High School – Mission Impossible? 1983-1987

We built the first phase, two fifths to be exact, of the high school, now called the North building, in the spring and summer of 1983 and opened the first 9th grade in the fall with eight students. In the fall of 1986, though we had 12 grades the situation was precarious and in January of 1987, with pain and anguish, we closed the high school.

Original high school teachers were Dorit Winter, Thorn Zay, Alexander Cameron, later joined by Christian Sweningsen, Michael Winship, along with a group of talented special subjects teachers from the elementary school and elsewhere.

In retrospect, there were inherent problems from the beginning. First and foremost was insufficient enrollment. Eight students in the first 9th grade were reduced by half in 10th when four students withdrew. Attrition was catching - the new 9th grade was small. Each year the Council of Teachers earnestly examined the situation: Should we continue? Each year the decision was made to go ahead. The High School now called the North Building. sion was made to go ahead.

Discipline problems, student unrest, tension among teachers, the financial drain - all added up to an impossible situation. This was further complicated by poor communication between the high school and elementary school and the distress of elementary school parents at the financial pressures caused by the high school.

It was with heavy hearts that the Council of Teachers faced up to reality and closed the high school in January 1987, ending a sad chapter in our history.

High School Commission

In the fall of 1986, the Council of Teachers formed a high school commission consisting of Anne Charles, Chairman of the Waldorf School Association, Norman Davidson, co-director of teacher training from Spring Valley and Betty Krainis to undertake a thorough study of the high school situation.

The written report, based on meetings and interviews with teachers, parents, students and friends, scrutinized the many causes of the high school's downfall and explored the possibility of reestablishing a high school at some later point in time. This report is on file in the office.

"The high school chapter in our history is a clear indication of the problem of a teacher directed initiative with shallow community commitment. It proves the pressing need for research and feasibility studies in the school's population before the undertaking of a capital campaign.'

"One must not forget how from the high school our elementary school grew. This should be viewed as a phase from which the current governing structure evolved to a Board and Council relationship with clear parent and teacher involvement through committees and on-going initiatives." Bob Norris

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