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Beye School

230 North Cuyler
708-524-3070

Principals Since 1892, Beye School has had only eight principals. Minnie Whitham became principal in that year, serving until 1922, when she retired and was succeeded by E.L. Hebal, who was described by a former pupil as "beloved, if slightly aloof." Hebel was principal until 1935 when Emma Wandschneider took over. She retired in 1943, giving over the reins to Lonnie Reed. Reed, too, was Beye principal for over thirty years, retiring in 1973 as a beloved and respected educator, known as the "dean of Oak Park principals." Elsie Harley became principal in 1973, serving until September 1977, when she was succeeded by Thomas M. O'Loughlin, who served as principal until 197, when Susan Cruttenden Gibson became principal. Gibson retired in 2002 at which time Jonathan Ellwanger, Beye's former music teacher, became principal.

Reorganization In September 1976 Oak Park elementary schools were reorganized and Beye became a kindergarten through sixth grade school. Seventh and eighth grade students from the area now attend the Percy Julian Middle School. That fall of 1976 also saw the beginning of major remodeling of the school. The job was completed in the spring at a cost of more than one million dollars. The work included new flooring and lighting in all parts of the school as well as establishment of a "pod" classroom, refurbishing of the art room and construction of a new library media center, The Lonnie Reed Media Center.

Middle Schools Beginning with the fall of 2002 the sixth grade students now attend Percy Julian Middle School and Beye has become a k-5 building.