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==History==
In August 1898, the [[Racine Board of Education]] investigated the city's [[Julian Thomas Elementary School (Racine, Wisconsin)|Fifth Ward grammar school building]], which was said to be in dangerously poor condition.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52750554/the-journal-times/ "Fifth Ward School; Is the Old Structure Dangerous and the Floors Liable to Collapse? Is An Important Question"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], August 10, 1898, page eight.</ref> While the investigation showed that the building was structurally sound,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52750678/the-journal-times/ "School Board Do Not Agree; At an Adjourned Meeting Last Night They Called the Council Down; For Making False Reports"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], August 31, 1898, page eight.</ref> in February 1899, the city engineer announced plans to construct a new school building for the fifth ward.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52750929/the-journal-times/ "New Fifth Ward School"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], February 11, 1899, page eight.</ref> Construction on the new building was said to "be pushed as rapidly as possible", and work on excavating the foundation began on April 20.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52751048/the-journal-times/ "Reportorial notes in and out the city"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], April 20, 1899, page five.</ref> In May, mistakes in the original plans were discovered, and a special session of the Racine city council on May 22 determined that correcting these errors would cost up to $500.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52751171/the-journal-times/ "Some Costly Errors Made"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], May 23, 1899, front page.</ref>
On July 3, Alderman Austin proposed naming the new building Jefferson School.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52754293/the-journal-times/ "Miscellaneous Business"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], July 5, 1899, page two.</ref> Later that month, ninety pounds of lead piping was stolen from the construction site and sold to "the junk shop of Mr. Falkenberg, corner of [[Grand Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Grand avenue]] and [[Sixth Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Sixth street]]," where it was recovered by police.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52754391/the-journal-times/ "Naughty Boys Who Stole Lead; Carry Away Ninety Pounds of Lead Pipe From Fifth Ward School; Was Sold To A Junk Dealer"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], July 20, 1899, front page.</ref> Alonzo J. Winnie was chosen to be the school's first principal on September 29.<ref name=winnie-1899>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52754454/the-journal-times/ "Board Elected a New Principal; A. J. Winnie Elected Principal of the New Jefferson School; At Salary Of $60 a Month"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], September 30, 1899, front page.</ref> The school first opened to students on October 30, 1899.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52754531/the-journal-times/ "Reportorial Notes in and out the city"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], October 30, 1899, page five.</ref>
By the end of 1899, Jefferson had a total enrollment of 391 students. Superintendent Estabrook reported in January 1900 that the building's floors and furniture, as well as the clothing of teachers and students, were becoming covered in soot because of problems with the furnace and ventilation system.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52754654/the-journal-times/ "Busy Session of School Board"], [[Racine JournalDaily TimesJournal]], January 30, 1900, page eight.</ref> It was described as "one of the largest and most modern educational institutions of the Belle City". On the night of March 17, 1904, the building was damaged by a fire, and the fire department narrowly saved it from total destruction. The fire was said to be the result of spontaneous combustion from the boiler room, but some nearby residents claimed that the janitor was negligent and signed a petition asking that he be fired.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52768442/the-journal-times/ "Flames Damage School House to Extent of $7,000; Fire Breaks Out at Jefferson Building Due to Spontaneous Combustion; Blaze Confined to First Two Floors"], [[Racine Daily Journal]], March 18, 1904, front page and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52768811/the-journal-times/ page 2].</ref> The board of education found that the janitor was not at fault and decided that classes would resume in the damaged building on Monday, March 21, before a full investigation had been carried out or repairs could be made.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52769176/the-journal-times/ "Jefferson School Will Open Monday"], [[Racine Daily Journal]], March 19, 1904, page three.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52769640/the-journal-times/ "To Head Training School; Principal Winnie of the Jefferson, Had Proffer of Two Positions, Both Considered Good Ones"], [[Racine Daily Journal]], June 27, 1907, page two.<ref>
==Principals==
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