An Amazing Ride Through the 125 Year History
of Corona-Norco Schools
From One Room. . .
Members of Project Committee
• Bill Newberry• Melinda Aldrian• Kevin Bash• Judy Horan• Dave Lavelle• Tricia Matthews• Don Williamson• Richard & Mary Winn
• Developing a timeline of district activities and accomplishments
• Documentation of history by gathering data, photographs & fact checking
Book Timeline Phase 1
TIMELINE
• March 12, 1888 Classes began in Corona in a 2nd floor room above Durrell & Wilbur’s Feed Store then moved to a one-room schoolhouse at 8th Street and Ramona
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1888: Rincon School plans approved (Prado)
• October 10, 1889 Corona School opened (First
Lincoln School) on 10th Street (built for $20,000)
TIMELINE . . . continued
• November 29, 1889 School bell’s location was in bell tower of Corona School (first Lincoln School)
• Date, Yorba School District, San Bernardino County and names of Trustees are listed cast into bell.
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1894: High School classes started on second floor of Corona School (South Riverside HS, South Riverside School District)
• 1896: South Riverside School District became Corona School District
TIMELINE . . . continued
July 11,1896 George Scoville was first Corona
High School graduate
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1905: Three-room annex added to school• 1907 First High School building begun (on Main Street)
• 1908: First graduating class from this campus
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1911 New grammar school (first Washington School) opened on West Grand Boulevard (between 2nd and 3rd Streets)
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1916 Former local student Letha Raney began teaching at Rugby School
• 1917: Eastvale District formed• 1918: Rugby District (Temescal Valley) annexed• 1920s: First School Bus
(Model T Ford)
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1923: Corona Junior High was established at Main Street high school campus
• Sept. 1923 Corona’s second High School opened at 815 West 6th Street
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1925 Norco School opened
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1927 Thomas Jefferson Grammar School opened to students – is still in use today
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1936 New building was added to Corona Junior High campus
TIMELINE . . . continued
• April 29, 1936: Golden Jubilee Celebration recognized the city’s first 50 years
• 1948: Multi-story building on Olive Street opened on Corona Junior High School campus
• 1948: Eastvale District (1917-1948) joined Corona School District and became part of the Corona Unified School District
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1950: Lincoln Elementary School opened on Fullerton Avenue
• 1950: Washington School demolished and replaced by Kimbell School on Buena Vista
• 1955: Former one-room Rugby School burned down
• 1958: Norco Junior High School opened
TIMELINE . . . continued
• 1961: 3rd Corona High School campus opened on 10th Street
• 1966: Raney Junior High School opened• 1967: Norco High School opened• July 1, 1970: Corona Unified School District
became Corona-Norco Unified School District• 1976: Year-round elementary schools began
TIMELINE . . . continued
• Sept. 1981: Lincoln Elementary became Lincoln Alternative Elementary School
• 1986: Centennial High School opened• March 1988: Corona Junior High School
closed, Corona Fundamental Intermediate School began
• 1992: School District offices moved to Norco• 1995 – 2003: School District operated “Moo
Bus” to provide unique nutrition option to students
TIMELINE . . . continued
• Fall 1995: Santiago High School opened at Citrus Hills Intermediate School campus as a magnet high school with business & communications and science & engineering streams
• 1999: Santiago High School relocated to current Rimpau/Foothill Parkway site
• July 2003: El Cerrito Middle School replaced El Cerrito Elementary School
TIMELINE . . . continued
• Fall 2006: Eleanor Roosevelt High School opened in Eastvale with distinct architecture and operating on a unique block schedule
TIMELINE . . . continued
• Newest CNUSD School Dr. Augustine Ramirez Intermediate School opened to students Aug. 10, 2011
Book Timeline Phase 1 continued
• Interview process: Personal interviews currently being set with former students, teachers, administrators and others to document their recollections and to utilize pertinent facts and anecdotal information
• Investigate publishing options and establish a release date
Phase 2: Integrating History and Cultural/Social Impacts
• HISTORY– Beginning, area development– Schools, building sequence– 1930s, effects of the Great Depression– WW II support efforts– Post-War developments– 1950s– 1960s
Integrating History and Cultural/Social Impacts continued
• HISTORY – 1970s, change from CUSD to CNUSD, year-round
schools introduced– 1980s & 1990s, more year-round schools– 1990s, population explosion, K-3, 1:20 ratio State
mandate and additional expansion– 21st century accomplishments
Integrating History and Cultural/Social Impacts continued
• CULTURAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS– Ethnic and economic summary– Origins of ethnic segregation, Washington School,
1950s integration efforts, 1960s Kimbell School closure, migrant students, Naval Base students
– Evolved gender roles – teachers, administrators– Renowned students – Letha Raney, Jess Hill,
Augustine Ramirez, athletes, etc.
Integrating History and Cultural/Social Impacts continued
• CULTURAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS continued
– Noteworthy staff & trustees – L. Thome, L. Vandermolen, C. Hernandez, R. Aparacio, J. Stallings, G. Wilcox, A. Ramirez, L. Raney, Finley, B. Cadger, G. Kimbell, Jamesons
– Programs – Adult Education, “Moo Bus”, etc.– Listing of all Schools & Principals– Listing and terms of all trustees
What’s Next
• Public announcement of CNUSD book project• Book Title: From One Room… An Amazing Ride
Through the 125 Year History of Corona-Norco Schools
• When: Thursday, April 26, 2012 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
• Where: Corona Historic Civic Center Auditorium
What’s Next continued
We Invite: All present or former students, teachers, administrators and district employees to attend this event entitled: Celebrating 125 years of Excellence in
CNUSD Education, 1888-2013. Hear details of this book project, see some
exclusive photographs, and be able to pre-order the limited edition hardcover book available in September 2013.