Dodge Literacy Magnet Elementary School

Literacy is the heart of Dodge Literacy Magnet. Students utilize literacy skills to understand all aspects of learning. They are taught a love of reading and writing as they explore their full potential in all other curricular areas. The literacy theme creates an environment where reading and writing are the foundations for life-long learning.

• A literacy magnet theme focuses on language, literature and writing.
• Literacy is at the heart of all programs and activities.
• Literacy, broadly defined, includes spoken and written language, mathematics, the arts and technology in a literature-based format.
• A literacy magnet program utilizes research-based curriculum to teach language arts, builds on best practices in reading, the writing process and math, and includes lessons in which literature is infused with all areas of the curriculum.

Achievement Highlights

Exit Kellogg at West Street.  Go north on Maple.  Go west to Anna.  Go north 2 ¹/₂ blocks to Dodge Literacy Magnet. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.  

The mission of Dodge Literacy Magnet is to encourage each other, learn together, work hard and make good choices so we will be successful in life.

• Math problem solving
• Reading/literature
• Writing

Each school has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

Meeting Day: 2^nd Monday of every month
Time:
Location:
Chairperson:

• 90 minutes of daily uninterrupted reading instruction
• 90 minutes of daily uninterrupted math instruction
• 90 minutes language arts block
• Parents as Teachers program
• Full-time librarian
• Full-time Fine Arts program
• Full-time parent involvement worker
• Full-time math/writing/reading instructional coaches
• Wireless technology lab and computers in every classroom
• Palm pilots for every 5th grade student
• Before- and after-school program
• Volunteers, foster grandparents, college students, Rotary club
• Strong phonics base
• Cooperative learning
• Standards-driven instruction
• Parent and community volunteer opportunities
• Timely communication between teachers and parents
• Parenting skills discussion groups
• Booster Club
• Building Committee

Kindergarten

All-day Kindergarten
Morning and afternoon Pre-Kindergarten

• School-wide family activities
• Grade level family nights for writing, math and reading

Prior to becoming a part of the Wichita Public School System on July 1, 1954, Dodge Elementary School was a part of District 127 of Sedgwick County and was known as Eureka No. 2. Beginning with the 1995-96 school year is is known as the Dodge/Edison Partnership School - the second Edison Partnership School in the country - a partnership with a private company. The school day and year are extended, and in addition to one computer for every two students in the school, a personal computer is placed in the home of all students.

The decision to build a school on the present site was made at a stormy annual Board meeting around 1938. The Board members wanted to build an addition to the existing school (known as Eureka School) but many of the patrons wanted a new school built north of Highway 54 (Maple Street). Both sides enlisted supporters to attend the annual meeting and because of the tension, sheriff officers were present. However, most of the patrons lived north of the highway, and the decision was made in their favor.

The first building on the present site consisted of eight classrooms. The cost including furnishings was reported to have been under $50,000. While the building was built for economy, it did have features which were considered ultramodern. The school was featured in an article in the May 1940 School Board Journal. The building was opened on March 25, 1940 with 225 students in grades 1-8 who transferred from the South Eureka School building. School lunches were served during the early history of the school. The school district was the first west of the Mississippy to receive and use surplus commodities in their hot lunch program.

A brick structure with four classrooms (north end of present brick building) was added to the site in 1944 at a reported cost of $28,000. In 1950 four additional classrooms and two rest rooms were added to the brick structure. A second addition consisting of the south eight rooms was added in 1952 at the cost of $60,000.

At the time the Eureka School District was dissolved and became a part of the Wichita Public Schools, the Eureka No. 2 site consisted of a cement building with eight classrooms and a brick building with 16 classrooms. Portable classrooms were added in 1954, 1957, 1958 and 1961. In 1966 Title I funds provided an all-electric portable for reading classes. An addition consisting of ten classrooms, rest rooms and a multipurpose room was constructed in 1976.

The school name was changed to the Almon E. Dodge Elementary School when it became a part of the Wichita Public Schools in the fall of 1954. Mr. Dodge, the Wichita pioneer after whom the school was named, homesteaded in west Wichita. His home was on the site of the old Wichita Hospital (Seneca and Douglas). He was the first justice of the peace of Delano Township. Mr. Dodge was construction superintendent of the first bridge across the river south of the city.

When the school was first built it served all eight grades. As the enrollment grew, the seventh and eighth grades were transferred to the south building and the school became an attendance center for grades 1‑6. The first year the school was in the Wichita Public School system it had an enrollment of 750 pupils. A peak enrollment of 807 pupils was reached in November 1957. The enrollment was above 700 until January 1963. After that time the enrollment declined to about 500 pupils. As Dodge/Edison, enrollment was maintained around 600.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

On June 30, 2003, the contract with the Edison Project was terminated. A transition team composed of central office staff as well as staff representatives and community members of both Jardine and Dodge reported to the Board in January 2003 with recommendations for the new school structures of Dodge and Jardine for the 2003-2004 year. On April 14, 2003 the Board of Education approved the name change to Dodge Literacy Magnet School.

Wilson Darnell Mann PA was the Architect on the bond project. The district contracted Brecko Construction Co., in the amount of $2,348,200 to complete the Bond addition and remodel for Payne Elementary and Dodge Literacy Magnet. The construction was completed in January 2006.