HR0151 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0151 LRB097 10984 GRL 51632 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the administration, staff, and students of the Harrisburg School District on the occasion of its 150th anniversary in 2011; and

WHEREAS, The rich history of the Harrisburg School District began in October of 1861, when Green B. Weir was elected to serve as director of the school board; B. D. Grace, William Riley, J. W. Mitchell, James Feazel, and W. H. Dove were subsequently picked to serve on the school board over the next four years; and

WHEREAS, The Harrisburg School District's first school building was a one room house on the corner of Church and Vine streets; eventually, the room proved to be too small to accommodate the number of pupils, leading the directors to rent another room in the town; by 1865, the number of pupils had so increased that the directors saw the necessity for having a larger building, and an election was ordered for October 27, 1865 to vote on the question of purchasing a school house site; in April of 1866, the site was bought for $200; the following month, the school board voted to borrow money to build a school house; in 1868, the building was furnished and three teachers were employed; and

WHEREAS, In 1875, the Harrisburg School District attempted to institute a new teaching plan where an additional teacher was employed to teach in the school's upstairs space, which effectively made two separate schools in the same room; despite the inconvenience, the plan appeared to operate effectively; in 1879, the directors decided to try a new, ultimately unsuccessful plan where the school would have no principal, with each room being an independent school run by a male teacher; around this time, the school had become so overcrowded that it was necessary to make more room and employ more teachers; subsequently, in 1881, bonds in the amount of $2,000 were issued and two new teachers were employed; and

WHEREAS, By 1877, the Harrisburg School District census had increased to over 500 and it was necessary to again make more room; as the population of the west end of the district had greatly increased, a lot was purchased from J. M. Baker for $500 as a school site and the lower story of the West Side school house was erected by J. P. Hodge at a cost of $1,402; and

WHEREAS, In 1890, a great many changes were made to the Harrisburg School District; the district's terms were lengthened to nine months, the salaries of the teachers were increased, and it was decided to employ no teachers except those having successful experience in the department in which they wished to be employed; in addition, the schools were re-graded, a high school was organized, the district's course of study was revised, and a system of diplomas was created; in 1894, a second story was added to the West Side schoolhouse; in 1899, a new grade was added to the course of study; and

WHEREAS, In 1900, another year was added to Harrisburg School District's course of study; the following year, the people of Harrisburg Township voted to erect a building for the high school; after voting for $20,000 in bonds, a site was given to the township by the City National Bank free of charge; in 1903, the cornerstone of the high school was laid; in 1904, the building was completed, with classes moving into the new building in September of 1904; and

WHEREAS, The Harrisburg School District continued to grow rapidly throughout the early 1900s; in 1914, a new addition was constructed to the rear of the first unit; in 1922 and 1923, the third unit to the east was added; in 1929, an athletic field was purchased and equipped at an initial cost of $26,000, which was, at the time, the largest field in southern Illinois; by 1938, the district's enrollment had reached nearly 1,200, and a fourth unit to the west was added; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Harrisburg School District continues the legacy of excellence created by Green B. Weir and his associates 150 years ago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the administration, staff, and students of the Harrisburg School District on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Harrisburg School District as a symbol of our esteem and respect.