Spaght Multimedia Magnet

In 2002, Spaght Accelerated Magnet Academy was dedicated to the memory of district administrator and life long supporter of children, Samuel E. Spaght. Mr. Spaght served the Wichita Public Schools for 41 years before losing his battle with cancer in May 2000. At Spaght, our professional learning community of staff, parents, and community members collaborate to address the needs of all students. Our focus is on accelerating learning for all students.

Spaght is a pre-kindergarten through 5th grade school educating approximately 360 students. Students receive Ninety (90) minutes of daily intensive reading and math instruction. Spaght offers many opportunities for technology to be integrated in all aspects of our curriculum. Our building is networked to utilize wireless laptops, SMART boards and projectors. In addition, our computer lab and handheld computers are used to reinforce skills and integrated into all aspects of the curriculum. A student technology team is formed each year for daily school wide broadcasts. Technology skills are also emphasized through a full time Technology Teaching Specialist. Spaght also has a gifted facilitator serving students identified as gifted.

Spaght parents and teachers strive to communicate regularly through conferences, home visits, school activities and frequent phone calls in order to maintain a positive, nurturing and safe learning environment for our students.

• Spaght students demonstrated double digit gains in both reading and math on the Kansas State Reading and Math assessments for two consecutive years.
• Many community partnerships are formed at Spaght, these partners include: St. Marks United Methodist Church, Urban League, New Hope Baptist Church, AKA Sorority Inc., Patrol North of Wichita Police Department. These partnerships provide a multitude of resources and support to the Spaght program.

Exit east Kellogg at Hillside. Go north on Hillside to 9th St. Go west on 9th St. to Grove. Go north on Grove to 10th St. Spaght Magnet Academy is on the corner. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

The mission of Spaght Accelerated Magnet, through a shared commitment between school and community, is to ensure the academic and social growth of all students by providing:

• a collaborative approach to leadership;
• a caring and understanding atmosphere;
• a challenging curriculum with diverse strategies for diverse learners;
• and teamwork between students, parents and teachers, so that each student will become a successful, productive, capable and self-reliant individual.

1. All students will show growth in reading comprehension and vocabulary.
2. All students will show growth in problem solving skills and math computation.
3. All students will show growth in writing skills.

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: Second Thursday of month
Time: 6-7 p.m.
Location: Spaght Academy Parent Involvement Room

• Gifted Resource
• READ program
• Live broadcast systems/technology
• Palm Pilot User Group for 4^th and 5^th grade students
• Parents As Teachers
• Full Time Technology Instructor
• Title I school-wide
• Technology in every classroom (networked to the main server)
• Before- and after-school program
• School-wide discipline plan
• Standardized dress code
• Foster grandparents
• Family support team
• Full time Parent Involvement room

Kindergarten

Pre-Kindergarten Program: Morning and afternoon sessions
Half-Day Kindergarten: None
All-Day Kindergarten: Yes

Ingalls Elementary School was named in honor of John J. Ingalls, a famous 19th century United States Senator from the State of Kansas. Senator Ingalls was an outstanding orator much sought after for appearances across the country.

On September 3, 1900 a new school building at Ninth and Cherry Street was named Ingalls. Cherry Street ran from Eighth to Ninth and was one block west of Cleveland. Cherry Street was probably Indiana Street of today. This places the original Ingalls on the Dunbar site. The new building was short lived as it burned one month and five days later. In March of the following year the Board of Education awarded a contract in the amount of $15,075 for the construction of a new eight-room structure at the same location. The new building was to have steam heat. Because it was impossible to get city water to the new school, it was necessary to install two pumps.

In March of 1927 contracts were let in the amount of $156,050 for the construction of a new school at Tenth and Grove. Two months later the Board named the new school Ingalls.

Population in the area must have grown rapidly, because four rooms were added to the structure in 1930. In 1952 an additional six rooms were added on the east to accommodate two kindergartens and four primary classes. Soon after the completion of this wing, portable classrooms were moved on the site. In 1962 the 16 portables on the site were replaced by a permanent addition composed of 14 classrooms, a multipurpose room, and a library. At that time the enrollment was over 1,000.

The integration process started at Ingalls in 1953 and continued until about 1957 when the school population was more than 50 percent black. By 1969 only one white child attended Ingalls.

In 1971-72 Ingalls was included in the “Assigned Attendance Area” for integration purposes. The assignment of black children to schools outside the area and transportation of white children to the school resulted in an approximate ratio of 80 percent white and 20 percent black in the school population. The enrollment was maintained at about 550.

In the fall of 1992 the educational emphasis of Ingalls changed to a geographical approach. Each grade level was assigned a continent of study. To reflect the geographical approach, the school was renamed Ingalls World of Knowledge Magnet Elementary School.

In the summer of 1997, the Board of Education approved to close Ingalls World of Knowledge Magnet and have it reopened as an Edison school. The Board of Education approved the name change to Ingalls Edison Academy on September 8, 1998. The enrollment for the 1997-98 school year began with approximately 700 students. Students who attend Ingalls Edison Academy went through an application process. This school offered: an extended school day - so students have more time for learning and to provide time for learning the arts, foreign languages, and physical education; a longer school year - the students attend class 206 days a year; a computer in the home of every students - to promote regular communication among parents, teachers and students and to make advanced technology an integral part of the child's future.

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.

At the end of the 2001-02 school year, Ingalls was no longer operated by Edison and was a part of the Wichita Public School System. In July 2002 the Board unanimously approved the change of the name to Samuel E. Spaght Accelerated Magnet Academy.

On September 5, 2002 a dedication was held to honor the man for whom the school is named. Samuel E. Spaght began his 41 years of service to the district as a teacher and was the first African-American to hold a high-level position in the Wichita Public Schools.

As part of the Bond construction, Spaght received a new addition including four classrooms and support area. The remodel and addition was completed by the Waldinger Corporation.

The Bond project celebration was held on April 13, 2006.