Kathleen School

Kathleen School. . , Side 1 , This school building was designed by architect E.C. Hosford (1883-1939) and completed in 1928, with east and west additions in 1937. The building replaced a wood frame structure which was located on present day Kathleen Road at Central Avenue. The school served grades 1-12, marking the first time that grades 9-12 had been offered in northwest Polk County. In 1932, the first six students graduated with a 12th grade education. The school was a "strawberry school" with classes in session April through December, allowing students to help harvest strawberry crops between January and March. This practice was discontinued in 1952., In 1950, grades 1-6 moved to the new Kathleen Elementary, located immediately north of this school site. In 1961, grades 10-12 moved to the new Kathleen Senior High School on Memorial Boulevard. Remaining here were grades 7-9, then known as Kathleen Junior High School. In 1993, this school transitioned to Kathleen Middle School, serving grades 6-8., On October 18, 2019, the school suffered significant damage from a tornado, but the community and the School Board of Polk County rallied to restore the historic building. , (Continued on other side) , Side 2 , (Continued from other side) , 1928 School Trustees~ , Kenzie C. Cockrell (1885-1961); Dallas Prine (1876-1947); Thomas L. Stalvey (1881-1972); , 1928 Principal ~ S.L. Collins, Sr. (1884-1944) , Class of 1932 First Graduating Class , Stephen A. Cooper (1912-1988), Salutatorian , Rosemary Cox Bridges Mudge (1914-1983) , Seeny Fields Risk (1914-2006) , Nellie Harrison Gandy (1914-2002), Valedictorian , W.T. "Tubby" Harrison Jr. (1912-2002) , Henry O. Prine (1916-1996)