Jefferson County (Ky.) Public Schools.

The office is responsible for ordering materials for use in school media centers. The materials are received at this office, processed, and then sent to media centers in the Jefferson County school system.

From the description of Central Library Processing Office - Annual Finances, 1963-1976. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916119

O.J. Stivers School was built in Eastern Jefferson County in 1952 to serve grades one through seven. In 1954, the seventh grade and a newly added eighth grade were transferred to Waggener High School. Declining enrollment in the 1970s forced the Jefferson County Board of Education to close the school in 1980.

From the description of Stivers Elementary, 1964. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916107

The first separate schools for early adolescents in Louisville began operating in 1928, when Highland and Western Junior High Schools opened. These schools contained grades seven, eight, and nine. The academic program prepared students for senior high schools and the junior high school environment enabled students to make the transition from elementary school to a large high school more easily.

Some high schools in the city and the county high schools had separate departments for junior high school programs, although junior and senior high schools were housed in the same buildings. After merger of the Louisville and Jefferson County school systems, middle schools were established to replace the junior high schools. Middle schools contained grades six, seven and eight.

From the description of Junior High Schools, 1944-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916150

Pupil Personnel was responsible for maintaining an accurate census of school-age children residing in Jefferson County. This department enforced compulsory attendance laws; checked on all non-resident pupils for tuition purposes; handled intra-county pupil transfers; and interpreted pupil personnel policies to school personnel, parents, and children.

From the description of Pupil Personnel, 1904-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916155

Originally, the Louisville public schools were directed by six trustees who were appointed by the Mayor and Board of Councilors, known by various titles such as the Board of Visitors and Examiners of the City Schools, the Board of Trustees of the University and Public Schools of Louisville, and the Louisville Board of Education. In 1851, positions on the board became elective, with two members from each of the city's twelve wards. In 1911, the ward system was discontinued, and a five member Board of Education was elected city-wide until the Louisville Public Schools and the Jefferson County Public Schools merged in 1975.

During the period in which these records were generated, the following persons served as Superintendents of the Louisville Public Schools: E. H. Mark (1894 - 1911); E. O. Holland (1911 - 1915); O. L. Reid (1915 - 1920); Zenos Scott (1920 - 1923); Byron W. Hartley (1923 - 1929); Leslie R. Gregory (1929 - 1931); Frederick W. Archer (1932 - 1936); Zenos Scott (1937 - 1944); J. K. Long, acting Superintendent (1944 - 1945); and Omer Carmichael (1945 - 1960).

From the description of Louisville Board of Education, 1895-1959. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916152

During this period, Irvin Rice and Harold Andrews served as principals of Westport High School. Westport High School was closed in 1981 and converted to a middle school.

From the description of Westport High School, 1975-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916145

The Board of Education is an elected body. Originally, the Louisville Public Schools were headed by a Board of Trustees. In 1851, an elected Board from the wards of the city began to oversee the school system. After the ward system was abolished in 1911, a five member Board of Education was elected from the entire city. This system remained in effect until merger with the Jefferson County Public Schools. Jefferson County Schools were similiarly headed by an elected board from the period in which L. J. Stivers was appointed as school commissioner. After merger with the Louisville Public Schools, an elected seven member Board of Education oversaw the school system.

Duties of the Board included selecting the Superintendent of the school system; determining the annual budget; requesting the levy of local taxes to support the school budget; voting upon the recommendations of the Superintendent; adopting policies, rules, and regulations for the operation of the school system; appraising the effectiveness of the system's efforts to achieve educational purposes established by the State; and maintaining control of school funds and property.

From the description of Board of Education, [microform] 1834-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86095638

The department oversaw preparation of the annual budget of the school system; negotiated with banks for loans; directed payroll activities; supervised the preparation of federal, state, and local tax deductions; and prepared tax withholding forms and teacher retirement reports. This department also directed bond programs, insurance programs, lease arrangements of school facilities, salary accounting, and cost studies of school operations. Financial reports for the Jefferson County Board of Education and the Kentucky Department of Education are generated from this department.

Other activities of the Finance department included the evaluation of annual audits of school activities and lunchroom accounts, the supervision of Worker's Compensation and other insurance programs, and directing salary accounting.

From the description of Finance, 1912-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916111

Named for Sallie Phillips Durrett, a member of a Jefferson County pioneer family, Durrett opened as a junior high school in 1954. Within a few years, the school expanded into a six year high school. It closed in 1981.

From the description of Durrett High School, 1968-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916147

Peege spent a number of years in the Louisville Public Schools as secretary to the superintendent. After the merger of the city and county school systems, she became an office manager at the Brown Building, and later, at the Prestonia Durrett Annexes. She retired from the Jefferson County Public Schools in 1982.

From the description of Mary Ann Peege, 1893-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916154

Shawnee Elementary School opened in Louisville's west end in 1915. The new school replaced a three room cottage school which had been located on Market Street. Shawnee Elementary was in existence until 1981, when declining enrollment caused the Jefferson County Board of Education to close the school.

From the description of Shawnee Elementary Attendance, 1980-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916105

The Department for Instructional Curriculum Supervisors is responsible for overseeing all instructional programs, including educational television and radio, for the Jefferson County Public Schools. This department coordinates curriculum planning, development and implementation for all areas of instruction, as well as conducting in-service programs for certified personnel and working with the Kentucky Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to maintain standards and accreditation of schools. Other duties of the department include purchasing textbooks, and administering the curriculum and supervisory functions for summer schools.

From the description of Instructional Curriculum Supervisors, 1871-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916126

This federal program was instituted to give library books, supplementary materials, textbooks, and audio-visual materials to schools.

From the description of Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 1969-1976. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916110

Ernest Grayson served as Superintendent of Finance for the Jefferson County Public Schools. In 1974, Grayson was chosen as Superintendent of the Jefferson County Public Schools. He served in this capacity until his resignation in 1980.

From the description of Ernest Grayson, 1974-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916125

Shawnee Elementary School was opened in 1915, to replace a three room cottage school which had been located on Market Street in Louisville. Soon after the school opened, a Parent Teacher Association was formed. This organization remained active in school affairs until Shawnee Elementary was closed in 1981.

From the description of Shawnee Elementary School Parent Teacher's Association, 1967-1977. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916104

Bonds were issued as a series by Jefferson County pursuant to a resolution and order of Fiscal Court for the purpose of paying the cost of construction of school buildings.

From the description of Bond Funds, Bond Issue Approvals, Bond Series, 1960-1970. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916114

Although early education in Louisville and Jefferson County primarily remained in private hands, the Kentucky General Assembly established a system of common schools in 1838. Common schools became the basis of ward schools in the city of Louisville, which prepared students for high schools. In Jefferson County, common or primary schools were first established in the Fern Creek area, in Jeffersontown, in the Valley Station area, on River Road, and in the southern area of the county. These schools and those that followed became the core of the Jefferson County School System.

From the description of Elementary Schools, 1906-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916097

Two separate school systems, the Louisville Public Schools and the Jefferson County Public Schools existed within Jefferson County. Although several efforts were made to consolidate the two school systems, they were not merged until 1975. Of the two systems, Louisville was in existence earlier, with a superintendent overseeing the schools since 1837. Jefferson County elected its first superintendent in 1884.

Louisville received its first charter for municipal government in 1828 and, at that time, the city was given power to establish at least one free school in each ward of the city. Mann Butler opened the first of these schools in 1829 and eventually each of the twelve wards had a school. A Board of Trustees was appointed to oversee the city schools; it was known by various titles such as the Board of Visitors and Examiners of the City Schools, the Board of Trustees of the University and the Public Schools of Louisville and, finally, as the Louisville Board of Education. The first superintendent of the city schools, Samuel Dickinson, had the title of Agent of the Board of Visitors.

Initially, the schools were administered by a board of six trustees, chosen by the Mayor and Board of Councilors. In 1851, however, an elected board with two members from each ward began to oversee the system. The system was plagued with problems of political favoritism and patronage appointments, and the schools eventually suffered. In 1911, however, the ward system was abolished, and replaced by a five member Board of Education, elected by the city at large.

Education in Louisville was marked by innovation and applications of new concepts in education, as it was the first city west of the Alleghenies to provide free public secondary schools and one of the first cities to have free kindergarten. Early pioneers of kindergarten, Mary D. Hill and Patty Hill, were influential establishing the kindergarten which began in 1887. Louisville was the first southern city with a program to feed children at school and also to provide schools for the academically gifted.

The earliest secondary schools in the city for males and females were established in 1856. Louisville Male High School operated as a college and granted degrees for three year and two year programs until 1912. Later, Male was merged with Manual High School, but became separate again in 1919. It became coeducational in 1950. The Female High School opened in 1856, and provided normal or teacher training until Louisville Normal School was established in 1871. Manual, established in 1892, and Theodore Ahrens Trade School, opened in 1913, provided manual training education. Junior high schools came into the system in 1928 when Highland and Western junior high schools were opened.

Early schools in Jefferson County were private. One of the earliest of the community schools opened in the Fern Creek area. Later, a boarding school operated near Jeffersontown. For a long time, county schools consisted of elementary rural schools in Fern Creek, Valley Station, River Road, Okolona, the Medora area, and St. Matthews. Some of the earlier schools were: River Road School, the Greenwood School, the Mount Adams School, Kerrick, and Valley Elementary.

In the early twentieth century the county system began to provide secondary education through two and three year high schools. In 1916 and 1917 two year high schools opened in Middletown, Lovvorn, and Worthington, but were closed within a few years. In 1920-21, Worthington High School opened in eastern Jefferson county and in 1923, Fern Creek High school was built. Two years later, it became the first four year high school in the county. Other high schools were soon established, including Medora in 1924; Jeffersontown in 1925; Okolona in 1927, later merging with Fairdale to become Southern in 1951, and Valley in 1936.

The county schools, like their counterparts in the city, were directed by a school superintendent, initially known as the school commissioner. The commissioner was appointed by the county magistrates, who governed the county with the county judge and attorney. In 1884, Jefferson County elected its first superintendent, L. J. Stivers and the office remained elective for the next thirty-seven years. During the tenure of Orville Stivers, the position once again became appointive. The Louisville and Jefferson County school systems were independent until 1975 when the two systems merged and became the Jefferson County Public Schools.

As chief executive officer of the county school system, the superintendent administered the planning, development, coordination, and evaluation of the entire operations of the system. The superintendent was responsible for preparing the annual budget, recommending employment of certified and classified personnel, adjusting personnel assignments, and dismissing personnel for just reasons. Other responsibilities included presenting policies and procedures designed to improve the system to the school board for adoption. The superintendent was responsible to the Jefferson County Board of Education, which adopted or rejected the recommendations presented by the Superintendent. The Superintendent also collated information to keep the Board and the public aware of the processes and activities of the educational system.

Superintendents for the Louisville school system were: Samuel Dickinson (1837 - 1839); Reverend James Freeman Clarke (1839 - 1845); Fortunas Cosby (ca. 1845 - 1955); George W. Anderson (ca. 1855 - 1864); George H. Tingley (1864 - 1894); E. H. Mark (1894 - 1911); E. O. Holland (1911 - 1915); O. L. Reid (1915 - 1920); Zenos Scott (1920 - 1923); Byron W. Hartley (1923 - 1929); Leslie R. Gregory (1929 - 1931); Frederick W. Archer (1932 - 1936); Zenos Scott (1937 - 1944); J. K. Long, Acting Superintendent (1944 - 1945); Omer Carmichael (1945 - 1960); Samuel V. Noe (1960 - 1969); and Newman Walker (1969 - 1975).

The following persons served as Superintendent of the Jefferson County school system: L. J. Stivers (1884 - 1894); Alfred Herr Hite (1894 - 1898); Rosa Stonestreet (1898 - 1910); Orville J. Stivers (1910 - 1950); Richard Van Hoose (1950 - 1974); and Ernest Grayson (1974 - 1975). Grayson served as superintendent of the merged systems until 1980.

From the description of Superintendent's Office, 1904-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122418339

The Youth Performing Arts Center was an educational facility for high school students with special talents in theater, music, voice, or dance. The center offered intensive training to equip students for careers in the arts or to enhance their interest in the arts. Students divided their classes between nearby Manual High School for academic training and the Center for artistic training.

From the description of Building Specifications. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916167

This department coordinated and supervised federal aid programs for the public schools. At one time this office supervised allocations of audio-visual and instructional materials and supervised the work of the Central Library Processing Office and the Book and Film Depository.

From the description of Federal Programs, 1969-1976. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916108

Free public high schools began operating in Louisville in 1856, when High School for Boys (Male) and Female High School were opened. Students who attended these schools were required to pass entrance exams, both written and oral, as well as final examinations. In early years, high schools awarded degrees for two and three year programs; later, four year programs were developed.

High schools in the county were not established until 1916, when two year high schools opened in Middletown, Lovvorn, and Worthington. High schools continued to grow in Louisville and Jefferson County as increasing numbers of students matriculated into the programs. Manual as well as academic training became part of the high school curriculum, when in 1890, a manual training class was started at Male High School. Two years later, philanthropist Alfred du Pont present a building, equipment, and machinery to the Louisville Public Schools; this school became Manual Training High School.

Gifts from Louisville businessperson and philanthropist Theodore Ahrens enabled the Louisville school system to build Ahrens Trade (later High) School. High schools for black students began with Louisville Colored High School (later Central High School), which opened in 1882. Public schools in Louisville were not integrated until 1957.

From the description of High Schools. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916143

South Park and Schaffner elementary schools were opened in 1955 for grades one through six.

From the description of South Park Elementary School, ca. 1955. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916106

The Child Development Services System was a social service program that provided counseling, clothing, nutrition, and medical care to disadvantaged students. The Regional Diagnostic Treatment Center provided psychologists who tested children with learning problems and suggested educational programs suited to the child's needs and guidelines for achieving learning improvement.

From the description of Child Development Services System, 1950-1976. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916128