Irving Elementary School

I ndividuals, who are
Responsible,
Valuable,
Intelligent,
Noble and
Great students!

• State Challenge Award given for outstanding math achievement on state assessment, 2005
• Met Kansas Standard of Excellence for Math, 2005 and 2009; for Writing, 2007
• Recognized in 2006 and 2008 as one of Wichita’s “Best Places to Work," by the Wichita Business Journal

Exit Kellogg at Central Business District exit. Go north on Market 16 blocks to Irving. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

It is the mission of Irving Elementary to provide our students with opportunities to access information that will satisfy their own learning needs and ensure their ability to critically evaluate information. Irving staff will analyze performance and develop strategies to increase student achievement through individualized intervention. Our professional learning community will foster each student's unique abilities to become productive members of society.

Reading comprehension, math problem-solving, and 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: Last Tuesday of month
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Irving Library
Chairperson: Roman Moreno

1. English for Speakers of Other Languages
2. Education Trust model for professional development
3. Urban Teacher Preparation Program - School partnership with WSU
4. State-of-the-art technology throughout the building
           a.  Technology Rich Classrooms grant
           b.  Each classroom has an interactive whiteboard and projector
           c.  Each classroom has a digital camera
           d.  Access to multiple wireless laptop carts
5. Parental Involvement Worker/Parent Resource Center
6. Parent Involvement and Literacy Program

• Family Literacy and Family Math Night
• Schoolwide reading motivation program
• Red Ribbon Week
• Grade level Math/Literacy Night/Music celebrations
• Safe Kids Walk This Way program
• Rotary Club Reading is FUNdamental (RIF) program participants

Irving, located now at 1642 North Market, is one of the oldest school districts in Wichita. The school opened in a one-room, four-grade frame building in what was at that time called the Fourth Ward. The exact date when this small building was erected and opened for school is not known.

Miss Leida Mills taught in the old building for a number of years starting in 1884. In 1887, a new building facing Lawrence Road (now Broadway) was erected. This building was designed by Proudfoot and Bird, architects, and contained eight classrooms. Miss Mills was the first principal. Irving was named for Washington Irving, American essayist, novelist and historian.

Until the construction of Waco Elementary School in 1907, the Irving district was larger than it is at present. The school included grades one through eight until the construction of Horace Mann Intermediate School. For many years Irving was located in the heart of one of the finest residential areas of Wichita and was attended by children of prominent citizens.

The building constructed in 1887 was replaced in 1941 by the present building designed by Lorenz Schmidt. This colonial type building facing Market Street was expanded by portables to accommodate the growing population. The enrollment averaged about 400 pupils and at times exceeded 500. Since the building capacity was 350, it was necessary to divide the auditorium and to erect seven portables on the campus. The 1974 bond election provided funds to add a multipurpose room, six classrooms, restrooms and to convert the old multipurpose room to a library. Woodman and Van Doren were the architects for this addition which was completed in 1976.

In 1989, Irving was combined with Horace Mann and Park elementaries to become a foreign language magnet elementary school with grades PK-2 housed at Irving and Park, and 3-5 housed at Horace Mann. Until 1995, the building administrator was considered an assistant principal. In 1995, the campus administrator was designated as principal.

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.

To have sufficient space to complete the Irving remodel and construction, the district purchased property at 1620-22 N. Market. With the help of architects Law Kingdom, Inc. and Rainbow Construction, Irving received a new addition including six classrooms and renovations for both student support and the 2nd floor restrooms. Additional parking was added to the school, and the bus loading/unloading areas were upgraded.

The Bond project dedication ceremony was held October 29, 2002.