The Old School - 1979

Lincoln Community School got its start as a non-profit American international school in 1968. The school grew from the initiative of two U.S. families in Accra in the late 1960's, who recognized the need and took the necessary steps to start such a school. Mr. and Mrs. W.K. McNulty and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Bull were key to the founding of the school on October 15, 1968. The first class consisted of eight students and was held in a rented building located in the North Ridge Residential Area where the Alisa Hotel is currently located. At that time, the American educational program offered was from kindergarten through the tenth grade.

The initial school began with a grant of $16,500 from USAID but primarily depended on the tuition fee of 663 cedis and donations from large companies in Ghana and the United States. Texaco Oil Company, under the management of Mr. McNulty, was one of the main supporters.

Donald George Elbert from Illinois, was the first Lincoln Community School Superintendent. At the beginning of the 1969 school year the school rented a second building and hired ten teachers. The school grounds were 8680 square meters and consisted of 10 classrooms. Plot #56 was leased for the amount of 308.70 cedis on December 14, 1970.

Official regulations for Lincoln were adopted on January 7, 1970 and the school was recognized as an official school by the Office of Overseas Schools in the United States and the government of Ghana. It was governed by a 10 member Board of Directors.

Old School Compound at Current Site

Graduation Time

Old Car Park

Phillip E. Midle from San Jose, California was hired as Superintendent from July, 1970 until June, 1972. He was replaced by James R. Cope, from Grand Blanc, Michigan, who served as superintendent from July, 1975 through June, 1977. In 1975 the Board of Directors began developing plans to build a new building.

During the 1976-77 school year 147 students attended Lincoln and were taught by a staff of 13 full time and 2 part time teachers. The tuition was 575 cedis per quarter for grades 1 through 8 and 287.50 cedis per quarter for kindergarten.

James R. Fellabaum replaced Mr. Cope in July of 1977 and served as the Lincoln Community School Superintendent until February of 1979. The land for the new building was leased from the Government of Ghana on April 20, 1978 with a 49 year lease at 1,320.00 cedis per year with a 7 1/2% price increase every ten years. Construction began shortly after at the new address of No. 126/21 Dedeibaa Street, Abelenkpe, Accra.

Dr. Caryl L. Cochran

In February, 1979 Dr. Caryl L. Cochran from Seattle, Washington, began her tenure as Superintendent with a staff of ten teachers, 2 teaching assistants, 4 office helpers, and 8 support personnel. The educational program was from kindergarten through the eighth grade. Student enrollment was 118. The new building was dedicated on October 9, 1980 and housed 102 students and 8 teachers. Kindergarten through grade five were self-contained and grades 6 through 9 were considered the middle school with two teachers.

A librarian and a French teacher were also employed. The media center, grades 6 through 8, and the high school math, social science, and language arts are currently located in this original building.

During the 1980-81 school year the tuition was $2,000 for kindergarten and $4,000 for students in grades one through nine. There was also an additional registration fee of $1,000. Lincoln Community School regulations were amended on April 24, 1980. Gregory Whiteman, from Everett, Washington, replaced Dr. Cochran in June 1981 and served as the Superintendent until July of 1983.

John L. Mapes from Marysville, Washington was hired as Superintendent for one school year, 1983-84. Tuition at that time was 40,000 cedis for a full day and 20,000 cedis for a half day. From the historical records it appears that Fred Schultz replaced John Mapes in 1984 when funds were not available to pay his salary. The student enrollment was 55. The outdoor basketball court was constructed in February of 1985.

Ernestina Ray-Amoah

Ernestine Ray-Amoah, a teacher at Lincoln, replaced Fred Schultz at the end of the 1984-85 school year and remained at Lincoln until 1991. During the 1986-87 school year there were 76 students and a staff of 5 teachers. Tuition was $2,500 for kindergarten and $4,500 for grades 1 through 9. the registration fee was $100. The school years between 1987-91 consisted of grades preschool through 9 with a student population of between 135-89. A preschool was added and tuition was established at $600 for preschool, $2,250 for kindergarten, and $4,500 for grades 1 through 9. The registration fee was $100.

The value of Lincoln Community School property on April 19, 1989 was: land – 68,511,000 cedis and furniture and equipment 4,966,600 cedis. A four classroom annex was completed in October of 1991. This addition currently houses prekindergarten I, II, kindergarten and first grade.

Richard Eng

Richard Eng from Texas, replaced Mrs. Ray-Amoah and remained at Lincoln until June, 1995. Fees were raised in 1991 to $2,000 for preschool. There were 116 students and a teaching staff of 14 full and 1 part time. The educational program was for students preschool through grades 9. Administrative offices were completed in January, 1992 and new playground equipment installed in July, 1993. Plans to develop a multipurpose hall, using the existing outdoor basketball court, were formulated during the 1994-95 school year.

Enrollment during Mr. Eng’s four years at Lincoln were:

1992-92=116 students 1992-93=135 students
1993-94=133 students 1994-95=131 students

During the 1993-94 and 1994-95 school years, the Lincoln Community School teachers conducted a self-study for accreditation from the Middle States Association. The self-study included establishment of a school philosophy, and a complete study of the community, student services, program, resources, school leadership and organization. A visiting team of evaluators, appointed by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools visited the school in February of 1995. Fees for the 1995-96 school year were established in May, 1995 at $2,940 for preschool, $3,200 for kindergarten and $6,615 for grades 1 through 9.

Merry G. Wade

Merry G. Wade from McPherson, Kansas, replaced Mr. Eng on July 11, 1995. Using the material accumulated by the Lincoln Community School staff, an Action Plan was developed in August, 1995 to present to the Middle States Association for final accreditation approval. The grades K-9 became officially accredited on October 21, 1995. The Commission on International and Transregional Accreditation accredited Lincoln on July 23, 1996.

Plans for the multipurpose hall were continued and modified during the 1995-96 school year and construction of the hall began on July 10, 1996 at a cost of $310,000. the building, containing a large gym, bathroom facilities, and stage area was completed on April 14, 1997.

During the 1996-97 school year an Independent High School, affiliated with the University of Nebraska, was conducted to determine if there was a need for a high school. Twenty students attended the school with three students graduating in May of 1997. In November 1996, the Lincoln Community School Parent Association voted to develop a full high school for the 1997-98 school year.

The building of a four classroom block addition commenced on March 3, 1997 and was completed June 30, 1997 at a cost of $200,852. It housed grades 2 through 5 plus bathroom facilities. Moving grades 2 through 5 provided classroom space surrounding the multimedia center to be used for the addition of grades 10 through 12.

On August 28, 1997 Lincoln Community School opened its high school with an enrollment of 80 students in grades 9 through 12. Four additional high school teachers were hired to provide instruction for the additional 60 students.

On March 2, 1998 construction began on a building to house high school bathroom facilities, classroom space for English as a Second Language, special education, guidance counseling, French, and a staff workroom. The new addition was completed on August 10, 1998 at a cost of $200,852.

Construction of an eight foot brick wall began on October 12, 1998. The wall, surrounding the entire school campus, was built to provide additional security. The project cost $120,000 and was completed on December 7, 1998.

On August 6, 1999 two additional classrooms and a four office complex was completed. The previous office space was converted back into a classroom. This facility expansion provided classroom facilities for 40 additional high school students. In December of 1999 additional property was purchased from the Government of Ghana for a high school building.

Enrollment at the beginning of each school year during Ms. Wade’s five years at Lincoln were:

1995-96=124 students 1996-97=257 students
1997-98=296 students 1998-99=305 students
1999-2000=328 students

Fees from the 1996-97 and 1997-98 school years remained at the rate established by the LCS Board of Directors in May, 1995: $2,940 for preschool; $3,200 kindergarten and $6,615 grades 1 through 12. Fees for the 1999-2000 school year were $3,325 for preschool; $7,450 for grades K through 12.

Dr. Donald Scott Groves

Dr. Donald Scott Groves of Denver, Colorado became superintendent on July 12, 2000 and served until June, 2004. On November 2, 2000 the Board of Directors made the decision to pursue authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma (11&12) Middle Years (6-10) and Primary Years Programs (PK-5) as the official school curriculums. A new administrative organization was approved on December 14, 2000. This included the positions of junior and senior school principal, curriculum coordinator, registrar, and human resources and community relations coordinator to administer the increasing number of diverse administrative responsibilities as the school developed into a comprehensive American international school.

The enrollment in 2000-01 was 326 students; in 2001-02 it was 348. 20% of the student body was Ghanaian, 20% American and 60% representing 32 other nationalities.

At a cost of $360,000 construction of a 2-story building began in March 2001. It included three science laboratories and administrative offices. Construction of an additional junior school classroom began in April 2001 at a cost of $19,000. Both projects were completed in August 2001. Between June and August 2001 the following projects were completed: a second computer laboratory, counseling center (converted from the former administrative offices), junior school lunch patio, senior school locker area and lunch patio, communications center for telephone system and technology services, new communications tower and carpentry workshop.

At the beginning of the 2001-02 school year an expanded athletics and activities program was established to provide a wide range of extra curricular programs for junior and senior school students. On November 10, 2001 a meeting was held on the Lincoln Community School campus to establish the West Africa International Schools Activities League (WAISAL). 14 representatives from 8 schools in Ghana, Cote D’Iviore, Nigeria and Mali were present. In March, 2002 the International Baccalaureate organization granted LCS authorization status in the Diploma Program.

Fees for 2000-01 were $3,500 for preschool, $7,600 for kindergarten through grade 8 and $8,000 for grade 9-12.
In 2001-02 the fees were $ 5,500 for preschool, $8,200 for kindergarten through grade 8 and $8,800 for grades 9-12.

The enrollment at the end of the 2001-02 school year was 350 students.

1988 Board of Directors

During the 2002-03 school year the enrollment sharply increased mainly due to students transferring from other schools in Accra. 41 students from Cote D'Ivoire entered the school because of political crises in that country. Only 20 stayed. The enrollment at the end of the school year was 464 students. The size of the campus increased with the addition of the Visual and Performing Arts Center. In addition a new Junior School Library was built. The current library was expanded to become the Senior School Library. The fees for the 2002-03 was $5,500 for Pre-Kindergarten; $8,400 for Kindergarten to Grade 8; $9,400 for Grades 9 to 12.

When school began for the 2003-04 school year the Early Childhood Center and the World Languages Center opened their doors. The Early Childhood Center featured a library while a special computerized language laboratory was incorporated in the World Languages Center . At the end of the school year the Board of Directors approved the construction of a swimming pool. In April, 2004 the Middle States Association of Colleges and School granted reaccredidation to Lincoln Community School through November, 2009. In May the school received word from the International Baccalaureate Organization that the Middle Years Program had achieved authorization status.

At the end of the 2003/04 school year the enrollment was 501 students representing 56 countries. Fees for the school year were: $2,500 for Nursery; $5,500 for Pre-Kindergarten; $8,400 for Kindergarten to Grade 8; $9,400 for Grades 9 to 12.

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