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History of RB: Part 3

Added Sep 11, 2014 •

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the 1970s open with financial problems that are be several attempts had been made to pass referenda but all had failed pressure by the teachers for raises to a level on par with other Suburban schools resulted in a short strike in September of 1970 in blue Larry of 1970 the Board of Education proposed several Cuts in the number of class offerings and other classes were to be Consolidated faculty numbers were you reduced by 11 and cuts in the library and guidance staff were proposed  early dismissal of 7th our study halls would reduce the need for study hall super in January of 1970 17 teachers left RB a majority of them to work better positions at different schools and on November 21st 1870 a referendum was again defeated the faculty that had numbered 111 was reduced to 101 by 1972 because of the fail referenda this situation resulted in elimination of low enrollment electives increase class sizes a reduction in the interscholastic athletic programs and the reduction of extracurricular programs the teachers and staff that remain tried their best to hold the educational programs together dr. James R post was hired to lead the district as superintendent and principal in 1971 although the district was financially strapped his openness to Innovation and teaching ditch and dealing with finances boosted morale in the district  one of the first Innovations was the development of new social science programs branch for hampson developed a course called area studies it was a World Geography course that examine cultures geography and history of several areas of the world students learn to appreciate and understand cultures other than their own a second social science course was called Sam sent short for seminar Center in American history studies were arranged by topics among which were immigration War politics and labor students developed quarterly independent study projects conjunction with the topics they were studying  in the early 1970s the functions of the library and Communication Center were combined the community Christian Center had long provided delivery of audio and visual equipment to teachers student aides also spliced broken 16mm film changed lamps in Jackson equipment and showed films in classrooms Don Heller who was the head of the library proposed that it and the Communication Center join together to vide extended library and audio visual services to the entire School the new Department would be known as media Services Luke Palermo who had been working in a similar capacity at Lyons Township High School was hired to lead the audio-visual Center as the communications center was to be known a black-and-white television Studio was cobbled together from some small rooms that had served as Library offices soon the a b Services was providing for Murphy dark room Services running Thermo ditto Masters producing posters spray painting and laminating signs overseeing rental of classroom designing showcases producing instructional videos and working with students to produce class projects the saying in the audio-visual Center was if one could hear it or see it he could take care of it in the spring of 1973 consideration was given to a possible consolidation with another school district to solve financial problems Lyons Township High School and provis over two possibilities put forth the governor's Commission on schools what a certain property valuation per-pupil for a viable School District rbhs was well below their figure because there was little commercial or industrial property in the entire District in 1974 a 5-year curriculum plan was worked out many one semester courses were to add interest value and flexibility to the course offerings by March of 1975 the district was forced into deficit spending the board of vacation was committed to retain as many courses as possible finally in 1975 a referendum for building repairs was passed on the third attempt Title Nine became federal law in 1975 it mandated that no person in the United States could be excluded from participation in or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal assistance almost immediately demands were made for girls interscholastic Sports especially since the boys had recently received new uniforms  after two years of trying girls finally got a softball team but only on a places soon girls were participating in many interscholastic sports sectional Regional and state champion trophies for girls teams are probably just an Arby's showcases the listening viewing area which had been partitioned into three classrooms in 1928 was restored to one room at 9 76 during study hall students could use the facilities to review audio visual materials they may have missed in class or check out audio add sport cameras for projects area study classes made posters and Sensen students constructed their quarterly projects in the lva theater clubs and drama classes have always been a big part of Arby's activities with abundant plays and talent showings from the beginning button 1876 the high school was the first school in Illinois to obtain rights to perform the Blockbuster Godspell  1970 Kevin a small amount of construction took place the swimming pool was deep into allowed diving  electronic language labs and updated Auto Repair and a large metal shop were constructed enrollment began to decrease slightly at this time in 1978 it stood at 1700 50 families in general were smaller and Riverside in particular had an aging population with the small enrollment compared to other schools in the West Suburban fewer and fewer athletic teams were able to maintain winning records as early as February 1978 editorials and the Clarion or king of RB should leave the conference when the school board consider the proposal during the 1979 school year they voted to keep Worship in the WSC inflation severely affected RB and to lower-cost Hall lighting and heating were reduced and lower wattage lights were install turn the gym a grant of $30,000 was received in November of 1979 for weight training equipment to permit our be to participate in a study to determine if weight training could reduce injuries in the High School athletics a series of big snow storms during Christmas vacation in 1978 ending to 1979 caused RB to close for a few days  the Clarion publish student complaints that after the snow storms the school opens to send those in the neighboring communities the 1980s began a tough period for RB enrollment steadily decreased while the Aging building was in desperate need extensive repairs referendum after referendum failed letters to the editor and the local newspapers question why the cost per pupil was so high it was difficult for the voters of District 208 to understand that while the enrollment was decreasing the expense of running the building was increasing partly due to inflation and lessening States support  some of the best and brightest faculty members were forced to find employment at other high schools  classrooms that were empty used for storage or offices by various departments  the teachers strike in the fall of 1981 lasted 10 days before the issues were resolved time would have to be made up in the spring and fall sports teams were worried that some of their games would have to be forfeited one bright spot in the 1980s was the audio-visual Center Western Electric donated Color Studio video equipment and the black and white Studio which had been cobbled together from the offices in the old library for no longer large enough to accommodate the new technology the ceiling and some of the walls in the AVC were demolished clearing the way for basic Construction in large studio it was pretty bare at first but the Ingenuity of the students in Mr Palermo their instructor had it operating and no time one of the first projects taped in the new studio was funded by a grant from the humanities Council a series of programs called Alone Together conversations about relating served as a basis for Community meetings to talk about Communications among students and adults metrovision donated cable broadcasting equipment in 1980 nrb TV was on the air one of the first high schools to have a cable channel in the country send tell another cable company in the area began to show programs that were sent to it on tape households in the community who subscribe to Cable were able to view shows produced by the students in 1982 Roman at 1245 students RBF Ledic teams left the West Suburban Conference after a time in the Desplaines Valley League they when does South-Western Suburban Valley Conference it was hoped that by playing at a conference of smaller schools football and basketball teams in particular might have a chance to win our games is the number of students continue to decline in 1986 RB left the Southwest Valley Conference as well and became independent for a years the Suburban Prairie conference followed and now the Bulldogs are part of the Metro Suburban Conference  Illinois cuts 8/8 by $36,000 and 1983 and 9000 and special aid funds for the vocational education special education and textbooks were so eliminated many programs were mandated by the federal government but not funded which left the state and the community struggling to finance them RV it's no exception already crippled by debt the district was forced to make some hard decisions when dr. Charles lecrone was appointed superintendent and miscible to replace retiring dr. trost in 1986 enrollment Head Drop to 1045 1986 was a very wet year October the DesPlaines River flooded and the water backed up into the weight room in the lower level students worked at night to help sandbag homes in Riverside black plastic arrived at the school when the roof failed over the English wing and school rooms were flooded large plastic sheets of black plastic protective equipment and materials in many areas of the second floor repairs to the roof were crucial and took place over the next three years at an estimated cost of $1000000 one only completed through all the challenges Bulldogs still found the time to have fun Spirits were high and laughter abundant when a group of Faculty disguise themselves is the Blues Brothers and performed on stage problems and homecoming dances were as festive as usual in 1986 lights were installed in shoe Stadium at a cost of about $10,000 some residents of the neighborhood feared that the bright lights might disturb them during game nights but an offer of free fishing to the games for nearby neighbors soon call the objections in November of 1987 a referendum was again defeated but repairs had to be beginning in 1987 some teachers were Rift each spring of every year until it could be determined how many could be retained to meet the next year's budget in subsequent years the teachers and staff became accustomed to it and Rift teachers treated it as an opportunity to look for positions elsewhere the de find an enrollment continued by 1988 just 822 students were attending rb6 Sports were eliminated that year there was plenty discussion as to which sports should be cut each of the sports had vocal proponents the next year the teaching staff was reduced by 13 1889 with funds non-existent for a needed student computer program and with the television Studio up and running a Telethon was proposed 8 hours live television included many musical groups from the high school and grade schools and included a series of House from The Faculty Board of Education and Community their effort set a hard-working phone bank brought in $25,000 which with other donated funds made it possible for the foundation to purchase the program Google telephones continued for an additional eight years bringing funds for Grants to students and teachers for very special training that the high school couldn't provide from the taxpayers they were temporarily replaced by phone Athens beginning in 1987

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History of RB: Part 3

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