Rededication & Open House
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
West Chester
Joseph R. Fugett
Middle School
Welcome to J. R. Fugett Middle School
and the
West Chester Area School District
The metamorphosis of J. R. Fugett Middle School is the final phase in the district’s comprehensive
secondary schools’ construction plan. This plan, which began in 2003, included additions and renovations
to East and B. Reed Henderson High Schools, and the construction of Bayard Rustin High
School. The high school portion was completed in 2006.
Some of the required renovations at Fugett were accomplished as part of the work on the adjoining
East building. Thus, the roof at Fugett was replaced as an extension of the roof replacement at East.
New doors and windows were installed, and the building exterior received a much needed scrubbing
with a hydro spray. In addition, the parking lot was expanded and repaved, and some asbestos was
removed from the interior.
Major construction, which included tearing down existing interior walls and reconfiguring
instructional spaces, did not begin until the summer of 2007. To provide the best possible learning
environment for the students, the project was completed over a three-year period with the bulk of
construction occurring during the summer months.
The first phase, completed in the summer of 2007, centered around the academic wing which was
renovated with brand new science classrooms; other classroom spaces were better equipped to meet
specific instructional needs. Two additional classrooms now occupy an area once filled by locker bays
on each floor. A work room for teachers and an office for a guidance counselor were added on each
floor. New bathrooms and HVAC system were installed.
Phase two, accomplished during the summer of 2008, involved the unified arts area and included
new updated rooms for art, music, technical education, and family and consumer sciences. During
this phase, the family and consumer sciences classrooms were moved to the lower level to provide
additional spaces for art and music rooms. The cafeteria was renovated as part of this phase as well.
The final phase, completed this past summer and fall, involved the library, administration area,
gymnasium, and auditorium. The administration area was enlarged and reconfigured to better serve
the school community. A two-story addition, added in front of the auditorium and gymnasium,
provides room for a television studio, student council room, bathrooms and storage space.
J. R. Fugett Middle School students are part of a total population of almost 12,000 students
who attend 16 district schools. The district covers a 75-square-mile area that includes West Chester
Borough (the Chester County seat) and the Chester County townships of East Goshen, West Goshen,
East Bradford, West Whiteland, Westtown and Thornbury. Thornbury Township in neighboring
Delaware County is also a part of the district.
Students in the district are supported with a $198.7 million budget for 2009-10 and a professional
staff of approximately 900 headed by Superintendent Dr. James R. Scanlon. The educational program
is comprehensive and designed to meet varying student needs, interests, and talents. In all areas, from
academics to music to sports, students bring home honors on the regional, state, and national levels
every year. Students at Fugett are part of this record of achievement.
The rededication of the
new and renovated facilities
at J. R. Fugett Middle School
is an exciting milestone in the
school’s history and brings
to a close the very ambitious
upgrading of the district’s
secondary school facilities
whch began six years ago.
This day brings a great deal
of satisfaction to the members
of the Board of Education.
To fully appreciate the significance of this rededication,
it is necessary to understand how the completion of
these renovations fit into the broader view the district’s
administration and Board of Education have had since
2000 regarding its secondary facilities.
Between 2000 and 2003, the Board of Education
made some important decisions regarding the organization
of the district’s secondary schools. The most significant
was to build a third high school and develop a feeder
system for kindergarten through grade twelve. Parents of
our elementary school students now know, in advance,
the educational path their children will follow through
middle school and high school.
From the School Board President:
Rededication of J. R. Fugett Middle School is an exciting milestone
James T. Smith
2009-10 Board
(Board at completion of project)
James T. Smith, President
Susan J. Carty, Vice President
Martha Carson-Gentry
Terri Clark
James B. Davison
Jeffrey T. Seagraves
Dr. Ricky Swalm
Gail Tomassini
Rogers W. Vaughn
2001 Board
(Voted for secondary school project)
Dr. Debra Arvanites, President
Terri Clark, Vice President
Marion R. Bartram
Dr. Cynthia Benzing
Joseph P. Green, Jr., Esq.
John Rutland
Jeffrey T. Seagraves
Thomas G. Wolpert, Esq.
Bonnie R. Yost
West Chester
Area
School Board
James T. Smith, President
West Chester Area School Board
That decision put in motion the need to build Rustin
High School, renovate Henderson and East High Schools,
and finish improvements to all our secondary schools by
upgrading Fugett Middle School to meet current state
standards. With the completion of these renovations, the
students and faculty of Fugett now have a first class facility
to carry on the district’s tradition of quality education
through the 21st century.
I would like to thank Kevin Campbell and his staff
for their tireless efforts that made this final project a reality.
I would also like to thank Principal Joe Morris and
his building staff for their patience over the last three
years as construction, at times, disrupted their routine.
In addition, the Board of Education would like to recognize
the taxpayers of this community for their continued
support for quality education.
Thanks for being part
of the celebration to rededicate
J. R. Fugett Middle
School. Today we celebrate
three years of renovations
to a building that has
served more than 30,000
students since it opened
in 1969. Originally known
as East Junior High, the
building was renamed as J.
R. Fugett Middle School in
1977. With this rededication, we expect the building to
serve another 30,000 students for many years to come.
When the building opened in the late 1960’s, it was
considered to be state of the art. Little did we know how
fast technology would develop. Today, the new J. R. Fugett
Middle School stands ready to meet new technological
challenges of the 21st century. Its library is equipped
with wireless Internet access, houses 60 computers available
for student use, and lists a library collection of more
than 18,000 titles. Science labs, art rooms, writing labs
and math labs with computer access will help prepare
our students for today’s world.
Dr. James R. Scanlon
From the Superintendent of Schools:
Today we celebrate three years of renovations
James R. Scanlon, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
A building is only as good as the people who occupy
it. The Fugett staff, along with a supportive parent
and local community, is ready to assist students as they
pursue educational challenges and academic rigor.
I challenge our current students and the generations
that follow to take advantage of the opportunities provided
by this community and staff. In addition to academics,
there are many extra-curricular opportunities that help
our students achieve their personal best.
Our community has supported the renovation of
its schools because it understands the value of a quality
education for students and for all residents in the West
Chester Area School District. Research has proven a
positive correlation to a positive learning environment
and student achievement. The new Fugett is an example
of such a facility.
On behalf of the students, faculty, staff and the
administration of the West Chester Area School District,
I want to thank the community for supporting our
schools and our students. Our tradition of educational
excellence will continue. I welcome you to the “new” J. R.
Fugett Middle School.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the
parents, students, teachers, and support staff of Joseph
R. Fugett Middle School to
thank our community, the
administration, and the
West Chester Area School
Board for turning our
building into a state-ofthe-
art educational facility.
As I reflect back over
the past several years, the
transformational journey
which I was a part
of, was both exciting and
challenging and will not
soon be forgotten. I was
able to witness the excitement
and increased energy
level of our teachers,
staff, and students as each
phase of the renovations
was completed. Today, J.
R. Fugett Middle School
is a cutting edge educational
facility. It offers a more welcoming environment,
a brighter and livelier space, a platform where our teachers
will not be limited in their ability to educate, and a
school where our students will have improved opportunities
to learn.
The Fugett community now has a greater opportunity
to meet the challenges of the future through these
advanced educational resources which include: a new
infrastructure that will enhance communications, the
expansion of our ability to access learning, and the
ability to better provide for the individual needs of all
students. The building was designed to increase the capa-
The J. R. Fugett Middle School administrative staff (l-r): Principal
Joseph Morris, Assistant Principal Dr. Judy Kay Maxwell,
and Assistant Principal James Attanasio.
From the Building Principal:
Meeting the challenges of the future
Mission Statement
The mission of the West Chester Area School District is to
educate and inspire our students to achieve their personal best.
Joseph F. Morris, Principal
J. R. Fugett Middle School
“Home of the Cougars”
bility to support the delivery of the district’s comprehensive
middle school programs and to equip our students
with the skills and knowledge
that will allow them to
stand tall in their place in
this, the 21st century.
As the principal, I am
extremely proud of being
a part of an educational
community that understands
the value of providing
the very best facilities
and educational environment
for our students. With
the modifications that have
been made to the J. R.
Fugett Middle School, the
goals stated in the district’s
mission statement and
vision will be more easily
attained. It has been inspiring
and a privilege to have
been a part of the entire
renovation process and I
look forward, with excitement, as our teachers and staff
guide and educate our students in this new and modern
facility.
Special Thanks
Renovating a school is a cooperative effort involving staff, parents,
and members of the outside community. The West Chester Area School
District gratefully acknowledges the efforts of the many individuals and
organizations that contributed to our J. R. Fugett Middle School project
including:
The West Chester Area School Board
The West Goshen Township Board of Supervisors
The following district personnel and their staff members:
Marc Bertrando, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education
Kevin Campbell, Director of Facilities and Operations
Dr. Suzanne K. Moore, Director of Business Affairs
Joseph F. Morris, Principal, J. R. Fugett Middle School
Construction crews and workers
Rededication Planning Committee
Parents and students
Library
classroom
Orchestra
rehearsal
Rededication Ceremony
December 1, 2009
6:30 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance........................................................................................................................Olivia Rogers
Student Council Representative
Star Spangled Banner...................................................................................................Fugett Chorale and Band
Welcome ................................................................................................................................ Dr. James R. Scanlon
Superintendent of Schools
Remarks...........................................................................................................................James T. Smith, President
WCASD School Board
Comments...................................................................................................................... Joseph F. Morris, Principal
J. R. Fugett Middle School
Reflections......................................................................................................................................... Jean Fugett, Jr.
Grandnephew of J. R. Fugett
Presentation of Key to School.........................................................................................................Thomas Gilbert
Gilbert Architects
Presentation of Student Council Gift............................................................................................Karalyn Berman
Student Council Representative
Presentation of Time Capsule .......................................................................................................Kevin Campbell
Director of Facilities & Operations
Ribbon Cutting ....................................................................................... James T. Smith, School Board President
Dr. James R. Scanlon, Superintendent of Schools
Joseph F. Morris, Principal, J. R. Fugett Middle School
Alma Mater..................................................................................................................Fugett Chorale and Band
Music and Lyrics by John Wylie and Frank Nefos
Reception Music (7:30 - 8:00 p.m. in cafeteria)................................................................ Fugett Select Strings
All guests are invited to tour the school at the conclusion of the Rededication Ceremony.
Refreshments are available in the cafeteria.
Joseph R. Fugett recognized the value
of a good education. As principal of the allblack
Gay Street School, he helped shape
the school into a fine institution that won
admiration and respect from black as well
as white citizens. In the process, Fugett
and his staff developed a sense of black
pride in their young students. Although he
was not directly involved in the desegregation
efforts of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s,
Fugett helped pave the way by giving the
black population the education and selfpride
needed to stand up for their rights.
Joseph R. Fugett grew up on the family farm. He was
educated in Baldwinsville, New York, grammar schools
and graduated from high school in Waterloo, New York.
He received a B.S. degree in science and agriculture
from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Although he studied agriculture, Fugett never
returned to the farm. Rather, he went from Cornell to
Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, where he as an animal
husbandry instructor and also came under the influence
of George Washington Carver. Later, he taught at
Bordentown High School in New Jersey and Delaware
State College. After coming to West Chester in 1920, he
studied at the University of Pennsylvania, which granted
him a master’s degree in education in 1926.
During his career in West Chester, Fugett was active
in the National Education Association and the Elementary
School Principals Association. He was a charter
member and president of the Suburban Philadelphia
Elementary School Principals Association. He was invited
by the (then) state Department of Public Instruction
to serve on a state-wide committee to prepare teaching
Joseph Russell Fugett
guides and related materials dealing with
intercultural understanding.
A number of other honors were
bestowed on Fugett. In 1945, he was
chosen secretary to Maj. R. R. Wright of
Philadelphia at the international organization
conference of the United Nations
in San Francisco; some 1,400 representatives
from forty-six nations attended
the conference. In 1957, he was cited at
Cheyney University’s commencement for
advancing education, serving the community,
and enlightening human relations.
In October 1965, Fugett was honored at ceremonies
formally renaming the Gay Street School after
him. Teachers, borough school board members, school
administrators, community leaders, and the parents
of children attending the school were present at the
ceremonies as well as the school principal at the time,
Donald S. Pitt. A proclamation was read designating
October 13, 1965, as “Joseph R. Fugett Day” in honor of
his service to the schools.
The school board resolution renaming the school
had been passed several months earlier, in June 1965. At
that time, school board president Dr. Elwood M. Spellman
said Fugett “was speaking out for better race relations
long before the others we hear today were standing
up and talking on the subject.”
Fugett died on July 7, 1975. In 1977, when the Fugett
Elementary School closed, the name was transferred to
what had been East Junior High School.
Excerpt taken from A Legacy of Learning
by Florence Sechler Miller
Joseph Russell Fugett
Gay Street School Principal, 1920-1955
The Gay Street School, reconstructed after
the 1908 fire, was sold to the West Chester
Borough in 1977 and razed in 1990.
Pictured from top to
bottom: front lobby
looking into the main
office; reading pit in
library; auditorium.
Renovations
Completely renovated:
All classroom areas
Administrative suite
Auditorium
Gymnasium
Library/media center
Cafeteria
Music suite
Relocated and upgraded:
Art suite
Technology Education
Family & Consumer Science
Construction of new
addition in July 2009
Construction of music
rooms on second floor
as of July 2008
Renovation
of Library
as of July
2009
Front Addition
Total square feet: 2,113
Student Council
School store
Television studio
Storage
Restroom facilities
Rear Addition
Total square feet: 1,104
Elevator
Prior to the West Chester Area School District
becoming official in 1966, the area Joint School Board
(comprised of members from surrounding townships
and the borough), faced a shortage of space for the everexpanding
numbers of students enrolled. In December
1964, the joint high school board approved the purchase
of a 50-acre site at the corner of Paoli Pike and Ellis Lane
in West Goshen Township. The price of the acquisition
was approximately $125,000. Settlement was scheduled
for April 1965.
Herman Cabassa, chairman of the board’s Building
and Property Committee, noted that the site met a
number of criteria: location, isolation from industrial
developments, road access, and availability of electric
power, sewers, and water. In addition, the site was large
enough for two schools - a new junior high and, possibly,
a new senior high. On April 26, 1965, the board
appointed Tobiessen-Wenger and Associates, Paoli,
architects for a new junior high, which opened as East
Junior High. Later, East High School was built on the
property.
In July 1966, the West Chester Area School District
assumed responsibility for completing construction
of East Junior High School. The design plan for East -
which would house 1,250 students - was approved by
the area board on August 22, 1966. The T-shaped building
included a three-story academic wing. An adjoining
two-story wing housed the kitchen and cafeteria on
one floor with the home economics and industrial arts
departments above. The two wings were bisected by the
long part of the T, which housed the gym, library, offices
and auditorium. Somers Construction Company was
named general contractor at a bid of $2,415,600.
The new junior high opened in the autumn 1969
and was dedicated on December 7. When it opened,
East Junior High housed all the district’s ninth graders
and some 275 tenth graders. The assignment of the
ninth and tenth graders to East and the transfer of sixth
grade students to North and Stetson were intended to
relieve overcrowding on the high school and elementary
school levels.
In September 1977, a complete reorganization to
a K-5, 6-9, 9-12 structure occurred. The closure of the
borough schools and the grade reorganization left the
district with eleven elementary schools, three middle
schools, and two high schools. East Junior High was
renamed Fugett Middle School by school board action
on March 28, 1977.
Excerpt taken from A Legacy of Learning
by Florence Sechler Miller
The Beginning of J. R. Fugett Middle School
Construction Summary
District Construction Team
Kevin Campbell, Director, Facilities & Operations
Mark Groves, Capital Program Manager
James Whitesel, Capital Projects Supervisor
Tim Burns, Capital Projects Coordinator
Architect
Gilbert Architects, Lancaster, PA
Construction Manager
General: ER Steubner, Inc.
Phase I Contractors
General: ER Steubner, Inc.
Plumbing: Guy Cooper Corp.
Heating/Ventilating/Air Conditioning:
Myco Mechanical, Inc.
Electrical: Wm. H. Clinger Corporation
Environmental: Crest Environmental Services
Phase II Contractors
General: ER Steubner, Inc.
Plumbing: J. R. Reynolds, Inc.
Heating/Ventilating/Air Conditioning: NB Rogers, Inc.
Electrical: Pagoda Electrical
Environmental: Crest Environmental Services
Phase III Contractors
General: ER Steubner, Inc.
Plumbing: TMI Commercial, Inc.
Heating/Ventilating/Air Conditioning: Worth & Co.
Electrical: Wm. H. Clinger Corporation
Environmental: Crest Environmental Services
WC
West Chester Area School District
829 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA 19380
484-266-1000 ~ www.wcasd.net
The West Chester Area School District is an equal opportunity employer
and educational agency and affirms that it does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, national origin, age, sex or handicapping condition.
This booklet was produced by the Communications Office of the West Chester Area School District
Editor & Graphics Designer: Ginny Zahn
I think what we made clear today is that where they are is not relevant to where we are. We're not going to begin where they say begin. I think that was the purpose of going in today, to make sure they understood that their proposal was not the beginning of the conversation.
