School History Project

Since this is Spring Lake School’s 50th year (one year in the early ‘50’s and 49
years since 1960), the 5th/6th graders and I wanted to commemorate this milestone. Over
the past several weeks, then, we have researched old board minutes, yearbooks, and other
written sources as well as conducted interviews in order to compile information for a
“50Year History” notebook. We have learned a lot along the way and had fun doing it.
The one consistency apparent throughout the past several decades is the hard work and
effort from the community and staff to keep Spring Lake School alive and open. Our
current motto at Spring Lake is “small but mighty”, and I think this has been the case
throughout our history.
While most schools these days are bigger buildings with multiple classrooms of
each grade, we have always been in the position where every adult in our school knows
every child and vice versa. Our school board, administration, and staff all know each
other and work together effectively putting “kids first”. Our community, also, is
interested, involved, and supportive. Over the course of the last several years, a lot of the
“smaller” schools have been forced to consolidate or dissolve. Our district and
community have always fought against this and did whatever it took to keep our school
alive. Back in 1990 when NO school districts were able to get a referendum passed, our
situation here was desperate enough that without a financial increase, the school would
close. Our community passed a referendum by a margin of 3 to 1. WEEK TV was so
amazed that they sent someone down to interview us. I will never forget the excitement
of our staff and students—it has always been one of my very favorite memories of Spring
Lake School.
Back in the 1950’s, the Spring Lake community had to work very hard and make
several sacrifices to keep our district alive. As we researched our school’s past, we would
see a lot of these names mentioned over and over again during the school’s “infancy” as
being instrumental in keeping the district solvent: Ken Crabtree, Victor Nanninga,
Ed Proehl, Carl Thomas, Gary Wallinger, George Hinkle, Randall Hoehn, Ken Clayton,
and Margaret Rankin. I am sure there are many others as well, but we saw these specific
names repeatedly throughout the board minutes from the ‘50’s and early 60’s. In 1997,
another person came along and worked very hard to keep our district solvent, and that is
our current superintendent, William Reising. I have always believed that had Mr. Reising
not come when he did and moved things forward, we would not be here now.
I strongly believe we have something special here at Spring Lake. I have been
here 32 years so far, and I have had the opportunity in that time of teaching kids of
former students and even having a former student as a co-worker. Spring Lake kids are
simply fantastic. Likewise is the staff. I have found the various staff members throughout
the years have been very wonderful, caring human beings. My hat is off also to the
community. Without their help and support, Spring Lake would not be what it is today. I
truly feel blessed being a part of Spring Lake School and hope the school gets to
commemorate another 50 years.
Cindy Carlton
May 2009
The following was researched and written by the 5th/6th grade class during the 19992000 school year. From August-October of 1999, the entire school did a project
regarding the history of Spring Lake School. It culminated with a get-together of
former students and staff.
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL HISTORY
In the late 1940’s, six small schools in this area decided it would be a good idea to
start looking into consolidating into one. This came to pass in 1952 with the birth of
Spring Lake School. Shortly after Spring Lake School opened, residents from Manito and
Spring Lake got in a dispute about boundaries, and the school closed down until 1960.
Spring Lake School sat empty, then, in the mid ‘50’s due to this dispute. Spring Lake
residents actually held school in a nearby airplane hangar in order to keep the district
alive. The court case was finally settled, and in 1960, Spring Lake students returned to
their building. The boundary lines were set according to area residents’ choice of which
high school they wanted their children to attend—Forman or Pekin. When Spring Lake
re-opened, there were only two teachers: one who taught 1-3 and the other 4-6.
Kindergarten was not offered originally.
The Community Club (later known as P.T.C., then P.T.C.C.) has always played
an important role at Spring Lake School. In the 1960’s, it was the main source for the hot
lunch program. For several years, Community Club provided not only the food but also
the cook! In the ‘60’s, ‘70’s, and ‘80’s, Community Club annually held big dinners (chili,
spaghetti, and chicken.) They were very profitable and well-attended at that time.
Throughout the years, Community Club/P.T.C.C. has provided a lot of “extras” for our
students. Currently, they send us on field trips, bring in outside educational programs,
and purchase playground equipment. In 1999, they even helped us purchase new Science
texts.
There have only been 5 principal/superintendents at Spring Lake School since
1960. They are Florence Golden (1960-1965), Margaret Rankin (1965-1977),
Edward Morsch (1977-1987), James Malone (1987-1996), and William Reising (since
1997.)
Due to its class sizes, Spring Lake has offered combined classrooms at various
times throughout its history. At times, there were up to 3 grades per one teacher.
Students, though, have found there are many positives that come from combined
classrooms.
The building at Spring Lake has changed throughout the years. The biggest
change came in 1980 when an addition was built onto the school. The school originally
stopped where the current office is located. Today’s all-purpose room (gym), kitchen, and
restrooms were added on for the 1980-1981 school year. Prior to 1980, where the
computer lab, music room, and kindergarten room are now located was the all-purpose
room. Off the current second grade room (where the first grade room is now located)
used to be a stage where many performances were given—especially in the 1970’s under
the direction of Kate Schmitgall. Every year, Spring Lake still puts on a Christmas
program. Volunteers from the community have always been very important in helping us
with our performance.
In the 1980’s, the community formed a group called the Spring Lake Athletic
Association which provided sports to area children. Baseball and basketball teams were
formed, tournaments were held, and everyone enjoyed the experience. We still have
trophies to commemorate this time.
1990 was an important year for Spring Lake School. A bond referendum was
passed by the community that year which allowed Spring Lake School to remain open. It
passed overwhelmingly by a 3:1 margin!!
The early 1980’s marked the dawn of the computer era here at Spring Lake. We
started with one Apple computer that was transferred on a cart from classroom to
classroom. We currently have a lab of 15 computers, as well as having at least one
computer in each classroom. Over the past couple school years, we have been doing
engaged learning projects utilizing our technology.
Spring Lake has sent their 7/8th grade students to different junior high schools
throughout the years: Washington Junior High, Edison, Broadmoor, and South Pekin.
One of the many benefits of our alliance with South Pekin School is the amount of extracurriculars that our 5/6th graders get to participate in.
Spring Lake has always embodied the “small school” atmosphere which is so
rarely seen these days. We hope it goes on forever!!!!
CHANGES SINCE THE LAST HISTORY WRITTEN IN 1999
By Hannah Barker, Tyler Hack, Riley Gensel, Chelsea Ronke,
and Dylan VonBoeckman
The previous time a school history was done, it went until
1999. We recently interviewed Mr. Reising to help us gain
information for the time after that. First, we asked him when he
started. His answer was “May 1st, 1997.” Our second question was
“What are some things that are different about our school since
when you started?” He gave us quite a few answers for that
question. For one, our school is now off the state’s Financial
Watch List. (That’s a very good thing because that means our
school is doing much better financially.) We have added more
staff. Our school has a full time janitor now. We signed a five year
contract with Rankin for our junior high students next year. Our
building has improved a lot. We have added new tiles, windows,
and also worked on the playground. We can now provide more
money for the students’ educations, including better textbooks. We
have new cooking utensils. Our school hired a new cook’s
assistant. We’ve gotten new library books. Our school is
continuing putting extensive roofing on the gym. That’s a lot of
improvements over the last few years! Another question we asked
Mr. Reising was “What does he consider one of his biggest
accomplishments?” He said the atmosphere here is much better. He
said his motto is “Kids come first,” and we know with him, that is
true!
Also, in class, we discussed as a group some other changes
we’ve seen in the time we’ve been here. They are 1.) Mrs.
Embree’s music classes; 2.) Mrs. Charlton’s P.E. classes;
3.) R.T.I.; and 4.) our new website.
We’re proud of all our school’s accomplishments!
(I asked Debbie Cummins to come in and talk to the students about her various roles at Spring
Lake School over the years. She has been a student here, a mother of two students, a grandmother
of two of our students, a former board member, and former president of our Community Club-now known as P.T.C.C. She’s been a very valuable addition to our school in many ways over the
years. She gave a great talk, and the students really enjoyed her visit……Cindy Carlton)
A REPORT ON OUR TALK WITH DEBBIE CUMMINS
By Ashton Quotskyva, Kozik Beeney, Marisol Murillo, Lindsey Helfers, and Kristin Keyes
Debbie Cummins told us that she didn’t begin first grade in the building of Spring Lake
School District 606 because Forman School District 124 said “the building is yours but the land
it’s on is ours.” So the current Spring Lake building closed down in 1953. Debbie went to first
grade, then, in an old airplane hangar on Sky Ranch Road that served as Spring Lake School.
Randy Hoehn was the airplane hangar owner. After first grade, Debbie went to Franklin School in
Pekin for the second grade. In 1960, Spring Lake School reopened again so she went to third
through sixth grades here. Mrs. Golden was the teacher for the 4th-6th grades (all combined into
one classroom.) Mrs. Golden was also the school principal. Debbie has a lot of nice memories
about her. Debbie told us that Mrs. Golden liked to have the kids play baseball, do projects, and
give plays. Debbie remembers they hatched chicks and made samples of volcanoes. She also told
us about the time Mrs. Golden received a phone call in the classroom where the school phone was
kept saying that President Kennedy had been assassinated. Everyone felt sad, and they listened to
it on the radio. Debbie said the school used to be like a community center. Square dances were
actually held once a month on a Saturday night. In addition to the monthly dances, there were
also other programs held about once a month, a community dinner usually in January, and a
picnic it May. Everything was centered around the school, then, and practically everyone was a
volunteer one way or the other. That was when Community Club started. She said it was very
unusual for someone in the community to not be a member of Community Club.
Debbie also told us about the Spring Lake Athletic Association which was a big deal to
our school in the 1980’s. Spring Lake teams (made up of area students) would compete against
students from neighboring districts. For many years, the Spring Lake Athletic Association was
very helpful and a lot of fun.
Debbie’s family has had FOUR generations at Spring Lake School. Her father went to an
older version of Spring Lake School (not in the current location), she went here, she had two sons
who went her, and now has two grandsons going here!
After Debbie talked, she was willing to answer some questions. Here is a summary of
some of them:
HOW LONG WERE YOU ON THE SCHOOL BOARD?
4 years and I was the first woman on the board.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AS A STUDENT HERE?
My Science projects
HOW HAS THE BUILDING CHANGED?
They’ve added hallways and the gym.
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED SCHOOL HERE?
8 years old.
WHAT WAS THE MOST SURPRISING THING THAT HAPPENED WHILE YOU WERE IN
SCHOOL?
When President Kennedy was assassinated.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A BOARD MEMBER?
The things I was able to accomplish.
HOW WERE THE LUNCHES?
They were great. We ate in our classrooms.
WERE THE TEACHERS NICE?
Yes, they were great.
DID YOU GET UNDIVIDED ATTENTION?
Not really, but I didn’t mind.
Debbie told us a lot about Spring Lake School history and about her time here. We thank
her for coming and helping us learn more about our school history.
SCHOOL HISTORY-DEVOTION TO SPRING LAKE SCHOOL
By: Amber Dixon, Nick Brown, Jimmy Berry, DeeAnna Myers, Justin Baugh, and
Jacob Michael
The following was taken from a couple talks given by Miss Carlton. We took notes, then
wrote this report from them.
In our opinion, keeping the school open has been one of the most important things the
Spring Lake community has ever done. Sometime during the 1940’s, a bunch of smaller schools
decided to join together in one building. Some of those schools were named Clover Leaf, Porter
School, and Golden School. So in 1952, Spring Lake School opened in the building we are in
now. 1952-53 was a good school year. Then Forman School District told our school district that
we had built our school building on their land. This was legally proven to be true. So the building
of Spring Lake closed. However, the community found out a way to keep the school district alive.
They learned the school district could stay intact as long as some of the Spring Lake children
went to a building in the district boundaries. The rest of the kids could then go into Pekin schools.
The building they found in the district was an old airplane hangar. Finally, in the Spring of 1960,
Forman agreed to sell us the land the school was on. However, as part of that deal, we had to
agree to allow the Spring Lake residents to choose where they wanted their children to go for
junior high and high school…either Forman or Pekin. If they chose Forman, their kids would just
go there for all of school. We agreed to go along with that. That is why our school district
boundaries are shaped somewhat like a duck.
In 1980, Spring Lake School expanded by building an addition on. Then, things got bad.
The economy went down, and many families had to move away. Spring Lake lost approximately
30% of their student population at that time plus a lot of state money. By 1990, Spring Lake
School knew if they didn’t get a referendum for more money passed, they would have to close
down. Everyone set to work. Students took flyers to the residents living around the school. Phone
calls were made. The students also made a sign for our front yard saying “S.O.S.” which stood for
“Save Our School”. Miss Carlton still has a picture of it on her desk to this day. Miss Carlton told
us that the day of the vote (in November of 1990), Mr. Malone sent her down to where they voted
to try to get an idea of who was voting and how it might be going. No school districts at that time
were able to pass referendums. Money was just not easily available. So hopes were not real high.
Miss Carlton said right before the polls closed, Kozik’s grandmother and uncle, Debbie and Joey
Stauthammer, came in and said that they were here to vote to keep our little school open. Miss
Carlton said how happy that made her feel. Later that night, she, the board president and his wife
(the Crabtrees), and Mr. Malone went to the Pekin courthouse to await the returns. The
community had voted to keep the school open by a 3 to one margin!!!
Unfortunately, by 1997, our school had economic problems again, and something had to
be done. Thankfully, Mr. Reising came to our school as superintendent. He made many positive
changes. Miss Carlton says he saved our school, and if it weren’t for him, we might not be here
now. Currently, we are in great shape and feel as if we’re thriving.
As you can see, over the years, a LOT of people did whatever they could to keep Spring
Lake School open. We hope it goes on forever!
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENTS/PRINCIPALS
1960-Present
Florence Golden (1960-1965)
Margaret Rankin (1965-1977)
Edward Morsch (1977-1987)
James Malone (1987-1997)
William Reising (1997-Present)
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL SECRETARIES
1969-PRESENT
Wanda Crabtree (1968-1969)
Elaine Branchfield (1969-1996)
Michelle Gaddy (1996-Present)
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL CUSTODIANS
1965-Present
Howard Stout
Dolph Weyhrich
Curt Hite
Ruth Hite
Shirley Mills
Char Homerin
Walt Hamann
Walt Emmons
Nancy Churchill
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL HEAD COOKS
AND ASSISTANTS
1965-2009
Head Cooks
Clarabelle Wooding
Catherine Weyrich
Viola Moehring
Debbie Schaible
Teresa McAdams
Assistants
Mary Lou Daniels
Paula Zeigler
Penny Boggs
Jenny Hamann
Shirley Walker
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL
TEACHING STAFF 1952-2009
Spring Lake School opened for the 1952-1953 school year, then was
closed until 1960.
The following is a listing of the teachers who have taught at
Spring Lake School since its beginning. The teachers are listed according to the year in which
they began teaching at Spring Lake.
1952:
Lillie Woods
Johanna Eidman
Mary Thompson
Loraine Achenhausen
Izetta Bradley
1960:
Florence Golden
Nena Thompson
1961:
Margaret Rankin
1963:
Beatrice Langford
1965:
Wilma Embree
1966:
Kathryn Schmitgall
1970:
Ellen Dodson
1973:
Bonnie Kammeyer (first time)
Anita Dunton
1974:
Ann Mundwiler
Gail Dildine
Mary Jean Nauman
1975:
Dorothy Seelye
Lillian Vogel
1977:
Cindy Carlton
Kim Hall
Ed Morsch
Catherine McCambridge
1978:
Kathy Yordy
1979:
Carol Gebhardt
1980:
Ruby Anderson
1982:
Gretchen Smith
1985:
Linda Swisher
Vivian Wallin
1986:
Stacy Diemer
Bonnie Kammeyer (return)
1987:
Lora Kober
1993:
Crystal Deppert
1994:
Tami Hoerr Epkins
1998:
Karen Badon Young
2000:
Kendra Dean
2002:
Nicole Webb Schaffrin
2004:
Kendra White Burling
2006:
Monica Arms Charlton
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL TEACHERS’ AIDES
1987--Present
Sandy Hudson
Danette Lowe
Debbie Thomas
Julie Gale
Aggie Shults
Lisa Shelabarger
Chris Watson
Kathy Embree
Stacy Woods
Kris Mabis
Stacy Smith
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL SPECIAL ED AND SPEECH STAFF
1952-PRESENT
Linda Harris
Joanne Heilman
Jo Anne Thomas
Sue Justice
Mary McAvoy
Cindy Weck
Diane Beard
Janet Hall
Carol Borysowicz
Shari Emerson
Debbie Butler
Beverly Johnson
Connie Smith
Jean Culver
Mary Marie
Kai Ann Orrison
Cindy Pardieck
Dawn Trautwein
Carrie Anderson
Lisa Wanless
Amy Siegler
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL BOARD
PRESIDENTS
(1956-present)
Everett Preston
Harold Woodley
Carl Thomas
Randall Hoehn
Victor Nanninga
Kenneth Crabtree
Clarence Welch
Dean Brooks
Richard Carson
Robert Godbey
Chuck Lauss
Mike Christianson
COMMUNITY CLUB/P.T.C./P.T.C.C.
PRESIDENTS (1960-2009)
BOB SCHEFFLER
MARY SPILLMAN
BARB MATTOON
JOANN KAUPAS
BARB MUTCHLER
SHARON COLEMAN
DEBBIE PHILLIPS
BONNIE KAMMEYER
JEAN TAYLOR
KATHERINE WEYRICH
IRENE ANDREWS
MILDRED THOMAS
ARLYN HILLS
ROBERTA HOEFT
WANDA CRABTREE
VIOLA MOEHRING
SHARON PROEHL
ELAINE BRANCHFIELD
DELORES MILLER
RUTH ATWOOD
KAY HAYES
PAULA LEWIS
BARB AUTREY
MIKE EVANS
SHIRLEY HILST
DEBBIE CUMMINS
LINDA DEFRATES
KEVIN LYON
CARLA PHERIGO
LORI AULT
JILL PULFER
PATTY FLEEHARTY
TAMI EPKINS
CINDY CARLTON
KENDRA WHITE
STEPHANIE SAPP
HEATHER REYNOLDS
SPRING LAKE SCHOOL’S
50TH
GROUP OF STUDENTS