When was Community first opened? Who was the first principal? Why did the school move to The School for the Blind? What about Community today? What has changed? All great questions. Read on to find out the answers.
Community High School was started by Dr. Ray Pelton, and the first principal was Bill O'Toole. Former science teacher, Max Laird recalls Community High’s history. “Community High School was started in 1985 as a way to reduce the number of drop outs.”
When Community High School first opened at the old Roosevelt Center, only 40 students attended. Gradually the student population at Community began to grow. Max Laird says, “While I was teaching here, the largest graduating class was 55 students.”
To accommodate for its growth and to transition into a more suitable building, the school moved to The School for the Blind in 1995. Laird explained the move. “We moved due to expansion reasons. We didn’t have enough classrooms. It needed to be expanded and moved out of Roosevelt.”
Although it flies under the radar in most circles, Community High School has seen its share of students. In the past year Community High School
celebrated its 1000th graduate.
Staff at Community has been as constant as its growth. Since its beginning, there have been only three principals to oversee the school: Bill O’Toole, Dave Godfread and current principal, Terry Bohan.
Beyond the administration, teachers are slow to change schools as well. Most teachers remain at CHS for over ten years, with many logging in up to twenty-three years.
Community High School has changed a lot over the
past years both in its structure and now in its appearance.. Superintendent of Grand Forks
Public Schools, Dr. Larry P. Nybladh believes the external changes will make Community a stronger presence in the area. “I think once the school opens next fall, the people of the community will be happy with the changes that Community High School has made.”
Community will no longer be the old looking school it was before. The updated cosmetic look to Community will match its modern apporach to education. Lu Burris, administrative assistant in Community’s main office, comments, “The new Community will have a classic, clean, environmental look to it. It’ll look more like a school when it’s done.”
So farewell, old friend. The old Community High School is history.
Community
History
by Leanne Ness