When Wilbur S. Pence was appointed Superintendent of Rockingham County Schools in 1950, he was only the third County Superintendent since 1886. Like his two predecessors, George Hulvey and John C. Myers, he arrived at a time when major new programs were needed. Before being named Superintendent, he had served as Director of Instruction in the county since August of 1947.

Mr. Pence was a native of Rockingham County and a graduate of Bridgewater College. From 1929 to 1933, he served as teacher-coach and assistant principal at Beverly Manor High School in Augusta County. He served as principal of North River High School in Augusta County from 1933-1946. He was then appointed as supervisor of secondary education by the State Department of Education and Madison College. In this position, he supervised secondary education in thirty school divisions in the Shenandoah Valley area and taught classes in the field of education at Madison College during the summer.

When Mr. Pence became Director of Instruction in 1947 he emphasized and worked to implement a three point program of improvement for the county.

1. Improvement of the program of instruction.
2. Broadening and extending the offerings at both the secondary and elementary level of education.
3. Providing the facilities, equipment and materials of instruction to carry on the broadened program.

One of the first initiatives he implemented was the addition of a eighth grade program. Prior to 1949, Rockingham County had an eleven year program: seven years of elementary education and four years of high school. Mr. Pence believed that the additional year of instruction would allow Rockingham County students to compete with students from school divisions that already had 12 year programs. The first opportunity for eighth grade was offered during the 1949-50 school year. The first class to graduate from the twelve year program were the graduates of 1955.

One of the first major problems faced by Mr. Pence was the need for new school facilities for a rapidly expanding school population. When he took office, one new consolidated high school was under construction and plans for a second were being prepared. One of his first official acts as superintendent was to preside at the dedication of Montevideo High School on May 2, 1951. Two years later, on January 16, 1953, a similar dedication ceremony was held at the new Broadway High School. However, more construction was needed and a campaign for funding was organized. In a booklet prepared for the public in 1954, Mr. Pence stated.

"The result of the rapid increase in population caused by new home construction, the ever increasing rise in our birth rate, and the adding of an additional year to our school system, has thrown an unprecedented burden on our school facilities. Our present school enrollment is 7000. In 1960 it will be approximately 9000. Certainly no one expects us to take care of 2000 more children with existing facilities, teachers, and transportation."

In order to finance needed construction that would provide new secondary and elementary schools as well as additions to overcrowded facilities, a 1.7 million dollar bond issue was presented to voters for approval on May 23, 1955. This was the first school bond issue referendum ever held in Rockingham County. Debate over the issue often became heated and provoked controversy over the issues of going into debt and school consolidation. PTA's and many civic groups took the initiative to educate the public on the need for major funding and the issue passed by a margin of 506 votes with a turnout of over 3000 voters.

Construction projects provided for in the bond issue included:

New high school at Dayton
Additional classrooms at Mt. Clinton and Grottoes
New elementary schools at Ottobine and Bergton
New high school at Elkton
County Bus shop and storage facilities
Possible additional classrooms at other parts of the county
(based on increased population)

Other programs implemented during the 1950's and early 60's included:
Special education class at Linville-Edom (1951)
Special Education at all four county high schools (1960-1962)
Driver Education programs (1952-1953)
Textbook rental system (1956-57)
Instructional Television (1961-62)
Increase in units of instruction from 25-30 to 50 in the new high schools.
20 unit graduation requirement (1959-60)
Reduction in pupil teacher ratios from average of 34 (1954-1955) to 29 (1960-61)

By 1963, new elementary schools had been constructed at Pleasant Valley and Fulk Run, additions had been added at Turner Ashby and Broadway and plans were made to construct intermediate schools. The intermediate programs would provide opportunities more suitable for 7th and 8th graders and also relieve crowding at the county's elementary schools.

In 1964, a new middle school, John C. Myers, was built in Broadway. In 1965, middle school additions were built at Montevideo and Elkton and in 1966 a new middle school at Bridgewater, John W. Wayland was opened. In January of 1968, a disastrous fire at McGaheysville required new school construction.

In 1971, Mr. Pence retired with several major construction projects underway: Plains and Elkton Elementary Schools and a new Vocational School in Harrisonburg. His 21 year tenure was one of great progress and accomplishment for Rockingham County schools.

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