History of Marion Jordan School

Marion Jordan School 100 North Harrison, Palatine First day of attendance—September 1963

Marion Jordan School was named for Community Consolidated School District 15’s second superintendent, a tribute to the man who sat at the helm of the district for 14 years from 1947 to 1961. In the fall of 1962, 7,200 students were enrolled in District 15’s 11schools—an increase of 800 from the previous year. Such growth created a struggle for additional bonding power to meet the problem of financing additional classrooms. The proposed $975,000 bond issue was critically needed for two new schools. One of them, the Harrison Street School, as Marion Jordan was then called, was designated for additions because of its large 14-acre site.

The 14-classroom facility officially opened January 6, 1964. Because of its location—in a sparsely populated neighborhood in west Palatine—virtually three-fourths of the student body were bused. Noon time was an adventure for those who wanted to buy a hot, 35-cent lunch: they had to ride a bus to Gray M. Sanborn School. It wasn’t until January 3, 1967 that the school had its own lunchroom.

Throughout its history, Marion Jordan School has been involved in several special programs. In the mid-1960s, students participated in a language education pilot program conceived by Encyclopedia Britannica that involved using a child’s experiences and thinking process for reading education. In the mid-90s, the school was one of fewer than 100 throughout the state awarded a grant from an Illinois State Board of Education program known as the “Museum in the Classroom” project. Fifth graders at Marion Jordan were linked up with the Chicago Academy of Sciences to work on an endangered species project using virtual reality.

Several principals have helped guide countless “Blue Jays” into and out of the kindergarten-sixth-grade educational nest, at 100 North Harrison Avenue. Wilma Watkins, the first principal, served for 10 years, from September 1963 to June 1973. The next principal, Dale Kuester, served two years, from 1973-75. During the next five years, Robert Dellamaria was principal, and in June 1982, the school’s PTA requested and received permission from the Board of Education to name the nature/fitness trail located along the school’s western boundary in Dellamaria’s honor. Kay Woelfel was acting principal during the 1982-83 school year and was named principal after that, serving until 1996, when Diane Cody became principal.

During her tenure, Dr. Woelfel, staff, and students learned to deal creatively with disruption. For three years, in the mid-and late ’80s, they contended with asbestos removal a problem that confronted 13 other district schools, as well as building renovation and construction. They relied on cooperation, patience, and humor. A special logo—a cartoon character pulling out its hair—became an unofficial mascot during the renovation process and portable classrooms were referred to as Little House(s) on the Prairie. That August, Dr. Woelfel and Shirley Gyenes, Marion Jordan’s secretary from 1975-2005, began preparing for the 1989-90 school year in an office with no furniture, no intercom, and plywood on the windows. In a welcome-back-to school notice, students were reminded to wear mosquito repellent. Some classes were housed temporarily in the old gymnasium, and a few times the “sounds of music” emanated from the parking lot as one music instructor held classes from his car trunk. Looking back, school staff acknowledges that the renovation process wasn’t always pleasant, but it promoted camaraderie, cooperation, and good senses of humor and community.

The Board of Education dedicated the newly renovated $4.2 million facility December 6, 1989, just 19 months after the groundbreaking ceremony. Although Marion Jordan did not live to attend the dedication ceremony, the school that bears his name continues to exemplify Jordan’s belief that, “Education is a journey that never ends.”

Marion Jordan

Serving from 1947 to 1961, Mr. Jordan was faced with the major challenge of bringing together six rural school districts in the consolidation of the district. While the majority of residents favored consolidation, a significant number identified strongly with the rural school concept and more local control. A scholarly educator, Mr.Jordan had to persuade residents of the virtues of consolidation. There were 614 students enrolled in the district at the time of consolidation. That number grew more than ten times to 6,405 during Mr. Jordan’s administration. In that 14-year period, Mr. Jordan supervised the construction of eight school buildings.

Recognized for his firm convictions on the worth and dignity of every individual, Mr. Jordan was one of the pioneers in the concept of using the resource center as the core learning center of each school building. He was a great advocate of the “learning by doing” philosophy and gave teachers and students every opportunity to have handson experiences. Mr. Jordan introduced instruction in foreign language and instrumental music, believing that the entire area of fine arts was an essential part of every school curriculum.