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The Edgar School District was organized and a school building program authorized in 1905. This building was the old high school building which was dismantled in the summer of 1964.
Two church buildings were purchased in 1952 to help reach the school population increase and to facilitate additional courses. One building was utilized by the music department and the other by the agriculture department. A metal building was constructed in 1953 to house the agricultural farm shop program.
The old church has been razed and the other building was remodeled and used as an additional classroom. The shop was being utilized as an all-purpose department, but primarily as an area for physical fitness and wrestling practice.
The district consisted of only the village of Edgar until 1955. High school students from outside the village were enrolled as non-resident tuition students.
In 1956, the present gymnasium, two classrooms and the present physical education offices were completed. Another building program was started in 1959 and in 1960 four classrooms (English Room II, Chemistry-Physics and Home Economics Department) were completed.
During the 1961-62 school year, the entire service area consisting of approximately 92 square miles of the Edgar District was reorganized into one administrative unit including grades K-12. This reorganization, among other things, made possible and necessary the building of a new elementary and high school which was completed in August, 1964.
A mobile unit added in 1966 was used to house a special education teacher and ESEA reading teacher.
In 1969, three area elementary parochial schools were closed and a nine room addition to house middle school students, a vocal music and art department was completed.
An athletic field including football and track was completed in 1970. Tennis courts were added in 1974. An athletic storage concession building was constructed in 1975.
During the 1976-77 school year, the Marathon County Handicapped Children's Education Board constructed a building on land leased from the Edgar School District. This building served students from school districts in the western part of Marathon County as an alternative high school not only for Edgar residents but neighboring districts as well.
In June, 1989, the public approved the building of a K-12 media center, all-purpose room, and four classrooms. The construction took place during the 1989-90 school year. We occupied the new addition in 1990.
In February of 1994, the public approved a 31,000 square foot addition consisting of shop, gym and class rooms costing $1,865,000.00. Construction and occupation took place during the 1994-95 school year.
The Shortner Greenhouse was constructed in July of 1995. The 1200 square foot greenhouse cost $30,000.00 to construct. Complete funding was provided by the Lucy Shortner Foundation. The greenhouse occupies a portion of the courtyard of the school.
A three phase restoration of the football field and track began in 2001 and was completed in the summer of 2006. This included: installing a rubber surface on the track; recrowning the football field; designing drains and storm sewers for water runoff; and building a scoring tower, concrete stadium seating, concession stand, restrooms and ticket booth. Most of the labor was done by organized community volunteers.
In February, 2010 citizens approved a $7,600,000 referendum that remodeled one area and built two new additions. The 1956 gym and 5 rooms on the west end of the building were redesigned into a 500 seat auditorium and food service area. Seven classrooms for kindergarten and special education plus an elementary principal's office were added to the southwest corner of our facility. In the southwest end a middle school/elementary gymnasium, all-purpose room and wellness center was constructed. The project was opened to students in September, 2011.
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