School to celebrate its 50th anniversary this Friday
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 5, 2017 5:50 AM
It was founded in 1967, she said, at First Presbyterian Church and called a "developmental school for retarded children."
"The goal was to help the retarded child improve physically, socially, emotionally and to increase their skills, awareness, independence and ability to adjust to family and society life," she said then.
Larry Livengood was credited with being the "visionary" behind the effort, enlisting community volunteers to help launch it. The special needs school's first class included 10 students.
Funds from the Mental Health Association and Church Women United supported the school during the early years, when 150 volunteers served 25 students. Parents paid a nominal fee for the half-day school.
In 1972, a three-year federal grant allowed them to hire a full-time director, special ed teacher and other staff. It was renamed the Community Development School and housed at Greenleaf School.
With another federal grant a year later, in 1973, the school moved to Walnut Street School as part of Wayne County Public Schools and Goldsboro City Schools. It relocated to its present site on Peachtree Street in 1983-84.
Adams said she hopes many will turn out to celebrate the school's golden anniversary and also bring their memories as well as memorabilia.
"If anybody has anything that they'd like to share with us or add to our archives, please call the school," she said.
For more information on the event, call Edgewood at 919-731-5970.