Mishawaka High School
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[edit] History of Mishawaka High School
Mishawaka High School was first presented to the Mishawaka Town Board in May of 1873. The original school was located at the corner of Hill Street and West Second Street (now Licoln Way West). Now, the building is used as a department furniture store, known as Mishawaka Furniture. Located on the third floor of the building, was Whitson Hall, used only for entertainment and graduation exercises. The first principal of the school was David Zook, and the superintendent was E.L. Hallock. The school had only six teachers, two of which were students in attendence. The present school is located at 1202 Lincoln Way East. The school was built in 1924 by the Mishawaka Board of Education. The auditorium was finished in 1925. The original gym (East Gym) was remodeled in 1959 to accommodate two full-sized gymnasium floors, and to provide a total seating capacity of 4,000. The gold letters on the front of the building spelling, "Mishawaka High School" were dedicated in 1931.
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[edit] Remodeling and other costs
The building and equipping of Mishawaka High School originally cost $800,000. The East Gym, remodeled in 1959 cost approximately $600,000. In 1963 a classroom wing was added for the price of $650,000. The stadium, built in 1939 during the Great Depression was constructed for approximately $130,000, the Board of Control provided $55,000. The Baldwin electric organ in the auditorium was given to the school in 1950, by the Lions Club of Mishawaka, in memory of W.W. French. In 1953-1954 the school did rewiring throughout and added fluorescent lighting at the cost of $125,000. From 1976-1980 there was a renovation project throughout the indoor and outdoor facilities. Major areas of renovation were the auditorium, cafeteria, gymnasium, library, administrative offices, the industrial technology wing, hallways, classrooms, and the stadium. Total cost for all renovations was just about four million dollars. In January of 1988 a new pool/gym complex was completed. In this new facility are a wrestling room, weight room, all-purpose room, and a 1/10th of a mile track on the second floor of the gym. In the fall of 1999, a new science and technology wing was completed along with a television studio. As of today, after all renovation projects the school now totals 319,949 square feet and sits on 16.3 acres.
[edit] Other information on the school
Mishawaka High School is the oldest public school in the area celebrating its one hundred and thirty-first year. Mishawaka High School also has one of the best football stadiums in the area. Recently in 2006 the new Sports Complex was completed right down the road from the school. It holds baseball/softball, tennis, soccer, and other various sports. Recently it was announced that the graduation rate had fallen to 59 percent. This is the lowest rate in the area, and worst recorded in city school history. The department is doing everything they can to help improve the graduation rate. The school is however, one of three fully accredited schools in the state of Indiana. The curent superintendent is R. Steven Mills and the principal is Doctor George Marzotto. The associate principal is Jerome Calderone. Anita Nash and John Ross are the assistant principals. The attendence coordinator is yet to be decided after Shirley Ross retired this year after so much dedication. The athletic director is Robert Shriner and the assistant athletic director is James Aldrich. The Board of School Trustees are Larry E. Stillson, President, Marci A. Sears, Vice President, Llyod C. Wayne, Secretary, Charles J. Trippel, member, and lastly, Anne B. Wiesjahn, member. The school currently has about seventeen-hundred students.
