Friday, November 8, 2019

Short history of Cheney Elementary School in Ypsilanti, Michigan explored.

Cheney Elementary School was built in 1970 a 26.3 acre site. The building was 41,768 square feet. Cheney Elementary School was named after Mrs. Johney J. Cheney, the first black teacher to be hired by Willow Run Schools. She came to Willow Run in February of 1945 after completing her bachelor of Science degree at Fort Valley State College. This school was named in her honor. (Ref: https://web.archive.org/web/19980122135330fw_/http://wrcs.k12.mi.us/~cheney/MrsCheney.html)

2006 was the last year Cheney Elementary School would operate as that is when the school closed down. It was during the 2005-2006 school year when Willow Run Schools shut down Cheney Elementary School immediately after 35 years of operating. By then Cheney Elementary School was operated by Willow Run Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools.

2007 is when was Cheney Elementary School reorganized into Cheney Alternative High School, an alternative school for high school dropouts and at-risk students. The school served students in the age range of 14-19. Cheney Alternative High School closed in 2012.

The school was reported as abandoned in 2014 despite being partially rented by the Widening Advancement for Youth program. Ypsilanti Township and Superior Township had been meeting to discuss future opportunities for the property. The school district has been wanting wash their hands clean of this property for a long time. They searched vigorously for any potential buyers. (Ref: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2014/03/vacant_ypsilanti_school_buildi.html)

mlive.com announced Ypsilanti Community Schools had to sell the Cheney Elementary School building in 2016. Yet the future for this property remains unknown. (Ref: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2016/07/ypsilanti_schools_restructures.html)

Cheney Elementary School is located at 1500 Stamford Road, Ypsilanti, Michigan US 48198. Its other address is 1500 Stamford Road, Superior Charter Township, Michigan US 48198.

1 comment:

  1. Wanted to find a friend name her name is immari we was in 3 grade in cheney elementary in mrs.James class

    ReplyDelete