Our little school on the prairie was approved for construction in 1971, built in 1972, and officially opened in 1973. Overcrowding concerns in the other two elementary buildings caused the school board to bring a special bond referendum to the voters of Sandwich for Prairie View Elementary School and, simultaneously, proposed the construction of the Illinois Valley Vocational Center. In 1971, school officials planned for the new school to house one kindergarten room and two each for first, second, third, and fourth grades. Also included was a classroom to serve special needs students, a teachers' workroom, all-purpose room, restrooms, storage space and the heating facilities. The cost of this endeavor: $372,213.64, a bargain by today's standards!
The original structure was designed with neither a front nor a back, portable walls, and the capacity for expansion. In 1993, building expansion became a reality, and the north wing, which included six new classrooms, was added. The initial entrance to the school was now enclosed. Extra space was added to the multipurpose room in 1999. Back in 1971, it was projected that approximately 250 students would attend Prairie View annually.
Today, Prairie View is one of six schools in the Sandwich Consolidated Unit District #430. It continues to operate as a neighborhood school with two each of kindergarten, first, second, and third grades, two self-contained STAR classrooms, an intervention/reading room, a social work room, a speech room, a sensory room, an occupational therapy office, and a nurse area. Our media center is a library but is used for various purposes, including small group reteaching STEM activities and assemblies. As the population of Sandwich increased, new homes replaced the prairie surroundings. In keeping with our namesake, the property east of the school is an authentic Illinois prairie that provides many hours of insect and prairie plant exploration for our young learners.
Throughout its thirty-eight-year history, Prairie View has been fortunate to have dedicated, first-rate faculty, staff, and administration. The parent organization has contributed to the school's success through countless volunteer hours, numerous fundraisers, and various projects that enhance the learning environment. Parent support for their children, education, and the school has been exceptional.