School Controversy Not New to Davis

According to a Davis Public Schools History 1931 in the Hattie Weber Museum of Davis Schools Collection, Davis had no high school before 1924. Most students who completed eighth grade and wished to continue their education went to Woodland for high school, a few went to Dixon or Sacramento.

The impetus for change came in 1923 when Woodland proposed that Davis join the Woodland High School District. Then, as now, Davis residents were committed to autonomy and the invitation was declined. Davis began to plan for its own high school district, to be composed of four elementary school districts: Davis, Montgomery, Fairfield and Plainfield. A group of 34 public spirited citizens donated enough money to purchase the square block bordered by 4th, 5th, (now 5th and 6th), B and C streets to be held in trust for a new High School District.

During February 1924, petitions were circulated in all four elementary districts to hold an election on forming the new high school district.. The only district not overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal was Plainfield, where sentiment was closely divided.

In March, E.S. McBride and Calvin Covell filed a petition with the Yolo County Superintendent of Schools, Harriet Lee. A majority of electors in each district then favored creating the new High School District centered in Davis.

When the petition was filed, thirty of the fifty-four electors in Plainfield approved the formation of the new district. However, three of the signers later requested their names be removed from the petition. The Superintendent removed those names and denied the petition because there was no longer a majority in the Plainfield district.

Outraged, Davis petitioners took the matter to court, challenging the Superintendent’s authority to remove names for the petition. They lost in the trial, appellate and Supreme courts.

Meanwhile, 22 Davis students began high school courses in August 1924 in an enlarged portion of Davis Central Grammar School. Plainfield unsuccessfully attempted to annex itself to the Woodland High School District. Later it failed to maintain the necessary school attendance and its district was split between Woodland and Davis.

New petitions were prepared and approved for a three district (Davis, Fairfield and Montgomery elementary districts) Union high school. A June 1, 1925 election resulted in overwhelming approval of a Davis Union High School District. In February of 1926 a bond issue of $115,000 (more than the school trustees originally proposed) was approved, 467 to 40. However, the omission of a clause in the public notice of the election resulted in its nullification. A new election was set for May 18, 1926; the new District and bonds were approved, 367 to 52.

Meanwhile, a controversy arose over the site of the new high school because of the proximity of the Zeta Xi Fraternity House to the proposed site. The Board approved the site on the condition that the Fraternity House be moved. The mortgage holder for the Fraternity House refused to move it and a stalemate resulted. After a joint meeting of the City Trustees, the City Planning Commission and the High School Board, the Board and the City Trustees pledged the funds to move the Fraternity House; the lender agreed. The House was moved and construction of the Davis High School began. The first class graduated in 1928.*

To learn more about Davis Public Schools, both early and current, visit the Hattie Weber Museum of Davis to view the Davis Schools: 1870-2010 exhibit. Of particular interest are the dance cards from the old high school, ceramic tiles from the Central Grammar School and pictures of 19th and 20th century students.

* Source: Davis Public Schools; History. May, 1931. Hattie Weber Museum of Davis.