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Haigler school bell rings for the last time
HAIGLER, Nebraska -- Kindergarten through fourth grade students in Haigler, Nebraska, will attend class this fall in Benkelman.
Jim Kent -- superintendent of the Dundy County School District 117 created with the consolidation of Haigler and Benkelman in 1986 -- said Tuesday morning that the merger agreement stated that the Haigler K-6 elementary school could be closed when enrollment fell below 14 students. Attendance in May 2013 was eight students. In the agreement, Haigler's junior and senior high students attended class in Benkelman.
It was a board of education decision to close the Haigler elementary school and to bus K-4 students to the elementary school 24 miles away in Benkelman. Fifth and sixth graders were already attending class in Benkelman, Kent said.
One of Haigler's two classroom teachers is retiring, Kent said, and the second teacher will teach at the elementary school in Benkelman. Haigler's cook/custodian/secretary is also now working at the school in Benkelman.
Kent said the Haigler school and gymnasium, their contents and grounds will be auctioned off, possibly yet this summer; no date has been set yet.
This history was provided by Haigler historians Stan and LaNeta Carlock:
Haigler School District
Early historical facts
| * | EARLY 1880's -- A small group of pioneer parents funded a private school located in a store building two blocks west of Porter Avenue (where Highway 34 is now). |
| * | 1886 -- Classes held in the old Donahue Hall, then in the Haigler Opera House (where Golden Inn Senior Center is now). |
| * | 1887 -- The first Haigler Public School House built in the southwest part of Haigler. The two-story wooden frame building cost $2,700 and served students for 27 years. Students from Haigler, Parks, Benkelman, Nebraska; Laird, Colorado; and Cheyenne County, Kansas, attended this school. |
| * | The first school board of education was organized for Haigler School District 7. |
| * | 1900 -- Haigler's first graduating class. |
| * | 1913 -- Boys football and girls basketball teams. |
| * | 1914 -- The new two-story brick Haigler Public School Building (grade school and high school) built at the corner of Norman Street and Logan Avenue. The school bell was transferred from the old belfry and placed on top of the new building. |
| * | October 9, 1931--- The old wooden frame school house in the southwest part of town burned to the ground. |
| * | 1931 -- "THE EAGLE," the first school newspaper published. |
| * | 1936 -- The first Haigler School yearbook published. The title was "THE ARICKAREE" and changed to "THE HAIGLER EAGLE" later. |
Haigler School District
Continuing history
| * | 1936 -- The Haigler School Gymnasium was built (even with much opposition) next to the Haigler school building. It was one of the first of its kind in the area. Large playground space was available for pupils of all ages. Across the street to the north was an athletic field used for football, baseball, track and other school activities. |
| * | 1939 -- The first graduating class to wear caps and gowns at the graduation ceremony. |
| * | 1952 -- No more sack lunches; the school hot lunch program began. |
| * | 1954 -- The first kindergarten class began. |
| * | 1955 -- Consolidation with some rural school districts to become School District 7A. |
| * | 1959 -- Remodeling program changed the outward appearance of the building; addition of restrooms on ground floor and glass blocks around window areas. |
| * | 1986 -- The last class to graduate from Haigler High School. The Haigler school district consolidated with Benkelman, creating the Dundy County School District No. 117. |
| * | 1990 -- The school building constructed in 1914 was dismantled, and the present structure was built for students K-6 grades. A brick fund was established, with Haigler Alumni and residents donating funds to purchase bricks to cover the metal building. The bell from the top of the old school was saved to place in the belfry of the new elementary school building. |
| * | May 2013 -- Student attendance drops to eight students. The Haigler school will close at the end of this school year. The elementary school building, the school gymnasium and grounds will be auctioned in the summer of 2013. |