About MTSD
History
Established in the early 1800's, Millcreek Township's schools have been educating the area's students for more than two centuries!
Explore the History of MTSD
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1800's
*Prior to 1834, there were no public schools in Millcreek. Schools were referred to as "subscription" or paid schools, with a typical tuition of $5 per month. They were usually located in homes, taverns, or other buildings.
- 1805 - First school established in the southeast part of the township.
- 1806 - Love family provided the first Love School.
- 1812 - 26th & Peach Eagle Valley area school opened, which is now a part of Erie City School District.
- 1834* - Mill Creek Township elected six citizens to serve as school directors of the "Common Schools of the District of Mill Creek." Jonas Parker was elected the first president of Mill Creek Common Schools on September 25, 1834. During this same year, the first school tax was levied and it produced $300 for the entire township.
- 1837-1882 - Many new schools were built or moved, taxes were changed from a flat rate divided by the township's citizens to a millage tax, and the township name was changed from Mill Creek to Millcreek.
- 1854 - State legislation provided for the first country superintendent. He became the person who then examined and certified teachers.
- 1858 - School directors established two four-month terms per year, a summer and a winter term. Winter was mid-November to March and summer was mid-May to early September.
- 1866 - The first formal and legally-binding teacher contract was created in the District. The contract named salary, term, and building assignment.
- 1870 - The two-term style school year was replaced with a seven-month school year that begun in mid-September and ended in mid-April.
- 1871 - Grammar was made mandatory in curriculum by the school directors.
- 1874 - The Board of Directors lengthened the school year to nine months for some schools. Any schools with less than 12 pupils were closed.
- 1895 - East Millcreek High School was built. The structure was a four room, brick building.
- 1899 - West Millcreek High School was built.
1900's- 1902 - The first term of West Millcreek High School began in September of this year with an enrollment of 10 pupils at the high school level, which increased to 25 the following year.
- 1906 - Cora Brown Love becomes the first young woman to graduate from West Millcreek High School.
- 1917 - Four additional rooms were added to the south side of East Millcreek High School.
- 1920 - In July of this year, the City of Erie annexed a large part of Millcreek and East Millcreek High School as well as Glenwood School were consumed by the Erie School District. The East Millcreek High School building became Burton Elementary School. During this same year, the first Janitor was hired for the high school.
- 1921 - Pennsylvania State Department of Education designated West Millcreek High School a high school of the first class, which lead to a new science program being developed and the purchase of new books and equipment.
- 1922 - The first Kindergarten teacher was appointed.
- 1924 - Belle Valley Elementary School was built on Norcross Road.
- 1925 -The first school bus was purchased and the first bus garage was built for Millcreek's few and various vehicles.
- 1928 - Tracy Elementary was built on land given by the family of Tracy Beers. The building was erected according to the family's specifications on the corner of 12th and Cemetary Roads (Cemetary Road has since been renamed Peninsula Drive).
- 1930 - The first 180 day term was instituted.
- 1931 - Millcreek High School held its first Open House/Visitor's Day.
- 1932 - Millcreek became involved in PIAA and adopted its rules for Millcreek sports.
- 1938 - Montclair School opened.
- 1943 - Love School is closed.
- 1953 - McDowell Senior High School opens for grades 10-12.
- 1958 - Westlake Junior High opened and Millcreek Junior High was renamed Westminister Junior High.
- 1964 Millcreek became one of the first county school districts to support and pledge participation in the newly proposed Erie County Vocational Technical School, which later opened in 1968.
- 1965 - Chestnut Hill Elementary opened at 54th and Clinton Streets. Kindergarten became a permanent part of curriculum.
- 1967 - James S. Wilson Junior High opened in September, next to Chestnut Hill Elementary. Westminister Junior High closed.
- 1968 - Westminister Junior High was demolished to make way for the Millcreek Education Center.
- 1969 - MTSD's first computer was purchased to be used for attendance, report cards and payroll.
- 1972 - Grandview Elementary was built and dedicated.
- 1973 Millcreek Intermediate High School opened and housed grades 9-10. This was later renamed to McDowell Intermediate High School in 1979.
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- Dr. John Cavanagh - 2023-Present
- Dr. Ian Roberts - 2020-2023
- Mr. William Hall - 2013-2020
- Mr. Mike Golde - 2009-2013
- Dr. Dean Maynard - 2005-2008
- Dr. Verel Salmon - 1998-2005
- Dr. Alan Lindquist - 1995-1998
- Mr. Robert Agnew - 1982-1995
- Dr. Larry Sayre - 1976-1982
- Dr. John Sandel - 1966-1976
- Mr. James S. Wilson - 1944-1966
- Mr. H. H. Denison (Supervising Principal) - 1930-1942
About MTSD's Seal & Flag
The school district was founded on September 19, 1834 as "The Common Schools of the District of Mill Creek." The first subscription school had been established in 1805. One of the first formal organizations to manage education was effected with the establishment of the Millcreek and Walnut Creek Association formed in 1812. The district has in fact, four anniversary dates. The title, "The School District of the Township of Millcreek," is official. It was established on July 26, 1965 when the district entered a "Petition for Advanced establishment" with the Commonwealth after the dissolution of the County school system.
The official seal adopted at that time is very similar to the seal adopted in August 1985. The central section of the shield originally contained a plow. Because agriculture is no longer central to the township's way of life, and to emphasize the main goal of the school district, the lamp or learning and a book have replaced the plow. To be true to the beginning of the area, the sheaves of golden wheat still grace the bottom of the shield. A sailing vessel on top of the shield reminds us of Lake Erie, our northern boundary. This vessel represents the movement of industrial goods from our community, the recreational activity in our area, and the military activity of Oliver Hazard Perry off our shores. The eagle rests atop the shield, reminding us that we are part of the great nation -- the United States of America.
The official flag of the school district was adopted by the Board of Education in August 1985. It includes the seal of the District in the upper left-hand corner. The eleven blue and white stripes represented the eleven public school buildings in the school district.
Today, the district seal is only used by the School Board of Directors, the Superintendent's Office, and district-level departments' official communications to parents, students, and staff.
Each school building has its own identity, whether by name or symbol, to use for official communications from the building and its staff. Any and all use of District branding, logos, or other visual assets must be approved by the District before use and adhere to the official brand guidelines.
