Buchanan High School 1980-1989

Board of Education

• Merle Davenport
• Jerry Flenar
• George Merrill
• Jerry Rossow
• Donald Roti Roti
• Jack Shrider
• David Shoemake
• Robert Siekman
• Mary Skidmore
• Dr. Charles Ward

Superintendents

• Dr. M.J. Neveaux 1979-1987
• Mr. David Casey 1987-1993

Principals

• Mr. William McBeth 1983-2005 with Assistant Principal Mr. Michael Young [longest serving principal and assistant principal in the history of BHS]

Student Graduates

Clark Equipment factories and corporate began the move to southern states and other countries during the early 1980s.  This resulted in major decisions for families about their children and the future of the family.  This corporate move had a major impact on Buchanan Community Schools in many ways.

• 1980—127
• 1981—104
• 1982—132
• 1983—128
• 1984—88
• 1985—121 [The winter of 1966-67 went down in the history books.]
• 1986—103
• 1987—114
• 1988—102
• 1989—101

Timeline

• The 1980 energy crisis brought discussion of a longer winter break to cut cost. This did not happen, however. Then the discussion led to new windows eventually replacing original windows to improve energy efficiency.
• During the 1980s, classes began in August each year except in 1984 when classes began after Labor Day due to an unsettled teacher contract.  After an all-night session an agreement was reached to enable classes to start on Tuesday. 
• The 1980-81 school year witnessed the final time agriculture classes were offered at Buchanan High School. The focus of the school farm shifted to younger students.
• Buchanan opened the 1982-3school year with a new look at the high school.  “New windows were put in to conserve energy and save money, which in turn would reflect on us in a positive way.  The halls were freshly painted to add to the new look.”

• Students at Buchanan were able to participate in a program involving a week in Washington, D.C.  beginning in May of 1982. The Close Up program continues to this day with a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. Over the years the Close Up student experiences lead to a lifetime of productive citizenship. Participants became parents, teachers, nurses, engineers, counselors, police, fire fighters, lawyers—one whose case went to the U.S. Supreme Court. Still other Close Up participants went on to become chefs, doctors, artists, accountants, the military, a West Point professor, a linguist, musicians, some gained PhDs, IT specialists and plumbers. We also had physician assistants, a school principal, the theater stage manager of Hamilton and those who went into hospitality. We can count as alumni who went on as dentist, author, construction, director of nursing, Jeopardy contestant, DNR ranger, TV production, coach, accountant, politician, journalism, natural sciences, forensic scientist/coroner, prosecuting attorney, chiropractor, military police, administrators, Peace Corps, NGO, social worker physical therapy, and positive adult role models each and every one.
• During the 1983-4 school year, Buchanan High School witnessed green and white jackets in the halls every day. An experimental academic exchange program began with Berrien Springs with 25 Shamrocks at BHS.  This continued at least until 1987-88.
• That same year students saw increased requirements in English, Math, Science and Social Studies after collective work by administrators, teachers, students and parents. Social and Minority History was introduced along with World Geography, for example.  Evidently dissection of sharks became part of a science class.
• To deal with discipline issues the high school added an in-school suspension room in 1984-85 where a teacher supervised students as they completed work they were missing when suspended.  Known as the “box” with cubicles installed, at least one outside official became concerned when a student mentioned time in the “box”.  Daily homerooms were replaced with a one period study hall twice a week. Finally, six week marking periods changed to nine week marking periods.
• Students at BHS were able to participate in an international exchange program with various Lakeshore Collegiate School in Toronto, Ontario.  This Canadian Exchange brought students to our community for a week and our students visited the Canadian school for a week.  Students from both nations learned about another country, another community and even more about themselves. This continued from 1984 until 2000.
• Salad bar cuisine arrived at BHS “lunch room” in 1984, which for $1 included a choice of white or chocolate milk, fruit or Jell-O and crackers.  The kitchen was not fully equipped to serve hot meals from our facility so we brought in prepared meals to be warmed.  Student excitement seemed to go beyond the lunch room.  In 1986-7, an a la carte menu was added to the hot lunches and salad bar. The new supervisor added hot dogs, corn dogs, pizza, sub sandwiches and nachos due in part to the students’ love for fast food. Students were able to buy Hostess items, potato chips, popcorn, pies, cheese and brownies. Prices continued to be stable at $1 for hot lunch and salad bar with a la carte and individual items at various prices.  The supervisor hoped to add burgers and French fries soon!
• The City of Buchanan sold the entire Memorial Field area to Buchanan Community Schools for Less than $100 in 1985.  Again: “IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED, as a condition of the acceptance of this conveyance by the City of Buchanan, that said lands are not taken in a proprietary capacity, but that the same are taken in trust for the use of the public for recreational, park, and playground use.” [as recorded on deed]
• Students enjoyed a week of snow days in February of 1985, but became disappointed when the snow caused Winterfest to be canceled. 
• Santa [aka Mr. Bob Foster] visited in December pf 1986 and the photos with Santa sold for a mere $2.
• During the late 1980s Buchanan High School had a child care class where pre-school kids were brought in for an hour.  High school students were able to learn about child care beyond the textbook. 
• By 1987 THE PINES noted 25% of students participated in Athletics while another 50% were involved in other extracurricular activities, plus almost 40% had part time jobs
• The Fifth District Court of Berrien County came to Buchanan High School for three hours in 1989.  Judge Fields presided over this actual court proceedings involving drunk driving, B & E, shoplifting and contempt of court. Once again Buchanan students learned the judicial system beyond the textbook.
• During the 1980s, BHS housed high school students, plus adult education and enrichment from early mornings until past 9 p.m.  In addition, on weekends, the school opened for many months for youth basketball, floor hockey, plus adult league basketball and even volleyball.
• During the 1980s and 1990s, Buchanan High School welcomed students from Vietnam who had moved to our community.
• During the 1980s and 1990s, Memorial Field was also used for soccer completion until the community built soccer fields at the Buchanan Middle School.

Classes offered—partial list

• Agriculture
• Algebra
• Algebra 2/Trig
• American Political Behavior
• American Political Behavior/History
• Art
• Auto
• Band 
• Biology
• Canadian Studies
• Chemistry
• Choir 
• Contemporary U.S. History [since 1945]
• English 10
• English 11
• English 12
• English 9
• General Math
• General Science
• Law
• Michigan History
• Mythology
• Physical Science
• Physics
• Pre-Calculus
• Social and Minority History
• Speech
• U.S. History [1865-1900]
• U.S. History [1900-1945]
• Wood Shop
• World Geography
• World History

Student Activities

• Art Club 
• Band—Division 1 1980-81, 1983-4, 1984-5, 1985-86, 1987-88 with band camp at MSU

• Black History Week recognized in 1981
• BSA—Black Student Association began in 1989
• Blood drive began in 1983-84
• Buckhorn
• Buckhorn [newspaper]
• Canadian Exchange began in 1984-5 with 15 students traveling to Toronto and continued until 2000
• Close Up started in 1982 and continues to this day with over 500 participating over the years
• Computer Club started in 1986-87
• Concert Choir with almost 20 singers
• Co-op
• CPR instruction for Senior class
• Dances after most games
• Distributive Education Clubs of America–DECA

• Drama Club with at least two productions each year
• Equestrian Team started at least by 1980
• Exchange Students came to Buchanan—Netherlands, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Greenland, Brazil, West Germany, France
• Fifth Grade Camp Counseling
• Fine Arts Week
• Flag Corps
• Foreign language students took educational trips to foreign lands
• French Club with close to 50 members each year
• Future Farmers of America ended by 1985-86 since agriculture class was no longer an option after 1981
• Future Problem Solvers started in 1986-87 with 14 members solving problems such as the changing family, garbage, and water.  They continued with the 1988-89 topics were child nutrition and law.
• Guest lectures by police, undercover security, David Toma [national figure against drugs]
• Homecoming with Powder Puff football, bonfires
• Homeroom competition and float building, silent girl day, 50s day, dance in the cafeteria and parade, which moved from Thursday following a team dinner to Friday just prior to the game.
• Miss Blossomtime of 1981—Cara Hankila 
• Musicals
• National Honor Society
• Pep Band
• Pep Rally every Friday last period prior to football and basketball games 
• Plays 
• Pom Pon in 1980-81 but took a five year break and then returned in 1985-86
• Prom
• Publications 
• Quiz Bowl
• Redbud Chorale with as many as 23 members
• SADD became a BHS organization in 1985-86
• Select Choir
• Seniors had senior shirts in ‘84
• Ski Club

• Sounds of Hope—one BHS student spent month in Europe as a selected student in 1984
• Spanish Club with donkey basketball and close to 70 members 
• Spanish Honor Society 
• Special Olympics                  
• Student Representative Assembly [Student Council with class representatives and reps from clubs and organizations with close to two dozen members].
• Talent Shows were a real hit.
• The Pines with 26 students in the class in ’83-4.  THE PINES cost $20 in the late 1980s.
• Quiz Bowl
• WinterFest first noted in yearbook in 1983—class competition, farmers’ day, guy/girl switch day, silent girl day, Prince and Princess for juniors, sophomores, and freshmen
  

Athletics

• Baseball [2]—Second place at state in 1981; State baseball championship in 1985 with Coach Storm; batgirls 
• Basketball [3]
• Cheerleaders with some boys on team at least one year, also went to Kentucky for camp  in 1986-87 they did well in competition with first or second in at least four shows 
• Cross Country–Girls became part of the Cross Country Team in 1980
• Football [3]—Lakeland Conference Title 1988
• Girls’ basketball [2]—district title in 1986-87, 1988-89 district title
• Girls Track separated from boys’ track in 1986 had 44 members in 1986 with an 8-2 record; 1989 they had 13-0 season
• Girls Cross Country—4-0 in 1986
• Golf
• Soccer reinstituted in 1985-86 season finishing with a 10-6 record and was coed
• Softball [2]—undefeated in 1986, 
• Tennis—girls joined in 1981; 1989 team was Lakeland Conference Champs
• Track—coed team with six coaches at one time; 9^th in state final; 1982 Conference champs. Boys Track had 18 members in 1986 with a 10-3-1 record 
• Volleyball 
• Wrestling with addition of Matmaids in 1980-81, record of 12-1-1 in 1986-87