Centennial School District History

Centennial district residents attended the formal dedication of
Centennial Senior High School April 29, 1962. This marked the culmination of efforts to
achieve a K-12 local school system.

Circulating Pines April 26, 1962 article outlining the steps taken to
build the junior high and senior high. click here

first school board

The first District #12 School Board
(This photo was published in the August 1960 Sentinel)

first district 12 administrators

The first Centennial School District #12 administrators

District superintendent history:
Brian R. Dietz, 2013-present
Dr. Keith Dixon, 2011-13
Dr. Paul Stremick, 2009-11
Dr. Roger Worner, 2005-09
Dr. John Christiansen, 2000-05
John McClellan, 1976-2000
Bill Mattke, 1972-1976
Marshall Hankerson, 1967-1972
Arthur Bergee, 1957-1967

District #12 Timeline

School District #12 has roots dating back to April of 1853 when the Manomin School District was created. It included the cities of Anoka, Blaine, Fridley, Grow, Ham Lake, Ramsey Township and part of Moundsview. The first recorded school in what is now the Centennial District was housed in the F.X. LaValle home in 1854 in Centerville. In 1880, Francis Golden held school in her kitchen, which was near what is now Golden Lake in Circle Pines.
On January 1, 1956, District 48 (Lovell - with 20 classrooms and 890 pupils) and District 5 (Centerville - with eight classrooms and 280 pupils) consolidated. Each district consisted of just one school building. In 1957 a superintendent was hired for the new school district. During the summer of 1957, a $700,000 bond issue was passed to build a junior-senior high school.

History of Individual Schools

There have been schools in the area since the mid-1800's. The first recorded school was in Centerville; then a school was established near Golden Lake. At one time Centerville was a grade 1-12 school. As the population grew, high school students were sent to White Bear, while the Golden Lake school sent its older students to Anoka, and later, to Minneapolis.