Historic Omaha
An illustrated history of Omaha and the Douglas County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of Omaha and the Douglas County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
What was once the edge of the city became<br />
the center of <strong>Omaha</strong>. Between 1947 and 1977<br />
the population of the area served by the district<br />
grew from 1,800 to 40,000. As the population<br />
increased, bond issues were needed to construct<br />
additional schools. The voters of the district<br />
responded favorably, and by 1963, funds had<br />
been approved for 10 new elementary schools<br />
and multiple additions to existing schools. In<br />
May of 1976, the tornado that hit Douglas<br />
County completely destroyed Westgate<br />
Elementary School. The community rose to this<br />
challenge and the school was rebuilt in only 82<br />
days, in time for the beginning of the fall term.<br />
Throughout the years, improvements have been<br />
made to other district schools. In 1993 Westside<br />
Middle School was expanded and renovated, and<br />
in 2000 the district completed a $27.5 million<br />
renovation of Westside High School. Both projects<br />
focused on transforming the buildings into<br />
state-of-the-art technological learning centers.<br />
Today, Westside Community Schools is an<br />
award-winning school district serving a preschool<br />
through grade 12 enrollment of more than 5500<br />
students. Ten neighborhood elementary schools<br />
provide innovative curriculum, as well as small<br />
class sizes, all-day kindergarten, and elementary<br />
foreign language instruction. Both Westside<br />
Middle School and Westside High School have<br />
been designated as Blue Ribbon Schools by the<br />
United States Department of Education. Westside<br />
Community Schools has a highly educated,<br />
award-winning faculty, with sixty-three percent of<br />
the teachers holding masters, specialist, or doctoral<br />
degrees. Technological advances, such as the<br />
PowerSchool information system, provide parents<br />
with up-to-the-minute information about the<br />
schools and their children’s school performance.<br />
Westside Community Schools fulfills its mission<br />
to meet the unique needs of all learners by providing<br />
excellence in education at every level.<br />
✧<br />
Above: In 1970, Governor J. J. Exon and<br />
<strong>Omaha</strong> Mayor Gene Leahy helped Valley<br />
View Junior High students plant a tree<br />
outside their school.<br />
Below: In 1958, teacher Paul Nelson taught<br />
physical education classes to students at<br />
Westside High School.<br />
QUALITY OF LIFE<br />
109
Change language