Part IV - Education, a supplement to the Big Rapids Pioneer Newspaper. Used with permission.




PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE A LONG TRADITION IN BIG RAPIDS

The history of public education in Big Rapids begins in the late 1850's with construction of the city's first school.

The first school was a two-story structure erected in 1859, just after the May 1858 construction of the first school in the county, located in Green Township. The school located at the corner of Michigan and Oak Streets, saw its first class of students in 1860. Initially cslled First Ward School, the area became District One. Later the building was called Lincoln School. Currently, after some structural changes, the building still serves Big Rapids as the community Library.

Third Ward School soon followed, in 1867, with the building located at the end of Grant Avenue at Waterloo Street. The facility located north of today's Hillcrest Elementary, served the children of District Three.

A year later, 1868, the two districts joined together to form the Big Rapids Union District. Union had a school board of six members and a budget of $3,000, provided by a tax levy. The board set the the school year at 180 days, broken into three terms; a fourteen week fall term, followed by a four week recess; a ten week winter term, followed by a three week recess, and a 12 week spring term.

To serve the new district, a temporary structure was buiult at the southwest corner of Pine Street and Michigan Avenue, across from the current Big Rapids City Hall. The 48-foot-by-56 foot two-story building opened in 1870.

Also in 1870, an elementary school, referred to as North School, was built at the corner of Pere Marquette Street and Marion Avenue.

In 1871, two small structures were constructed. One replaced the Third Ward School, and the other located near today's Eastwood Childhood Center, became the Fifth Ward School.

North School was used until 1882, when the new Third Ward School opened on Waterloo. The North School was sold to Big Rapids Free Methodist Church, a portion of it is still in existance as the church's fellowship hall.

In 1872, property was purchased on State Street between Pine and Spruce streets for $2,400. However, no construction took place until the 1880's.

In the mid-1870's, a fire in Union schoolforced students to meet in rooms above downtown businesses for a period of time.

In 1880, to meet the needs of the school district's 817 students, a tall brick high schoolwas designed, but the community did not all agree on the plan. An editorial in the "Pioneer Magnet.," edition of Jan. 27, 1881,said the tall building would be a mistake, citing the "disasterous effects" on young women climbing stairs as the main objection.

A school was needed to replace Big Rapids Union, however, which was in danger of sliding into Mitchell Creek. Big Rapids Central High School was begun in 1881.

The structure, located at the current site of Crossroads Charter Academy Elementary, was built for $16,875. The community's first high school was completed in late 1881 or 1882, it was one of 500 in the country at the time. The now obsolete Union School was sold for $3,000. Also in 1882, the two-story brick buidings were constructed at the Third and Fifth Ward sites for $1,000 each. The First Ward school building was moved and a new one was built on the former location.

Another school existed in the 1880's in Big Rapids. A school was located at 703 N. Fourth Avenue, but its purpose is unclear since it was very close to the Fifth Ward School. It possibly was used to educate the children of immigrants.

In the late 1800's, turnover in school personnel was high - in nine years, five different administrators headed up the district. Teachers stayed for a year or two before mpving on due to low wages. In 1860, an elementary teacher made $19.50 to $40 a year; by 1870, the salary was $360 to $468. A principal in 1868 made $1,000 a year; in 1872, the position paid $1,600. Until 1908, women tended to dominate the faculty, includng the high schook princiapl position, though superintendents were generally men.

The first graduation of Big Rapids Schools, took place in the Opera House and cost the school $3 - the cost of printing the programs. In 1904, Big Rapids established County Normal, a school in the Fifth Ward building to train future teachers. Anyone wishing to become a teacher who was over the age of 16 was allowed to attend. One Fifth Ward School classroom with second, third and fifth-graders was used as a practice classroom for the teachers in training.

In 1912, music and drawing were added to the curriculum. At this time, the genders were seperated when outside the classroom areas and different stairways in the high school.

Up until 1919, boys played sports in the Opera House or Sloss' barn, located where the parking lot behind Martz and Shapley Pharmacy now is. The barn was condemned in 1919 and the community passed a bond issue for $35,000 to build a gymnasium at Central High.

Big Rapids Central High School was used from 1881 to 1924, when overcrowding and structural damage neccesitated the construction of a new school. Big Rapids High School, now in use as Crossroads Charter Academy Elementary, was built in 1925. Part of the original Central High building remained in the structure, but those portions were demolished in the early 1980's during remodeling.

A student newspaper, "Cardinal," began in the 1930's and a marching band was started in 1940. In 1944, bus routes were established in the district and Driver's Education training began in 1948.

During the 1950's, the district saw the first foreign exchange student, sponsiored by the Rotary Club; the first Yearbook; and the first band boosters meeting. Also in this decade, the three elementary schools were replaced. The initial proposal of two schools was defeated 1:1, but the second plan for four elementary schools passed 3:1.

In the early 1960's construction again became a focus, with the building if another Big Rapids High School, this one on North Warren Avenue. That building later became, and still serves as the Big Rapids Middle School. The former high school, on State Street, served the district as a middle school for several years before being sold to Crossroads Charter Academy.

In 1975, the elementaries were expanded, and in 1976, the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District was formed to serve the needs of Big Rapids Public Schools, Reed City Public Schools, Morley St6anwood Community Schools, Chippewa Hills School District and Evart Public Schools. In 1982, Big Rapids' Riverview Elementary was closed but it later reopened.

In 1996, construction on the present Buig Rapids High School began on 15 Mile Road. The school cost $20 million. Students moved into the facility in January of 1998.

The district changed its elementary structure in the fall of 2002, when Eastwood Elementary was changed to Eastwood Early Childhood Center. All the kindergarten classrooms from the four elementaries were moved to Eastwood, with all the former Eastwood students in grades 1 through 5 moved to various of the other three elementaries, Brookside, Hillcrest and Riverview.

Presently, in 2005, enrollment in Big Rapids Public Schools is approximately 2,044 students.

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