St. Marys citizens have demonstrated an active interest in the education of their children throughout the years. Our Centennial History reported that St. Marys was the first town in Ohio to take advantage of the Akron School Law, passed about 1850, providing for public support of the schools. That was in 1853. Previously schools were located here in churches and in private homes as pay schools.

Rev. A. Rodgers became the first superintendent of the St. Marys schools and served until 1855. The Union School came into being in 1855 under Jonathan Fairbanks who served as superintendent until 1857. During those few years he made a decided imprint on the people of the community and laid the foundations for the future education system here. Jonathan Fairbanks Clubs were started and continued meeting long after Mr. Fairbanks had left the community.

Succeeding superintendents were a Mr. Templeton, 1857-1858; G. H. Richardson, 1858-1860, S. F. DeFord, 1860-1864; J. B. Peaslee, 1864-1866; W. F. Torrence, 1866-1879; J. A. Barber, 1879-1881; J. A. Shawan, 1881-1883; C. S. Wheaton, 1883-1889; J. D. Simkins, 1889-1903; E. A. Hotchkiss, 1903-1906; C. C. McBroom, 1906-until his sudden death on April 14, 1945; O.O. Royer, April 14, l945-June 30, 1945; Harold H. Cook, July 1, 1945-Aug. 1, 1968 and Frank Dennings, Aug. 1, 1968 -.

There were four public schools and Holy Rosary Catholic school serving the children of this community at the time of our Centennial Celebration in 1923. A new St. Marys high school building was in the process of being constructed at that time.

Today only one of those five buildings-Bunker Hill School-is still serving the community. The West School, which served as the High School and also as an elementary school for years, became an elementary school in 1925 with the completion of Memorial High School and continued serving as such until the new West School was constructed in 1959. The new East School was brought into use that same year replacing old East School which had been built in 1888. The first ward building was abandoned.

McBroom School had been erected in 1952 to serve the 7th and 8th grade pupils and was named in grateful remembrance of Charles C. McBroom who had served the schools 39 years as superintendent plus additional years as a teacher.

Both McBroom School and Memorial High School were enlarged in 1956. In 1963 they were united physically with the construction of the Library-Administration Section. In 1966 by vote of the people there was further enlargement of McBroom School and the gymnasium and a new building to house the industrial arts, some of the laboratory sciences and the vocational Ag to serve the High School. The McBroom, East and West Schools were erected and expansions achieved at a cost of $3,045,600 in four separate bond issues, passed by the voters with substantial majorities, proving the continuing interest of the people in our young people.