Grand Blanc Community Schools

Last updated

Grand Blanc Community Schools
Grand Blanc School District
Location
Genesee County, Michigan
United States
Coordinates 42°55′14.1″N83°37′50.3″W / 42.920583°N 83.630639°W / 42.920583; -83.630639
District information
PresidentSusan Kish
Vice-presidentMartin Ray
SuperintendentDr. Trevor Alward
Deputy superintendent(s)Jolene Kruse
Other information
Intermediate District Genesee
Websitewww.gbcs.org

Grand Blanc Community Schools, or Grand Blanc School District, is a school district that serves the city of Grand Blanc, most of Grand Blanc Township, parts of the City of Burton, Mundy Township, and Atlas Township in Genesee County, Michigan, and a part of Holly Township, Michigan in Oakland County, Michigan. [1]

Contents

History

The first school between Waterford and Mackinaw is believed to have been built by Edmund Perry around 1830 on his land in Grand Blanc near part of the Thread Creek. Sarah Dayton is believed to have been the first teacher at the Grand Blanc school, however other accounts suggest Daniel Wakefield taught there. The school was founded on arithmetics as the main focus. The school was later moved farther down Perry Road near the Henry Mason farm. In 1933, another schoolhouse was built in the northern section of Grand Blanc Township. When the township was officially organized in 1833, the boards of school inspectors divided it into school districts. By 1878 there were ten school districts spread throughout the township.

In 1903 the state of Michigan passed a law allowing townships to consolidate school districts and mandate a busing system. In 1903–1904, the first consolidated school district in the state stood in Grand Blanc with three classrooms holding 115 students in 10 grades. Two horse-drawn vehicles bused children to the school until 1920 when two Ford Model-T chassis were purchased for $500 each.

In 1919 the Grand Blanc Rural Agricultural High School was organized and adopted the Smith-Hughes Agricultural Act curriculum. Specialized agricultural, home economics, and manual training classes were added. By 1920 the Grand Blanc School had five classrooms at the corner of Saginaw and Perry Rds.

The vote to create the first township unit school in Genesee County was passed by Grand Blanc voters in late 1920. In December of the same year, the school building was destroyed in a fire. In early 1921 a vote to build a new centralized school building carried by a two-thirds majority. Full township consolidation was voted for as well, meaning all students in the township would attend the new school. Warren Holmes was the architect from Lansing that designed the Grand Blanc Township Unit School (now the Perry Center) that was built at Saginaw & Perry Rds. in 1921–22. It was considered state-of-the-art at the time. It contained 15 classrooms in three stories with a gymnasium that had a seating capacity of 500. The building opened on January 9, 1922, with 350 students enrolled, and was accredited through the University of Michigan. Ten teachers, a principal, and a superintendent ran the school which now held 12 grades, eliminating the need to send juniors and seniors to Flint High School. Berneda Taylor, Ethel Tyler, and Ernest Somers returned from Flint High School to become the first graduating class of Grand Blanc in 1922. Over the next decade, the school grew to over 800 students, and was building was expanded.

It is likely the first football game was played around the year 1920. A football field was constructed near the building on Perry Rd. As early as 1930 the colors red and black represented the school, where they were nicknamed "The Big Reds" because of the big red school building they attended. Homecoming was held for the first time in 1936. A parade marched down Saginaw st. to the football field where the team played Fenton. The game drew over 2000 people to attend and Grand Blanc won 18–7.

In 1954, with the population still growing rapidly, a piece of land in Whigville became the home of the first dedicated elementary building, McGrath Elementary. Even before opening in 1955, the school was over capacity with an enrollment of over 700. The next elementary school was built at Hill and Belsay on land donated by Faye Myers, thus named Myers Elementary upon completion in 1957. An expansion in 1959 took the capacity from 330 to 690 students. Brendel Elementary was the next to be constructed. In 1961 Grand Blanc passed a bond for $4 million to construct a new High School at Saginaw and Holly Rds. which opened in 1963 with a capacity of 1500 students. The old building at Saginaw & Perry Rds. was renamed Grand Blanc Junior High School. Indian Hill Elementary and Reid Road Elementary were designed to be nearly identical and both opened in 1964. Anderson and Cook were added in 1966 and 1967, and the large brick building at Saginaw & Perry Rds. was officially renamed after Ezra W. Perry.

The Grand Blanc Township Unit School District was renamed the Grand Blanc Community Schools in the mid-1960s as well, and the population of Grand Blanc continued to grow, with enrollment reaching 8062 students by 1970. In 1976 the west campus building of Grand Blanc High School was opened to help with overcrowding issues at the high school. Jewitt Trail was installed to accommodate the new building.

In 1983 the district had to cut back due to falling enrollment and budgetary concerns. Cook Elementary was closed and leased to General Motors until it was reopened in 1987, while Reid Elementary was closed and leased to a church. Enrollment remained low through the 1980s but began to increase again by 1990. In the 1990s those schools were reclaimed and opened, and expansion began again. An addition was made to Grand Blanc High School again in 2000, and expansions to Reid, Indian Hill, and Brendel in 2002. Mason Elementary, a brand new elementary building, was also opened in April 2002. By 2004, Grand Blanc Middle School was the largest in the state. The district passed a bond to add two brand new middle school buildings, East and West, which were completed in 2006. Also in 2006, Tartoni Center, a 2800-seat indoor arena, was added to the high school at a cost of $9 million. In 2007, Grand Blanc Schools restarted its alternative education program, the Center For Student Success, on the High School west campus. [2] By 2013, the district was the largest school district in Genesee County, surpassing Flint at over 8200 students enrolled.

In 2013, students at the City School, an experimental 215-day school elementary program housed at the Perry building, applied for and were granted a Michigan State Historical Marker for the Perry building at Saginaw & Perry Rds. in downtown Grand Blanc.

The Grand Blanc Bobcats, as they are now known, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the football team in the fall of 2019 and the 100th graduating class from Grand Blanc High School in 2021–2022. [3]

Controversy

In 2021, Grand Blanc School Board member Amy Facchinello stirred controversy with her Q-anon conspiracy posts to which she responded “I’m a victim of cancel culture" [4] In 2023, School Board member Amy Facchinello was indicted by the Michigan Attorney General for her part in a fake electorate scheme in attempt to install Donald Trump as president after his loss in the 2020 election. [5]

Athletics

Grand Blanc
SchoolGrand Blanc High School
ConferenceSVL
Saginaw Valley LeagueSouth
Athletic directorJared Dohm
Varsity teamsBoys: Basketball, Football, Ski, Tennis, Lacrosse;
Girls: Ski, Tennis, Cheerleading, Basketball, Swim & Dive, Water Polo, Golf, Pom, Lacrosse, Softball, Volleyball
Football stadiumFrank Thomas Field
ArenaFrank Thomas Field
MascotBobcat
NicknameBobcats
ColorsRed, Black, and White
     
Website Grand Blanc Athletics
LeagueStartEnd
County B 19501960
Big 8/9 1960/19622009
KLAA 20092018
SVL2018present

[6]

In 2006, the entire Big Nine Conference applied for membership in the Flint Metro League to encourage discussion on a merger with only a single team accepted. [7] Grand Blanc Schools moved to the Kensington Lakes Activities Association starting in 2009–2010 season. [8] In 2018 Grand Blanc moved to the Saginaw Valley League. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km) northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 81,252, making it the twelfth largest city in Michigan. The Flint metropolitan area is located entirely within Genesee County. It is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Michigan with a population of 406,892 in 2020. The city was incorporated in 1855.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesee County, Michigan</span> County in Michigan, United States

Genesee County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 406,211, making it the fifth-most populous county in Michigan. The county seat and population center is Flint. Genesee County is considered to be a part of the greater Mid Michigan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

The Charter Township of Flint, also known as Flint Township, is a charter township of Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 31,929 at the 2010 census. The City of Flint is adjacent to the township, but the two are administered autonomously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesee Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

The Charter Township of Genesee, or Genesee Township, is a charter township of Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. In the Public Land Survey System, the township is survey area township 8 north, range 7 east. The population was 21,581 at the 2010 census, down from 24,125 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Blanc, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Grand Blanc is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Flint. The population was 7,784 as of the 2020 US Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Blanc Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

Charter Township of Grand Blanc is a charter township of Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 39,846 at the 2020 census, a slight increase from 37,508 at the 2010 census. The city of Grand Blanc was formed out of part of the township's survey area. The Charter Township is the largest suburb of Flint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Morris Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

Mount Morris Charter Township is a charter township of Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,501 as of the 2010 census. The city of Mount Morris borders on the east, but the two are administered autonomously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint River (Michigan)</span> River in central Michigan, United States

The Flint River is a 78.3-mile-long (126.0 km) river in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan in the United States. The river's headwaters are in Columbiaville in Lapeer County and flows through the counties of Lapeer, Genesee, and Saginaw. The cities of Lapeer, Flint, Flushing, and Montrose are along its course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-54 (Michigan highway)</span> State highway in Genesee and Saginaw counties in Michigan, United States

M-54 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that bypasses the city of Flint. It is named Dort Highway for much of its length, in honor of Flint carriage and automobile pioneer Josiah Dallas Dort. The portion from the north end of Dort Highway to Clio Road is part of the historic Saginaw Trail, and was also part of the old Dixie Highway. The modern highway runs for 30.276 miles (48.724 km) through Genesee and Saginaw counties from connections with Interstate 75 (I-75) near Grand Blanc on the south to Birch Run on the north. The highway serves mostly suburban and urban sections of the Flint area. Outside of the city, it also passes through agricultural areas in northern Genesee County and southeastern Saginaw County. It also shares a short east–west section with M-83 near Birch Run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint Central High School</span> Public secondary school in Flint, Michigan, USA

Flint Central High School was one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central was the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High School was built in around 1928. Approximately 2,000 students attended the school at its peak attendance, and about half that at the time of its closing. Graduation ceremonies were held at Whiting Auditorium. The school building is located in the East Village, near the corner of Crapo Street and Court Street.

Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools is a Michigan public school district teaching kindergarten through 12th grade. The district covers parts of Flint Township, Flint (minor), Mundy Township and Burton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swartz Creek Community Schools</span> School district in Michigan

Swartz Creek Community School District is a public school district in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and in the Genesee Intermediate School District. The School District serves the City of Swartz Creek, parts of Flint, Flint Charter Township, Gaines Township, Clayton Township, Argentine Township and Village of Lennon even over into Shiawassee County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint, Michigan auto industry</span>

Flint, Michigan is a city which previously relied on its automotive industry, and still does to an extent. Over the past several decades, General Motors plants in Genesee County have experienced re-namings, management shifts, openings, closures, reopenings, and spinoffs.

The Saginaw Valley High School Association is a high school sports league formed in 1904 within the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), located in the Bay, Genesee, Isabella, Lapeer, Midland, and Saginaw counties in Michigan area.

The Big Nine Conference, formerly the Big Eight Conference, was a high school sports conference in Genesee County, Michigan, that ended with four high schools in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halo Burger</span> Fast food chain based in Flint, Michigan, United States

Halo Burger, formerly known by its full name Bill Thomas' Halo Burger, is an American fast-food restaurant chain based in Genesee County, Michigan. Begun in 1923 as the original Kewpee location and separating from the Kewpee chain in 1967 with two locations, the chain has maintained a number of locations in and around Genesee County.

Atherton High School is a public school in Burton, Michigan. Atherton Community School District is one of five public school districts serving Burton Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and in the Genesee Intermediate School District. Atherton School District runs two schools: Atherton Junior/Senior High School and Atherton Elementary School.. The total school district has about 1,025 Students. There are approximately 61 teachers that are employed there.

Lake Fenton Community School District is a public school district in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and in the Genesee Intermediate School District. The district is a classified as a "Class C" school district consisting of 27 square miles which takes in portions of the city of Fenton, Fenton Township, parts of Grand Blanc, Linden and Mundy townships.

Buena Vista School District was a school district headquartered in Buena Vista Charter Township, Michigan, and part of the Saginaw Intermediate School District. As of July 2013, the school district closed and became a tax-collecting district of the Saginaw ISD to pay the district's outstanding debts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lapeer High School</span> Public school in the United States

Lapeer High School is a coeducational public high school located in Lapeer, Michigan. It was established in 2014 following a merger of two high schools. LHS has the largest enrollment of any school in Central Michigan or The Thumb.

References

  1. ↑ Shively, J. "Genesee ISD" (PDF). Michigan Center for Geographic Information. State of Michigan. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  2. ↑ York, Sally A. (October 2, 2007). "Grand Blanc School District brings back alternative education". The Flint Journal.
  3. ↑ Harrison, Max (2015). The History of the Grand Blanc Schools. Grand Blanc, Michigan: Grand Blanc Heritage Association. ISBN   9780692499894.
  4. ↑ Gustafson, Anna (June 3, 2021). "Grand Blanc school board member's QAnon posts spark protest". Michigan Advance.
  5. ↑ Mauger, Craig (July 18, 2023). "16 false Trump electors face felony charges in Michigan". The Detroit News.
  6. ↑ "Grand Blanc Bobcats". Michigan High School Football. BusStop Computing. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  7. ↑ Khan, Bill. "Kear sley invited to join Metro League". Flint Journal. Advance Newspapers. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2007.
  8. ↑ Grand Blanc to leave Big Nine Conference for Kensington Lakes league next fall Archived 2008-10-23 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ ABC12. "GB out of KLAA".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.