Community ISD School
Community School
FM 1138 and CR 543
Nevada
Collin County attracted many settlers during the latter half of the 1800s. The settlers desired an education for their children. Initially, church buildings were used as schools. As time passed, schools and churches were built separately. There were a number of early schools in southeastern Collin County including Millwood School, Sabine School, Pedigo School, Bois d’Arc School, Pond Branch School, Bear Creek School, Little Creek School, Cairo (Karo) (Mt. Pisgah) School, Copeville School, McMinn School, Thompson School, Prairie Grove School, Lavon School, Nevada School, Josephine School and Empire College. Some of these early schools were started as early as the 1850s.
Many of these school districts consolidated into the 6 school districts of Josephine I SD, Nevada School District, Lavon School District, Mt. Pisgah (Cairo) School District, Millwood School District, and McMinn School District. These school districts were governed by a County School Board of Trustees and the State Board of Education.
During the 1946/1947 school year, in order to meet the requirements of the recently passed Texas Wilmer-Aikin Act, the County School Board of Trustees advised these 6 school districts that enrollments were too low in the individual schools. For the coming year their student bodies would have to attend schools in Wylie or Farmersville in Collin County or in Caddo Mills in Hunt County. The parents were not pleased with this notice and began to meet to determine a way that they could keep their schools.
On April 6, 1947, the County School Board of Trustees of Collin County met in a regular session. The Board determined that Nevada School District, Lavon School District, Millwood School District, Mt. Pisgah School District and McMinn School District should be grouped for the purpose of establishing and operating a rural high school under the provision of Article 2922, Texas Revised Civil Statutes. The Board determined that:
A few months later, on July 28, 1947, Josephine Independent School District was added to the list of school districts to be grouped together. Josephine ISD had strived to keep its own school, with no success.It desired to have school activities, such as ballgames, commencements and plays, held in Josephine.
The town of Nevada had an auditorium, and therefore, it was chosen to be the location of the high school. The name of the rural high school district would be Community Rural High School. The schools involved chose the name Community, as they desired unity among all the schools and communities. Community means people with common interests living in a particular area, or a group of people with a common characteristic or interest. It also contains the word, “unity”, which is what the people hoped would happen among the towns.
The Nevada campus became Community Rural High School with students from eighth to twelfth grade. Lavon School and Josephine School continued as elementary campuses. Millwood School District, Mt. Pisgah School District and McMinn School District closed their campuses. Each school had to give up its mascots and colors. Nevada High’s mascot was a Bulldog and its colors were maroon and white. Josephine High’s mascot was a Dragon, with colors of red and white. Lavon High’s mascot was a Yellow Jacket, with colors of blue and gold. Mt. Pisgah’s colors were blue and white.
For the new Community Rural High School, “Braves” were chosen as the mascot because of strength and endurance. The colors chosen were blue and gold.
The Community Rural High School was controlled by the County School Board of Trustees. Lyman D. Robinson was the County Superintendent. The school trustees were Charles Dodson, J. D. Richie, Leonard Stancil, John Yeager, Otis Watkins and R. A. Taylor. Alton Bowen was the first superintendent and later became the Texas Commissioner of Education. A. G. Stone was principal at Community Rural High School, Virgil Fletcher was principal at Lavon Elementary and Charley Fields was principal at Josephine Elementary. Faculty members included Mrs. Ruth Neil, Miss C. Lawrence, Mr. Icenhower, Mr. Deary, Mrs. Emma Coleman, Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Irene Watkins, Mrs. Carylene McClendon, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Vivian Hess and Mrs. Flesher. In 1952-53 Community rural high school district had 111 colored students and 144 colored students in 1953-54.
In 1957, kindergarten through fourth grade was taught in Lavon Elementary. The Josephine campus became Josephine Junior High School, with grades five through eight. Eighth grade was moved from high school to the junior high campus.
In the 1960s a new colored school was built between Josephine and Nevada. It was closed when Community ISD integrated in 1966.
FM 1138 and CR 543
Nevada
Collin County attracted many settlers during the latter half of the 1800s. The settlers desired an education for their children. Initially, church buildings were used as schools. As time passed, schools and churches were built separately. There were a number of early schools in southeastern Collin County including Millwood School, Sabine School, Pedigo School, Bois d’Arc School, Pond Branch School, Bear Creek School, Little Creek School, Cairo (Karo) (Mt. Pisgah) School, Copeville School, McMinn School, Thompson School, Prairie Grove School, Lavon School, Nevada School, Josephine School and Empire College. Some of these early schools were started as early as the 1850s.
Many of these school districts consolidated into the 6 school districts of Josephine I SD, Nevada School District, Lavon School District, Mt. Pisgah (Cairo) School District, Millwood School District, and McMinn School District. These school districts were governed by a County School Board of Trustees and the State Board of Education.
During the 1946/1947 school year, in order to meet the requirements of the recently passed Texas Wilmer-Aikin Act, the County School Board of Trustees advised these 6 school districts that enrollments were too low in the individual schools. For the coming year their student bodies would have to attend schools in Wylie or Farmersville in Collin County or in Caddo Mills in Hunt County. The parents were not pleased with this notice and began to meet to determine a way that they could keep their schools.
On April 6, 1947, the County School Board of Trustees of Collin County met in a regular session. The Board determined that Nevada School District, Lavon School District, Millwood School District, Mt. Pisgah School District and McMinn School District should be grouped for the purpose of establishing and operating a rural high school under the provision of Article 2922, Texas Revised Civil Statutes. The Board determined that:
- each of the school districts was validly formed,
- each was a legally existing school district,
- each of the school districts had less than four hundred in scholastic population,
- each of the school districts was contiguous to one another,
- all of the districts were included in a common boundary.
- the proposed new consolidated school district would not contain an area in excess of one hundred square miles
- the proposed new school district would not contain more than seven elementary school districts.
A few months later, on July 28, 1947, Josephine Independent School District was added to the list of school districts to be grouped together. Josephine ISD had strived to keep its own school, with no success.It desired to have school activities, such as ballgames, commencements and plays, held in Josephine.
The town of Nevada had an auditorium, and therefore, it was chosen to be the location of the high school. The name of the rural high school district would be Community Rural High School. The schools involved chose the name Community, as they desired unity among all the schools and communities. Community means people with common interests living in a particular area, or a group of people with a common characteristic or interest. It also contains the word, “unity”, which is what the people hoped would happen among the towns.
The Nevada campus became Community Rural High School with students from eighth to twelfth grade. Lavon School and Josephine School continued as elementary campuses. Millwood School District, Mt. Pisgah School District and McMinn School District closed their campuses. Each school had to give up its mascots and colors. Nevada High’s mascot was a Bulldog and its colors were maroon and white. Josephine High’s mascot was a Dragon, with colors of red and white. Lavon High’s mascot was a Yellow Jacket, with colors of blue and gold. Mt. Pisgah’s colors were blue and white.
For the new Community Rural High School, “Braves” were chosen as the mascot because of strength and endurance. The colors chosen were blue and gold.
The Community Rural High School was controlled by the County School Board of Trustees. Lyman D. Robinson was the County Superintendent. The school trustees were Charles Dodson, J. D. Richie, Leonard Stancil, John Yeager, Otis Watkins and R. A. Taylor. Alton Bowen was the first superintendent and later became the Texas Commissioner of Education. A. G. Stone was principal at Community Rural High School, Virgil Fletcher was principal at Lavon Elementary and Charley Fields was principal at Josephine Elementary. Faculty members included Mrs. Ruth Neil, Miss C. Lawrence, Mr. Icenhower, Mr. Deary, Mrs. Emma Coleman, Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Irene Watkins, Mrs. Carylene McClendon, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Vivian Hess and Mrs. Flesher. In 1952-53 Community rural high school district had 111 colored students and 144 colored students in 1953-54.
In 1957, kindergarten through fourth grade was taught in Lavon Elementary. The Josephine campus became Josephine Junior High School, with grades five through eight. Eighth grade was moved from high school to the junior high campus.
In the 1960s a new colored school was built between Josephine and Nevada. It was closed when Community ISD integrated in 1966.
