Browning-Pearce ElementaryFrom Past to Present
We are very proud of the students, staff, and parents at our school. Our students are motivated, cooperative, well-behaved and pleasant. Staff members constantly seek new ways to make school exciting and relevant for our students, and Browning Pearce parents are actively involved in our school and in the education of their children.
We strive to make Browning Pearce a friendly, caring, supportive school where children feel challenged, safe, and cared for by both the school staff and the community.
History
1890: East Palatka Elementary School began. The building was a one-room wooden structure with one teacher who taught grades one through eight. It was located across the road from the present {1998} East Palatka Post office on the southeast corner of Putnam County Blvd. and McCormick Rd.
1917: Population growth required new school Two acres of land were purchased by the patrons for a new school site.
1918: East Palatka Elementary School built A two-room, one-story, brick building was constructed, west of the intersection of Putnam County Blvd. and Ferry Rd., with materials furnished by the Browning. Lumber Company. It was designed for 100 students and cost $5,OOO. There were two teachers then and the curriculum continued for grades one through eight.
October 22, 1919: The enrollment was up to 52.
1940-1950: Growth in the community and enforcement of Child Labor laws helped encourage the formation of a Parent-Teacher Organization. Until this time, the school had no Cafeteria. Since both Vel1a V. Tilton and Minnie Cheshire Ramage Schneider had children at the school and also were married to county commissioners, they would go to the school with an old oil cookstove and cook soup to serve to the children. Through this activity they helped raise some of
money to build a cafeteria. The cafeteria was built between 1944 and 1945.
April 3 1956: East Palatka Elementary School was named Browning-Pearce Elementary School at the request of the P.T.A. This was to honor S.S. Browning Jr. who gave materials and inspiration to the beginnings of the school, and Basil C. Pearce, a former student who was killed during World War II.
1960: Construction of a four-room unit brought the total number of classrooms to ten and another teacher was added.
1963: Enrollment was so great the pro principal's office reception area had to be used as a classroom and another teacher was added. The school consisted of 338 students. 11 teachers, 1 principal, 3 cafeteria workers, 2 custodians, a functional Parent-Teacher Association health services. home demonstration agent, supervisory and guidance services, and a visiting teacher. Curriculum: Basically concerned with citizenship training and improvement of instruction to meet the needs of the children and the community.
June 4, 1971: Dedication ceremony of the Homer H. Biddle Cafetorium. April 1976: The school was named as an above average school in a report with proclaimed that Putnam County schools ranked 15th among Florida s 67 counties in efficiency.
February 19,1982: 32teachers, 36 non-instructional staff and 604 students.
1989-1990: enrollment - 857, 2 administrators, 53 instructional
staff 39 non-instructional staff
1990-1991: enrollment - 877, 2 administrators, 54 instructional
staff, 41 non-instructional staff
1991-1992: enrollment - 923, 2 administrators, 49 instructional
staff, 39 non-instructional staff
1992-1993: enrollment - 922, 2 administrators 51 instructional
staff 40 non-instructional staff
1993-1994: enrollment - 943, 2 administrators, 54 instructional
staff, 46 non-instructional staff
1994-1995: enrollment - 981, 2 administrators. 57 instructional
staff, 41 non-instructional staff
1995-1996: enrollment - 992, 2 administrators, 55 instructional
staff, 46 non-instructional staff
1996-1997: enrollment - 1049, 2 administrators, 64 instructional
staff, 48 non-instructional staff
1997-1998: enrollment - 1017, 2 administrators, 65 instructional
staff 47 non-instructional staff
Present Curriculum
1989-1995: Pegasus Reading
1995 to the present: Success For All Reading
1989-1997: Scoff/Foresman and Addison/Wesley Math
1997-1998: Everyday Math
Spanish, Art, & Music
Science Lab, 2 Computer Labs (k-2 and 3-5)
Other curriculum which meets the Sunshine State Standards
Standardized Testing
CTBS (California Test of Basic Skills)
Florida Writes
FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test)
Principals of Browning-Pearce Elementary
School/Present
1989-1991: Bill Ivey, David Buckles (assistant)
1991-1994: David Buckles, Jim Yopp (assistant)
1994-1996: David Buckles, Sammy Sharp (assistant)
1996-1997: Sammy Sharp Sandy Grant (assistant)
1997-1998: Sammy Sharp, Phyllis Criswell (assistant)
