History

Peterson opened for the 1997-98 school year after being closed for 16 years. The site served as a community college during some of the time it wasn't being used as an elementary school. Reopening the school was a result of increased enrollment throughout the district and the need to accommodate the class size reduction program. Along with the district’s Centered Gifted and Talented Education program, students came to Peterson from Moffett, Perry, Kettler and Smith to make up a wonderfully diverse population of young people.

The rebuilding project got off to a late start, but with valuable help from community volunteers as well as the volunteering of staff members along with the leadership of principal Dareen Yonts and construction supervisor Frank Blonska, Peterson was completed in time for a great first day of school. The pictures towards the bottom of this page depict the progress from May 1997 to early September 1997 in making Peterson what it is today.