED STATES
Founded 1399
.
KATMAI POST NO. 70fj«
Todiak, Alaska
SERVING THE VETERANS—THE COMMUNITY—THE YOUTH OF KODIAK
Council of Administration Meeting - Oct. 8 - 1060
Held at Post No. 7056, Kodiak, Alaska
Seated-L. to R.—Gene Durkee, Sr. Vice; Dr. Paul Jaeger, Commander; Tom Lusk, Jr.
Vice (all Department of (Alaska).
« Standing—Reaves Read, Commander, Post No. 7056; Ray Wells, Department Adjutants
Ralph Kuhns, Chief of Staff; George Sonntag, Department Quartermaster; Joe Bettin, c
Department Inspector; and Ralph Carter, Commander, Chugach Post.