|
Kernsville Elementary School
|
Opened in 1974, was a showpiece for the open concept-style of instruction where teachers worked in a large room without interior walls. The American Association of School Administrators and the American Institute recognized Kernsville School during the 1976 Exhibition of School Architecture, commenting on the way the school fit into its surroundings and its excellent detailing, with good use of color and light. Kernsville Elementary School is located on farm property once owned by the Kern’s ancestry. Samuel Kern, born on September 7, 1866, in South Whitehall Township and was the son of Henry and Amanda Koch Kern, helped gave the name to the village of Kernsville. A set of more than eighty letters from the Kern family that reflect social life in the 1880s such as sleigh riding, courtship, and daily activities exists. The Samuel and Rosa Kern letter collection was presented to Kernsville Elementary School in memory of those ancestors who cleared, lived, and worked the farmland where the school now stands. The Kernsville flexible-space school opened on September 4, 1974 to a student enrollment of 676, which included Kindergarten through sixth grade. Currently, 587 students, grades K-5, attend the elementary school. On November 13, 2005, Kernsville was rededicated after an estimated $8.8million dollar renovation, which closed the open-space pods and created self-contained classrooms along with adding a new wing. This project added 7,000 square feet to the existing 73,000 square-foot building. Kernsville Elementary School is the home of the “coyotes.”
|
