East Helena Education History
In 1890, a one-acre site on Main Street was chosen to be the permanent home of East Helena’s school which had been designated Spokane District #9 by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. By 1911, the student population had increased so much that two new wings were added to the original school. The earthquake of 1935 caused severe damage to the school, which at the time was estimated at about $50,000. Education was important, however, and the school was repaired and reopened. The Baby Boom, after WWII was cause for further increasing the size of the school and it was increased in 1952 and again in 1956. 74 years after that first one-room school was built in East Helena, the number of students in the community made it clear that a second school was needed. Clinton Street School was built and opened its doors to students in 1963. Mr. Robert H. Radley started his teaching career with the East Helena Schools as a teacher and coach in 1952. He was appointed District Superintendent in 1954 and continued in this capacity until his sudden and untimely death in 1981. Mr. Radley was thought of as a very special man who lived in the hearts of so many….especially the children in his care. Clinton Street School was renamed Robert H. Radley School in his honor, in 1981 and his memory is still in the hearts of the community.
East Helena Schools was widely respected as an institution providing quality education to its students and the community continued to grow. Radley School was soon in need of more space for classrooms as the student enrollment continued to rise. There were 700 students in the East Helena Schools by 1983…..a substantial increase over the 98 children that passed through the doors of that simple one-room school back in 1890.
The growing trend continued over the years and in 1986, Eastgate Elementary School became the third school in the District. In 1890, when the first permanent school was built on that one acre of ground on Main Street, the cost of the building was $1,025. Eastgate School, in comparison, almost 100 years later, cost taxpayers $1,659,885.
Less than ten years later, the need arose again for another building. Main Street School was aging and education had outgrown the amenities that Main Street School offered. East Valley Middle School was approved with the passage of a levy that would provide $3,550,000 for the construction, and another $1,850,000 for upgrading Eastgate and Radley Schools. East Valley Middle School was built in 1999 and the beloved Main Street School, which held so many memories for former students, teachers, staff and parents would close its doors. The building was donated to the City of East Helena and now houses East Helena City Hall. The old school bell from Main Street School was moved to East Valley Middle School.