History of A. A. Hyde Elementary
 

The A. A. Hyde Elementary School was completed in late 1929
and opened for classes in early February 1930 with seven of its nine classrooms in use.
A late winter blizzard presented many problems to the
students in getting to and from the new school.
The area between Oliver and Eastborough was open prairie.

The school was named for Mr. A. A. Hyde, the inventor of Mentholatum
and well known for his philanthropic work and deep interest in the youth of the city.
Mr. Hyde was quite interested in the new school and visited it frequently.
He was the honored guest at the first open house held on May 2, 1930
by the recently organized PTA with Mrs. Otto Souders as president.

The first addition to the school, consisting of an auditorium and two classrooms,
was built on the south end of the building in 1938
Continued growth made it necessary to divide the auditorium into two classrooms.
A second addition in 1948 was built which included four classrooms, a health room, and kitchen.
Even so, the library which had been established in 1938 was moved to the north corridor
so the room it had occupied could be used for another classroom.
A multipurpose room, a joint project between the Hyde Community and USD 259,
was completed in the spring of 2001.
As a result of a successful bond issue campaign in 1999, Hyde received air conditioning,
a new library addition on the west side of the building, and new office space on the first floor.
These improvements were completed in the fall of 2001.

Peak enrollments of 500 plus in the early 1950’s dropped
to a more comfortable 425-450 in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.
In recent years the enrollment has been 300 to 350 students.

There have been thirteen principals at Hyde between 1930 and the present time.
They are Gertrude Hatfield, Ruth Crossfield, George Doerksen, Jr.,
Barbara Mackey, Bearl Kindred, Greta Parsons, Michael Redburn, Larry McCrary,
Barbara Schoell, Karen Whittle, Holly Howell, Kathy Richter, and Russell Miller.

The school became Hyde International Communications Magnet in 1991.
Global awareness and communications is integrated throughout the base curriculum.
 

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