This week in history from The Arlington Times archives

• Lakewood School District Superintendent Kristine McDuffy officially began her new job July 2, but she started it without a desk. “I think they’re going to put me back there,” she said, pointing to the back of the district administrative building. At the top of McDuffy’s list of ideas is the formation of a district advisory council, something that she had been discussing for several years with outgoing superintendent Wayne Robertson. The district council would “help construct a diverse perspective and inform people about how the district operates,” said McDuffy. She hopes the district advisory council will include parents, students, staff, members of the community. “If a business person asks, ‘Why are we spending this?’ these questions and different perspectives can add value. That’s what I’m looking to do — add value at the district level.”

July 8, 2008 6:12 pm

10 years ago — 1998

• Lakewood School District Superintendent Kristine McDuffy officially began her new job July 2, but she started it without a desk. “I think they’re going to put me back there,” she said, pointing to the back of the district administrative building. At the top of McDuffy’s list of ideas is the formation of a district advisory council, something that she had been discussing for several years with outgoing superintendent Wayne Robertson. The district council would “help construct a diverse perspective and inform people about how the district operates,” said McDuffy. She hopes the district advisory council will include parents, students, staff, members of the community. “If a business person asks, ‘Why are we spending this?’ these questions and different perspectives can add value. That’s what I’m looking to do — add value at the district level.”

25 years ago — 1983

• The Arlington School District will be hiring four new teachers for the coming year but these teachers won’t be for the positions sought by the administration and a number of teachers. Lost were a full-time special education teacher at the high school and a physical education specialist for grades two through five. Positions approved were one and a half special education positions, a kindergarten teacher and two regular classroom teachers. The original motion made by Director Gene Chase allowed only the one half-time special education position, but Superintendent Richard Post appealed for at least one more full-time position. Chase amended the motion to include the middle school teacher. Alyce Gustafson was acting chairman in place of Bill Legler. Walter Beals was also missing. Chase said his concern was for lower general class sizes.

50 years ago — 1958

• You’ve heard rumors about The Arlington Times launching a big “Everybody Wins” subscription contest for strictly local people of this city and vicinity. Now you can have the facts. Although this newspaper already enjoys a wide circulation, many new residents have moved into this area recently and we are desirous of adding a thousand new subscribers to our lists quickly and at the same time afford current readers an equal opportunity to renew their subscriptions at a special reduced rate. With this end in view we have planned, and today announce, the most interesting and altogether attractive prize offer imaginable in which a gorgous new 1958 Chevrolet “Brookwood” model station wagon, valued at exactly $3,283.34, will be awarded as grand capital prize.