Mission Statement
“The mission of the Redbank Valley School District community is to instill the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed for each student to achieve at his or her highest potential while providing a safe, disciplined, and inviting environment.”
History
Redbank Valley School District had its beginning in 1950 when a jointure was formed and a Board of Directors was organized. The official name of Redbank Valley Joint Schools was adopted. The area and its education system was going to experience some major changes. The jointure would combine the 9 separate school boards of the area and many of the 17 rural community schools that each village claimed.
In 1957 the newly built high school received its first students. The New Bethlehem High School had been closed approximately 2 years earlier and students were temporarily educated in the fire hall, the Stahlman Garage building and other facilities. Eventually five elementary schools would serve the area’s younger students. Porter Township Elementary School was the oldest constructed in 1935. Madison Township and Mahoning Township Elementary Schools were built in 1959. Redbank-Hawthorn Elementary and New Bethlehem-South Bethlehem Elementary Schools were built in 1960 and 1962 respectively.
Following a 1986 tornado, which caused a great deal of damage to Madison Elementary, the building was closed. Porter Township was also closed in a reorganization plan, which spurred other building renovations and additions to accommodate the school closings. Several renovation projects continued for the next 10 years. In 1996, the high school was being renovated and added to when Redbank Creek over flowed its banks. July 19, 1996 is now a date the entire community will remember. Approximately 4 feet of water filled the high school classrooms and hallways leaving mud and destruction. The high school was repaired as the town recovered and moved forward. Then, in 2011, Mahoning Township was also closed as the district reorganized once again into the tight-knit group of schools that it is today.
The 1996 flood took its toll on the town, school district, and the community. This unfortunate experience along with the tornado and the historic development of the school district has made it and the community strong. Today, the school district continues to maintain and improve the district’s 3 facilities and education programs. Along with the maintenance and improvements, technology has become an integral part of the district’s operation and education programming.
