Maple Student Council, Advisors, Principal, FSD Trustees and Superintendent – Back Row: Board of Trustees President Leonel Talavera, Board of Trustees Vice President Hilda Sugarman, Jake Zepeda, Melanie Rodriguez, Ella Chavoya, Gino Garcia, Darlet Ruiz Rios, Destiny Munguia Lozano, Amari Sarmiento, Valeria Garcia, Chloe Carden, Superintendent Dr. Bob Pletka, Principal Anthony Abney, Adviser Josh Render
Front Row: Jas’zlyn Anderson, Rosie Sanchez, Amiya Leflore, Ethan Taruc, Victoria German, Alina Torres, Elise Dorado, Adviser Sandra Seibert, Adviser Karla Ruiz 2006 Maple Principal and PTA Leaders Maple School – the heart of the Maple Area Community, was resuscitated in a celebratory reopening on September 3, 1996, after 24 years of closure and 30 years of bussing. It reopened with kindergarten. Glenda Thompson, an educator with a bilingual/bi-cultural educational background, was appointed principal – and according to former Maple PTA parent Gloria McClain, “She was the right principal at the right time.”

Maple Area families had become more recent immigrants and had limited English since the 1972 closure. Nonetheless, Maple’s parents expected a full elementary school for their children; however, the FSD did not commit to it beyond third grade. What they lacked in English proficiency was made up by determination—Si se puede. The parents’ goals were to prevent further bussing of their children by pressing the expansion of Maple to grade. They faced two hurdles. One – Maple lacked property for a full school; and, two – the Trustees seemed focused on reopening Beechwood School, which closed in the 1980s. Beechwood would reopen in 1999.

Maple Parents Mobilize

Maria Mendoza, a parent during the reopening and former Maple PTA President – 1998-2005, remembers, “We kept hearing ‘no room for a full school because the City owned the field.'” She also stated, “We (parents) felt overlooked by the Board’s attention to reopen Beechwood School and bussing our children to help their attendance.” Ms. Mendoza said the parents were concerned and approached Principal Thompson for advice. Ms. Mendoza stated, “Glenda said the Board of Trustees meetings are the place to voice your concerns.” The parents attended several board meetings voicing their concerns, according to Ms. Mendoza.

Maple Lacks Property for a Full School – Or Does It?

In 1994, an article by Jackie Brown titled Maple School Decision Near, North Orange County News on March 17, 1994, reported FSD Trustee Robert Fisler stating in a board meeting, “In addition to money, the Maple site, over two acres, is not large enough to reopen an elementary school….”

Maple parent Gloria McClain took the initiative to research Maple School’s property lines after the reopening. Her discovery would significantly contribute to the expansion of Maple to 6th grade. She recalled, “My husband and I were in real estate, and on a fluke – we accessed the Plat Map, which provided property profiles and discovered Maple School had more land than what we were told.” Her discovery moved the needle forward to the expansion of Maple to sixth grade through an effort of cooperation and funding from the FSD, City of Fullerton, Redevelopment Agency, and state resources to construct two classroom buildings, a library, and a multipurpose room. (Ms. McClain’s discovery was the acquisition land deal by the FSD and the City of Fullerton in 1946, described in Part One: “A New Southside School.”

Former Maple Students Giving Back

My Maple buddies and I, who were bussed in 1966, began yearly family picnics in 1983 to stay connected. The picnics evolved into annual fundraising dances for Maple, which led to the creation of the Maple Alumni Committee (MAC) from 1999 to 2015. MAC raised over $50,000 for the Maple School PTA. Former chairperson Kitty Jaramillo stated, “It was an opportunity for Maple alumni to get together, reminisce, and dance while raising funds for our school.” MAC also helped coordinate annual Career Days by inviting alumni to inspire Maple students.

The Leon Owens Foundation (LOF), whose family members also attended Maple, subsidized field trips, provided new shoes for the students, and secured guest speakers to encourage the Mustang Ladies Club. Dorothy “Dot” Owens Whitehurst stated “Our foundation initially subsidized field trips for Maple students, by requesting they write essays. In the process, we noticed the need for new shoes.” Therefore, she continued, “We secured funds from individuals and bought shoes for the entire student body. But the most rewarding part was the surprise and smiles on the student’s faces.” LOF would replicate the New Shoe Program to other schools in the FSD.

Maple School Moving Forward

Mr. Anthony Abney, Maple School Principal, provided a vision for Maple School moving forward. He stated, “Maple School’s sub-name is Environmental Sciences & Experiential Learning, and the school should be at the forefront of environmental literacy and justice.” To accentuate the school’s environmental curriculum, the interior campus was decorated with six colorful murals depicting the earth’s various biomes. The curriculum is taught in each grade level and includes some practical training.

The Historic Celebration Ceremony

Mr. Abney said the school plans an on-campus centennial celebration on April 24, 2024. There will be a 30-minute ceremony featuring dignitaries, alumni, and past principals. Then, the entire community can visit the school museum, which displays taped interviews by alumni, school artifacts, and historical photos.

In Conclusion

The venerable school building is more than bricks and mortar. It remains a special place of memories and experiences for multitudes of current and former students, teachers, and administrators. It has withstood earthquakes, endured decades of bussing, and overcame an unwanted closure to reopen and become a thriving elementary school with a bright future.

The series is dedicated to Ricky Jaimes, Shirley Owens McClanahan, Howard Perkins, and Eddie Froelich. Special thanks to Cheri Pape at the Local History Room, Fullerton Public Library, for research assistance and to Pam Keller for suggesting the series.