Legal School District

The new beginnings of Legal School No. 1738 began December 10, 1907. The district borrowed $800 to construct and furnish a new school. Located about half a mile south from intersection 50 avenue and 50 st, the school stood. Its was referred to as the Mercier school by some students because of the neighboring land next to it, owned by farmer Phillippe Mercier. By 1914 the school was getting increasingly popular, room was fading away with 75 students occupying the school. For the time being, a house was rented in the town to accommodate the younger students. The new two storey school was erected with a $2,000 budget and could have been found across the present school grounds. The old Mercier school was then transferred and added to the new two storey school in the town in 1916. The district created another 4 room school on the present school site in the early 1940s. When a fire destroyed the two-storey building, the school was then shifted next to the four room school.

For 24 years the Legal school district offered schooling from grades 1 to 9. But what would a student do when they finished their final grade? Most would continue work around the farm, or find a job in the community. For the selected few that continued their education they would have to find lodging in Edmonton, where a high school was available. Girls would find their schooling in Catholic convents whereas the men would continue in junior colleges like the Edmonton Jesuit College. 1932 was the commencement of senior high classes in Legal and was held on the top floor of Mercier school with 13 pupils. Sister Marguerite Marie Côté was the one, and only teacher that instructed the high school students. In 1967 Legal and Westlock came to an accord for Vimy students to be bussed to Legal for their High School. For ten years the students brought their unique gifts to the school until 1979. With low demand from Vimy, buses were no longer feasible.

During the years 1945 to 1948 the government was forcing small rural schools to close down. Legal itself joined up with the larger district Sturgeon School Division No.24 in June of 1948. A new two storey building with two major additions was completed in 1959 (the present high school wing) and 1974 with smaller addition in 1993. The building also held a new gym which was soon upgraded and divided into 2 rooms. The first was a home economics lab and the other was an industrial arts shop. The newly placed option classes only lasted a couple of years until they were shutdown by the Division. The present-day Library and a multipurpose area filled the vacant rooms. The 1974 addition is now the modern elementary wing and library. By 1973-74 all older rural school buildings were removed from the school.

Tuesday, July 20, 1966, was the day that marked the separation of Legal School District from Sturgeon School Division for “dissatisfaction of the board of the district with facilities for religious instruction”

Dilligence, Fairydell, Pontiac, Springfeild, St Emile, and West Legal school districts were all shut down and bussed to Legal. There was an increase of student population flooding into the school. An enrollment of 400 students that year. By the time the 1948 rolled on in, another 4 room school was constructed on he south east corner of the site. Other rural one room classrooms, from the shutdown schools, were transported to Legal school to augment the room. The building was used as the high school for the first few years. Next came the present elementary addition which was added in 1973 completing the school and ensuring the entire school was in one building. After about 25 years of service to the convent the 4 room corner school was sold to the local senior citizen group for one dollar. It is now renamed the “Club 60 Roses” center.

When Legal was divided from Sturgeon, all the old districts reformed themselves. The districts sent all their students to Legal school. The residents of the surrounding communities all wanted a say in the Legal Centralization school board. Three trustees from each of the 6 district plus Legal itself would meet to discuss arrangements and regulations for the school. The system failed after three years. In 1969 all districts were abolished and performed under the one name, Legal School District.

Then by the 80’s kindergarden classes were introduced to public. Allowing young ones to benefit from a pre-schooling system to allow for a softer transition into grade 1. Then by 1993, Legal School instructed Kindergarden to grade 9, High School students were bussed to newly constructed Morinville Community High School.

In the 1980s French Immersion was launched in the province of Alberta. Legal welcomed the program with open arms. 50% - 75% of the program was offered in French for the students. Religious studies were also offered in the school. Basketball and volleyball were first offered in the school in the 1960s. Badminton, soccer, curling and track were later offered in the 1980s. Then hockey came into play stealing the lime light of basketball (which later was erased). Band and Drama was created in the 80’s giving kids a chance to experiment in the fine arts.

Bibliography

Vision Courage Heritage volumes 1 & 2