Hedrick Community School District

The Hedrick Community School District was a school district serving Hedrick, Iowa.

The town had a school for around 100 years. The school experienced a population decline as Hedrick's economy faltered; in its final year it had about 200 students and 40 employees. The leadership of the school district stated that the small population meant it could not offer a full range of courses.[1]

Closure

The district was involuntarily dissolved by the State of Iowa on July 1, 1991,[2] due to not meeting state requirements to be a certified school in that state.[3] The school did not offer the number of courses deemed sufficient by Iowa authorities. Barbara Vobejda of the Washington Post stated "Many of those involved agree that the problems were largely a result of declining population."[1] It was the first school district in Iowa to be closed involuntarily by the state government,[4] and Hedrick itself was facing an economic decline. Students in Hedrick itself were rezoned to the Pekin Community School District.[1] While much of it was assigned to Pekin, other sections were assigned to Fremont Community School District and Ottumwa Community School District.[2] The Hedrick School was demolished in fall 1991.[5]

That year Mayor of Hedrick Bill Mosbey expressed a fear that the loss of the school would further accelerate the economic and social decline already in the town. Vobejda stated that some residents were afraid that the school closing would convince some businesses to leave town, and that "the school closing has dealt a blow to the town's sense of confidence and character."[1]

Athletics

The basketball team was valued by the community, and its main rivalry was with the Pekin school district. The school district had an American football team until circa 1989.[1]

See also

School districts forced by the Iowa Board of Education to merge

References
  1. Vobejda, Barbara (1991-03-25). "MAIN STREET FACES 'ECONOMIC TRIAGE'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  2. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on January 14, 2019.
  3. "Teacher Layoffs and School Budget Cuts" (PDF). National Education Association. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  4. "More financial questions raised over closed Russell School District". Radio Iowa. 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  5. "Hedrick High School." Des Moines Register. Retrieved on January 17, 2019.

Further reading
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