Past to Present

Olsburg School History

In September of 1899 a special school election was held to change from a common school to a graded school without a dissenting vote. Thus the school was placed under the graded school laws of the State of Kansas. The pupils were required to take the county exam at completion of eighth grade.

The first annual report on file in the Pottawatomie county office of the Register of Deeds is dated July 30, 1897. The average daily attendance for that year was 76. The school building consisted of four rooms with three teachers. Total wages for teachers that year of $875.00 and total expenditures were $981.20.

By the late 1940’s and early 1950’s the "country" schools had begun to close and join the Olsburg District #38. A few years later the Olsburg district consolidated with the Randolph district and the new district number was 384.

Randolph District #9

The Randolph School District #9 was started in 1870. Below are some excerpts from the school records...

School first conducted for 8 grades in 1887 in the new stone building that was built with 40 graduating from the old building in 1888.

The high school level was added in 1897 with 3 grades.

In 1922 an addition was made to the building in the form of an auditorium and gymnasium.

In 1929 a new building was built to house the high school with the grade school remaining in the building built in 1888.

June 29, 1898 the 28th Annual School Meeting was held with an 18 mill levy being approved, 16 mills for salary and 2 mills for incidentals. 8 month school year with starting date 9/12/1898.

Principal - $65/month
3 Teachers @ $40/month each
Janitor service at $120 for 8 months of service
$1.00 tuition per month for out-of-district students

In June, 1899 discussed adding a higher grade level to the high school. Raised principal salary to $70/month, teachers salary unchanged. Raised tuition for out-of-district students to $1.25/month.

In 1900 raised the mill levy to 20 with 18 being for salaries and 2 for incidentals. Added an assistant principal/teacher @$50/month.

September 3rd was the starting date for the 1901-1902 school year.

1902-03 school year moved starting dates for all departments except high school to 9/1/02 with high school 9/15/02. Had a special board meeting 9/1 and delayed starting school until 9/15 because of delay in getting school books. November 8, 1902 approved 2 weeks off at holidays.

April 18, 1903 special meeting – Board refused to accept resignation of Teacher.

April 21, 1903 special meeting – Teacher left, hired a replacement to finish school year.

July 12, 1903 – Principal hired at $65; Grammar grade teacher $40; 2nd Primary teacher $40; 1st Primary teacher/assistant principal at $50 a month.

In 1958 the Blue Valley High School, Jt District 7 of Riley and Pottawatomie County was established with students from the Olsburg, Cleburne and Randolph. The grade schools remained within the towns and as separate districts with separate boards.

In 1964, a unification was established to include the surrounding grade schools.
The estimated cost to build the new high school in the new town of Randolph was $55,052.00

40 students graduated from 8th grade in 1887.

A first year of high school was added in 1897, a 2nd year in 1899 and a 3rd year in 1900.

In 1905 the school became a 4-year accredited school.

In 1909 there was only 1 graduate.

In 1922 an auditorium and gymnasium to what became the grade school.

In 1923 Randolph High School became a rural high school.

In 1929 the new high school was built.

In 1939 there were 32 graduates.

The vocational ag building was built in 1948.

Pictures of the old school buildings can be seen in the "Old Randolph Project". We also have available pictures of the current buildings.