The Consolidation Process

On February 23, 1949 the West Shore High School District #1 was established. West Shore High School District #1 included Proctor #24, Rollins #41, Dayton #38, and Elmo #22. On the 3rd day of July, 1952 the entire district was annexed to the Polson High School District #23. Throughout those years no high school was ever held within the boundaries of that newly established district but the districts combined resources to run a bus for their high school students to get them to Polson. By 1964 interest was expressed in possible consolidation of the elementary districts. Following in the footsteps of both of his parents who both long served as trustees for Proctor, Jack Meuli was elected as trustee in 1962-63. He served as chairman in 1963-64 and 1964-65. He reported that "in 1964 the school boards of Dayton, Proctor and Rollins voted to see if there was an interest in the community to consolidate, as all three schools were getting smaller (especially Rollins and Proctor). A vote of the people in each district was held. The people of Dayton voted to consolidate. Rollins voted against and Proctor voted almost 90 percent against." Jack was not elected again. He thinks he probably was the "most unpopular guy in Proctor at that time" and in lighter moments he says he nearly got hung for his pro consolidation viewpoint. Proctor continued to run independently. From 1967 until July 1, 1972 Jack Meuli was appointed clerk of Dayton School District #36. So he was clerk in 1967 when Dayton and Rollins boards voted to run the two schools together but not to consolidate. The lower grades (1-4) were in Rollins with two teachers and the upper grades in Dayton, also with two teachers. A bus ran between the two schools. Proctor still operated independently.

In 1970-71 Maxine Miller, later Learn, taught the last year Proctor had all eight grades. While teaching she lived in the teacherage and took numerous pictures of her students at work and play.

Della Sampson was the last teacher to teach at the Proctor School while it was still District #24. Trustees Matthew Dooley, Gary Thomas, and Charles Sears presided over the final decision to consolidate the district. Dee Adams served as District Clerk. Proctor District #24 and Dayton School District #36 consolidated into Upper West Shore School District #33 on July 1, 1972.

The next year Ione Harris was brought down from Dayton to teach grades 4-6 at Proctor. Rollins held grades 1-3 and Dayton had grades 7-8. Sarah Vowell taught grades 4-6 for the next two years at Proctor and lived in the teacherage. She was the last teacher to do so. Lois Meuli taught the 1975-76 school year teaching grades 4-6 at Proctor and began the 1976 year at Proctor too. According to Maxine Learn, in about October of 1976 the combined districts decided that the fuel costs, etc. made it necessary to close Proctor. Violet Dooley was the Upper West Shore Clerk. Jack Meuli wrote, " In 1976 it was decided by the school board that it would be best to close the Proctor school and continue to operate the other two schools."Rollins continued to have classes through 1979. Since then all classes have been held in Dayton.

Both the Proctor and Rollins schools are still owned by Upper West Shore School District #33 and are very well maintained by the local communities as community centers.

The school bell that long rang children to classes was mysteriously stolen. Rumors of the bell criminal abound but no one will state their suspicions. If anyone knows its whereabouts the community would be thankful for its return. The community and Learn Family members have begun a drive to restore the school. It is used regularly for family reunions and community activities. At the 1999 Learn Family Reunion a stained glass window was auctioned off several times which raised over $700 for the restoration project. Dan Brander installed the window which features the school and its bell. A volunteer crew reinforced a sagging corner and the floor.

The school continues to serve as a community center and the teacherage holds free clothes for giveaway. Former teacher Maxine Learn coordinates the clothes giveaway community volunteer program.