Zink School was built in 1964 as an elementary school to serve the west side of Beecher neighborhood of Beecher, Michigan. After construction was completed, Zink School opened in 1965 during the 1965-1966 school year for students enrolled in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Zink School was operated by Beecher Community School District from 1965 to 1988.
This school was named after a man named Robert C Zink. The school was also known as Robert C Zink School and Robert C Zink Elementary School. Zink School also went under the name Zink Elementary School.
Zink was an all-white school by default as the Beecher neighborhood area was 70% white/Caucasian. This was until the early 70s. The percentage of black students rose from 42% percent to 55% percent between 1968 and 1971. A majority of the student population was black in the 1970s. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=cJXICQAAQBAJ&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq=“zink+elementary+school”+flint&source=bl&ots=lRvGf0uriQ&sig=ACfU3U0Goi7C4tCOxnqkBCOyp2tmZHjZBg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4upyS7J7kAhUCX60KHXSmCe8Q6AEwDXoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=“zink%20elementary%20school”%20flint&f=false)
Zink School was reportedly filled to capacity with 385 students enrolled in 1970. There was a number of disadvantaged students enrolled at Zink. 28% percent of the students were labeled as economically deprived. (Ref: Facts Gathered From State Assessment Results, 1971-72, Beecher School District)
The Beecher Community School District is not a wealthy district, yet the tax payers support the schools. During the year of 1971, the average income for Beecher, Michigan was $8,200 per year and the average cost of homes between $13,000 and $17,000 with very few in the $25,000 - $35,000 range. 30% percent of the Beecher children were from families with incomes of under $6,000 per year. The mileage rate paid by the citizens of Beecher during the 1971 year was 30.5 miles which was among the top 17% percent for districts throughout the state of Michigan. The Zink School was no exception. (Ref: A STUDY OF THE DOLAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WORK EXPERIENCE PROJECT, BEECHER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, Joseph Lawrence Hooper, 1977)
In 1977 during the 1977-1978 school year, 6th graders from Zink School were transferred to Dolan Junior High School on the north side of Beecher. This was part of the Beecher Community School District plans for meeting the increased enrollment to make use of all available classroom space in the elementary schools, junior high schools, middle schools, and Beecher High School. Reorganization of grade levels led to Zink School becoming a K-5 school. Zink would serve as a K-5 school until closure. (Ref: https://d.lib.msu.edu/etd/6072/datastream/OBJ/view)
Zink School closed in 1987 due to low enrollment, high tax rates, and stringent curriculum requirements in Michigan public schools. Zink School was demolished in 1988. Its soccer field was plowed over with sod and new grass.
The only remains left of Zink School are the soccer field and parking lot which had been deteriorating since 1998. Residents use the former school grounds as a park and for sports activities. Woods have grown the back facing south.
Zink School was located on Nasser Street, Flint, Michigan, US 48505.
Despite the building being built as a single-story rectangular building in on a concrete slab, there were structural issues, accessibility concerns, and safety concerns. Parents of students seldomly brought these issues to light at public hearings or district board meetings. They more or less dealt with these structural flaws.
The roof would somewhat cave in from collecting water after rain. This was because the roof was entirely flat this causing a handful of collected rain water to form puddles. Rain water from these puddles would leak into the classrooms disrupting lessons.
Accessibility issues also became a concern. Most of the doors on the outside did not have handles. This was an accessibility issue with students, faculty, and the public. Students reportedly cut their fingers while trying to enter school. Accessibility issues arose with the physically handicapped students and faculty.
*Zink School went under a multitude of different names. The names are as follows: Zink Elementary School, Robert C Zink School, Robert Zink School, Zink Center, and Robert C Zink Elementary School.
*Over 50% of the student population was black after 1969.
*Zink School is one of Beecher’s shortest running schools next to Downey School and Buick Junior High School.
Awesome information! Thank you for the write up.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering does anyone have a picture of Zink School?
I do not have any pictures of Zink School unfortunately.
DeleteI went to that scout back 82 my teacher name ms freeman
ReplyDeleteMine too. I had her in 3rd grade
DeleteI went there from 1970 to 1976.there were two classrooms for each grade except for kindergarten, which had two half day classes. Grades 4 and 5 were in the basement level and both 6 grades were held in two modular units.I had great teachers and have fond memories of zink. The racial makeup was mostly black children by about 1973, there were 3 other white kids by the time I was in 6th grade out of maybe 30 or so children. We all got along fine, if you were cool you were cool if you were a jerk you were a jerk lol. A lot of my friends' dads worked with my dad at fisher body or one of the other auto plants.was sad to see the place is just an empty field now. A lot of beecher schools have closed or demolished ; buick elem. Buell elem. Summit jr high the old high school.flint was a bustling vibrant city when I lived there so sad to see whats become of it
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is sad to see what has become of Flint.
DeleteI remember my 3rd grade teacher Ms Lopez 4th Grade mis Wong and 5th Grade Mr Glass. Great story teller. Great memories of Zink
ReplyDelete