Center Cass School District 66
| Center Cass School District 66 | |
|---|---|
| Type and location | |
| Type | Public |
| Grades | Kindergarten to eighth grade |
| Established | 1862 |
| Region | Midwest |
| Country | U.S. |
| Location | 699 Plainfield Road Downers Grove, Illinois 60516 |
| District information | |
| Superintendent | Mr.Tim Arnold |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 1,115 (2010-11)[1] |
| Teachers | 81 (on FTE basis)[1] |
| Colors | Green & Gold |
| Other information | |
| Student-to-Teacher Ratio | 17.0[1] |
| Website | www.ccsd66.org |
 |
This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (May 2012) |
Center Cass School District 66 is a public school district located in Downers Grove, Illinois in DuPage County. The district serves about 1300 students in grades K-8.
Center Cass District 66 currently consists of three schools: Elizabeth Ide School (grades K-2), Prairieview Elementary School (grades 3-5), and Lakeview Jr. High School (grades 6-8). The schools then feed into Downers Grove South High School (Community High School District 99). Center Cass School District is named after Center Cass School, which was an older school that served K-2 and was a part of the district. Prairieview School was built to replace Center Cass in 1999-2000.
Contents |
Time Line of Center Cass School District 66 History [edit]
- 1862 Center Cass District established K-8 school on SE corner of 83rd and Lemont.
- 1951 Center Cass School built on SW corner of 83rd and Lemont K-5
- 1970 Elizabeth Ide School built - grades K-4; Center Cass 5-8
- 1975 Lakeview Jr. High School built- grades 6-8; Center Cass 4-5; Elizabeth Ide K-2
- 1977 - 1988 Center Cass closed and space was leased out. Elizabeth Ide grades K-4 and Lakeview Jr. High 5-8
- 1980's Computers were put into Lakeview
- 1988 Center Cass School reopens for grades 4-5; Elizabeth Ide grades K-3; Lakeview Jr. High grades 6-8
- 1991 Center Cass School grades K-2; Elizabeth Ide grades 3-5; Lakeview Jr. High grades 6-8
- 1999-2000 Prarieview was constructed
- 2000 Prarieview opens for grades 3-5; Elizabeth Ide grades K-2; Lakeview Jr. High grades 6-8
- 2000 Center Cass School knocked down in the fall
- 2003 New ventilation systems put in Lakeview
- 2004 Lakeview false foldable walls replaced with real walls
- 2010 Lakeview had bathroom renovations
- 2010 Elizabeth Ide had false walls replaced with real walls and had the bathrooms renovated.
- 2011 Enclosed bus parking made between Lakeview and Prarieview
- 2011 Drainage pond developed for Lakeview
- 2012-2013 Lakeview Jr High goes from trimesters to semesters
Center Cass School [edit]
The original Center Cass School was a one room wooden structure located in what is now known as Brookeridge. The wooden school burned to the ground in 1913. A replacement school was built in the same place but was made with concrete for safety. It also was one room. In 1915, the entire student body and faculty numbered 16. Mrs. Elizabeth Ide was a teacher and later the principal at Center Cass School. Mrs. Ide brought eight gallons of water to school from her house each day because the school's water supply was contaminated. The schoolhouse was sometimes cold so the students would have to wear their coats and their snow shoes. The land, where the first school was, is currently where the CVS Pharmacy is located, (83rd street and Lemont Road).
In 1950, the last Center Cass School was built across the street on 83rd and Lemont, where the Walgreens store is now located. It was added onto in 1955, 1962 and 1968. Until they built Elizabeth Ide in 1970, all grades K-8 were at Center Cass School. Prior to that time in 1968 and 1969 some classes were held in a church on Cass Avenue as there was not enough room for everyone at the school.
Elizabeth Ide School [edit]
Elizabeth Ide is named after Mrs. Elizabeth Ide, the former principal of the Center Cass School. Elizabeth Ide School was built in 1970. The grade level the school currently covers is K-2. The school mascot is a lion, which was chosen by the students. The school nickname is Ide Pride.
Prairieview Elementary School [edit]
Prairieview was built because Center Cass School was very small and cramped. At Center Cass the gym served as the P.E. facility, band room in the morning, lunch room in the middle of the day, and a passage way to the other side of the building, where classrooms were located. The library was spread out and not very organized, while the teacher's lunchroom was in the basement. There was no storage space and the band director had to teach lessons in a closet. In the late 1990s, District 66 sold the Center Cass School property and built Prairieview School which opened in August 2000. South Grove Park was supposed to be the building site, but the people voted against it 3 times, so it was moved next to Lakeview.
The grade level the school currently covers is 3-5. Names for the school were suggested by the students. The Board of Education chose Prairieview from the names that were given. The school's mascot was chosen in a contest by the students. The winner was Prarieview Panthers.
Lakeview Jr. High School [edit]
The district wanted to establish a new Junior High school for the community with adequate facilities for all facets of school programming. Center Cass School was overcrowded and not ADA accessible due to multiple levels and no elevator. Lakeview opened in 1975. Lakeview got its name from the fact it was located across the street from Bruce Lake. The school's nickname is Lakeview Spartans. Lakeview has been remodeled several times to add another gym, science labrooms, applied tech room and improved computer lab facilities. Lakeview has many sports teams. Also in Lakeview, you can be involved in many clubs and take part in music programs.
Band Program in District 66 [edit]
The band program now is much different then it was in the early years of the district. There were only a couple bands and the enrollment was lower in the beginning. The ensembles performed for community concerts, however, the program today is much more active. Just like now, the band program started in 4th grade. There was only 1 band director in the early stages of the district because that is all that was needed. As the enrollment grew, a second director was added. Eventually, there were 2 full-time directors and 1 general music teacher. Dr. Jay Tiede, Mr. Ralf Wilhite, Mr. Bob Hodac, Mr. Paul Windsor, and currently Mr. Brian Olsen and Mr. Tom Tedeschi have all held the position of Band Director.
Demographics [edit]
Center Cass School District is district to about 1,115 students (2010–2011). From the past school year (2010–2011) there was about 71.2 white students, 3.9 African Americans, 6.6 are Hispanic, 9.9 are Asian, 0.1 are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders, 0.1 are American Indian, and 8.2 are two or more other races.
Superintendent [edit]
District 66 has named a new superintendent starting July 1, 2012. Former superintendent Dr. Jay Tiede is going to be retiring after 39 years of working in the district. He will be replaced by Mr. Tim Arnold. Mr. Arnold graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education. He also earned his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership at ISU. Currently, he is also earning his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership at ISU.
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "Central Cass SD 66". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
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1. Illinois School District Report Card (2010–11)
2. Questionnaires completed by Superintendent Dr. Jay Tiede, Band Director Mr. Tom Tedeschi, Computer teacher Mrs. Becky Foellmer, 7th grade Social Studies teacher Mr. Jake Little, 6th grade Math teacher Mrs. Karin Snodgrass, 1st grade teacher Mrs. Celeste Amish, 7th grade Language Arts teacher Mrs. Lisa Boyer.
3. "Center Cass School to Celebrate 100th Anniversary Tuesday Evening"- Chicago Tribune (1962)
4. "New Center Cass School Dedicated" -Chicago Tribune (1963)
External links [edit]
Coordinates: 41°44′09″N 88°00′37″W / 41.735886°N 88.010212°W
