Music Education Revenue and Competitors

Millard, a suburban area in southwest Omaha, was founded over 125 years ago by Ezra Millard (1833-1886). He was born in Canada. His family moved to Iowa, and as young men, he and his brother, Joseph, came to Omaha in 1856. They established the Land Office of Barrows, Millard and Company. Later, Ezra Millard founded the Omaha National Bank. In 1870, he platted Millard, a mostly uninhabited prairie 12 miles southeast of the city. The town was officially incorporated on September 26, 1885. Ezra Millard also left a legacy by helping to establish the Omaha Library Association, Omaha School for the Deaf, and Omaha's first public high school. He served as the twelfth mayor of Omaha and was a member of the Territorial Legislature. In 1988, Ezra Millard Elementary School was built and named in his honor. The Early Years The first school in Millard was established in the fall of 1870 with six pupils. The students met in various buildings of a local farmer. In 1876, the first school was built and furnished for $2,700. One early student spoke of attending the school in 1910, which consisted of grades one through ten, with the upper grades being taught by a male teacher who also served as principal. By 1913, the population of Millard had reached 315 and grew to 350 in the 1930s. In 1930, the first school was destroyed by fire. A new brick school was built on the same site, which is now 132nd and Millard Avenue. The new school was named Central and served as Millard's only school until 1960, when the present Central Middle School was opened. The old brick building is still in use as the home of the Millard Learning Center. Until 1938, students who wanted a high school diploma usually completed their education at Omaha South High School. In 1938, Millard graduated its first senior class. Leadership From the beginning, the Millard Public School District has been governed by a board of education. In the early years, all voting members of the school district were invited to an annual meeting where the year's budget and tax rate were set. In 1959, the school district was no longer considered rural, and a reclassification allowed the board of education to set its budget and elect its own officers. The general operating officer was the superintendent who, in the early years, also served as a part-time teacher and was often a coach. *Superintendents included: R.W. Stickney (1942-1946), Harold Hultman (1946-1948), Ray Jenkins (1948-1953), Richard Riggs Todd (1954-1955), Don Stroh (1955-1989), Ron Witt (1989-1995), and Keith Lutz (1995-present). *Earlier records were destroyed in the fire at Central Elementary in 1930.