In 1952, Americans elected WW II hero Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the USA. The Diary of Anne Frank was first published in English. Polio crippled 57,000 children. The following year in 1953, Great Britain crowned Elizabeth II Queen. Jonas Salk gave himself and his family the first polio vaccine. The Korean War ended after 3 years. Crick and Watson discovered the double helix nature of DNA. By 1955, Salk’s vaccine is declared effective. Disneyland opens. The US gets involved in Viet Nam.
In nearly a decade, the world altered dramatically. So did Ellis, Kansas, including its schools. A major focus in the early 50s involved whether districts could shift tax dollars from one district to another when students changed districts. The led to annexation issues in 1953 when a Trego County Principal and board member attended a District 2 meeting to claim that the $116 dollars in state aid adequately compensated for accepting students from the Trego District. They protested Ellis’ request for tuition payments. Such equity issues led to boundary changes.
Another concern for the school board involved a lack of teacher housing in 1953. Fortunately, in Ellis, Reclamation Project Housing from the Cedar Bluff Dam Project was made available so the board didn’t have to do what some area districts did and build district-owned housing. Thankfully, the economy continued booming and teacher salaries rose approximately $100 per year. The salary schedule follows: $2,300—60-hour teacher; $2,400--90-hour teacher; $2,700—Degree teacher; $2,900—Master Degree. In addition, District 2 offered $100 per year other district experience and $150 per year in-district experience (up to 10 years). A man with a family earned an additional $400 per year more than minimum salary. 1958 Board records indicate this stipend was granted to a recently widowed female teacher.
Working conditions improved as teachers received days to pursue professional development. Supplemental benefits also increased. New teachers received 10 sick days and could accumulate 5 additional days per year of employment up to 30. They could use these days for personal or family (residing with teacher) illness. The board or superintendent could also approve professional development. The district compensated substitutes at $10 per day.
In 1955, the district hired a full-time special education teacher. The 8 students enrolled in this program qualified the district for state aid.
Change was key in 1956. The district budgeted $6,000 to start the first school lunch program. Additionally, the board designated $8,910 to buy two school buses by the fall of 1957. Offering far-reaching effects, District 2 ran bus routes to transport country kids to school. Students once limited to an 8th grade education could now easily attend high school. The district supported these innovations with a $147, 748.85 budget funded with a 17 ½ mill levy.
By 1957, salaries improved again with the base rising to $3,200 and $12 a day substitute pay. That same year, flood waters extensively damaged the high school, requiring clean up, building repairs, and new supplies.
Annexation was the focus in 1958. District 2 annexed rural districts 21, 15, and 12 from January to June. This required expanding busing services. This meant the transportation budget required $15,027.72--a jump from the $0 budget five years earlier. The same year, teacher salaries rose again. In contrast to progressive actions, the board voted to terminate pregnant teacher’s contracts at four months gestation.
During these years the role and function of Ellis public schools evolved. More students expected to attend school and graduate. These changes required more revenue from citizens to support busing, lunches, and special education. Committed to their young, Ellis citizens maintained strong schools.
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools 1940 — Part 14
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools Part 13: 1935-1939
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools Part 12: 1927-1933
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 11
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 10
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 9
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 8
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 7
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 6
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 5
Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 3