Schelby School Celebrates Milestone
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Schelby School in Livingston celebrated 50 years since it was renamed in honor of former Merced County Superintendent of Schools Floyd A. Schelby. Educators, community leaders, staff and members of the Schelby family joined in the celebration on Tuesday, June 6.
Schelby School, which serves students from preschool through age 22, has provided quality education and support to students with moderate to severe special needs in Atwater, Winton, Livingston, Delhi and Hilmar communities. More than 170 students were enrolled at Schelby last school year and Merced County had 8,610 students with an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), which qualifies them for Special Education services.
The school was dedicated to Schelby on April 13, 1973 as a tribute to his contributions in the field of education and for his commitment to the students he served.
While originally located at the Merced County Fairgrounds, the school was moved to its current location to provide space for additional classrooms. In 1970, three more classrooms were added to support programs and an increase of students.
Mark Schelby, longtime educator in the Atwater Elementary School District and son of Floyd A. Schelby, shared remarks and expressed pride in the school’s faculty and staff for upholding the values set by his father. “My father put his faith in staff,” he said. “That was his philosophy and he would be so proud today of the staff.”
Current Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen also shared some thoughts on the history and legacy of Floyd A. Schelby. “Floyd worked as a teacher, coach, secondary teacher and eventually superintendent of schools. Which is why the school was named in his honor, for the work he performed throughout his career.”
The 50th-anniversary celebration stands as a testament to the impact of Floyd A. Schelby’s vision and dedication to those involved in the special education program. The school will continue to build upon his legacy and also embrace the future to ensure that every student is equipped with tools and support they need to achieve success.