Our Past Is Present June 23, 2017

June 23, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Before beginning today’s story, I would like to again thank Gaylynn Childs, our past Executive Director of the Geary County Historical Society, for doing most of the research and writing the articles shared on “Our Past Is Present”. She spent countless hours and days putting together stories we have shared since her retirement.  This is one of those many stories.

            In mid-June of 1949, it was announced that the supervision of the Fort Riley Grade School through the Junction City school system had been authorized by the Board of Education. The signing of a contract to put the plan into effect was approved at their monthly meeting. 

            The arrangement, authorized by the recent session of the Kansas Legislature, meant that the Post school should be operated the same as any other unit of the Junction City school system, according to D.A. McConnell, Superintendent of Schools. The announcement explained that all teachers would be hired locally and would be expected to meet the same qualifications required in the city schools.  It was expected that all Fort Riley children from Kindergarten through sixth grade would attend the school.  It was tentatively planned that there would be seven teachers, one of whom would be the Principal. In 1948 the Post school had more than 200 pupils.  So some of the fourth, fifth and sixth graders attended school in Junction City due to over-crowding.  The Department of the Army funds would be provided for all expenses of the school, but the funds received would be administered by the local officials.  It was further determined that the Fort Riley School would have its own Board of Education, however, today Fort Riley schools are responsible to the USD 475 Board of Education. That’s today’s story.