History of Suncrest

Suncrest’s Predecessor:  Spencer School

Many children who entered the newly-completed Suncrest Elementary School in August of 1986 had been the last to attend the Spencer School.  Built in 1912, Spencer actually replaced earlier school structures located at 340 East 800 South.  On February 7, 1883, a deed was filed in the office of the Utah Country Recorder, conveying three acres of land on the southeast corner of 800 South from William D. Roberts to the Provo Bench School District No. 18. The price for the land was $48.00.

Residents built a log room 20 by 30 feet in size.  Two rows of long, rustic benches—each seating twelve students—were placed on either side of the large wood-burning stove in the center.  In 1890, a two-room brick building was built near the log schoolhouse to provide additional classroom space.  In 1900, the log schoolhouse was torn down and two more rooms were added to the brick building, in front of the original rooms and to the west.  Eventually, the roof was removed and a second story was added.

Some of the teachers at Spencer School during its first years of existence were:  W. K. Henry, Ada John, Sarah (Sadie) Talmage Patten, Samuel Bunnell, Mr. Chalmer, Minnie Noble, W. K. Nielson, Nora Young, Gertrude Thurman, Florence Rogers, Irving Pratt, Frank McGraw, Hanna Belle Smith, Ray and Bora Chase, Henry Aird, Ray and Lillie Wentz, Della Green, and Rilla Hiatt.  Most of these teachers were not required to have special training.  They simply met with the Board of Education for an oral examination.  The subjects taught at the school included reading, writing, arithmetic, history, drawing, nature study, and spelling.

Spencer closed in 1965, but reopened in 1980 to help an overcrowded school district deal with ever-increasing enrollment.  Students were bussed from just north of Center Street and west of State Street.  John C. Burton was appointed principal and served for two years before opening Manila Elementary in Pleasant Grove.  Michael S. Pratt took his place as the last principal of Spencer, and subsequently, the first principal of Suncrest.

 

Spencer had nine rooms.  Eight of them were used as classrooms and one was divided to make offices for the secretary and principal.  A portable classroom served as the media center.  Arrangements were made to use the Eleventh Ward cultural hall for physical education and assemblies.  Students received “extra” PE because they walked half a block to the church for these activities.  Since there was no kitchen or lunchroom, lunches were prepared at another school and transported to Spencer each day, where they were served in the hallway before students took them to their classrooms to eat.

 

As the student population continued to grow, two more portable classrooms were added, and when the church was remodeled, a fourth portable classroom provided a venue for activities and assemblies.  During the last two years of its existence, Spencer had more classrooms outside of the building than inside.

 

On May 13, 1986, the Alpine School District Board of Education approved the sale of Spencer.  DeCoursey and Associates purchased the property for $750,000.  Therefore, May 30, 1986 marked the last day that children (about 300 at the time) attended Spencer.  The building was razed in 1991 when the Spa Fitness Center was constructed on the site.

 

Before receiving its name, the new school was known on architectural drawings as “Spencer 2.”  Parents suggested several possible titles, which later appeared on ballots for a popular vote.  Patty Palmer submitted “Suncrest” after opening a can of peaches by the same name.  Her suggestion won the patron vote, ousting the runner up, “Parkview.”  The name seemed to fit, as the school sits at an angle facing southeast to allow the front windows to capture solar energy.

Suncrest Today

Today, Suncrest serves 485 students in preschool through sixth grade.

Number of Students485

Number of Teachers29

Average Class Size23

Demographics:

Caucasian58%

Hispanic38%

Other Ethnicity4%

Free and Reduced Lunch65%

School MascotStallion

School ColorsRed, White, & Blue

Updated 1 November 2007 by Principal John Patten

Sources

It Happened in Orem:  A Bicentennial History of Orem, Utah (1978).  Community Press:  Orem, UT.

Orem City Website (2005).  Internet:  http://ds2004.orem.org/Historical/HC_SES.htm

Pratt, Michael S. (1986).  Historical sketch of Suncrest Elementary School used at its dedication.