By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966
(Apologies to Simon and Garfunkel.)
“Iva Alice Mann almost single handedly founded the Clover Park School District …,” said a Lakewood Historical Society Jan. 1, 2014, story headlined “Get Schooled in Lakewood History With Iva Alice Mann.”
“After 61 years serving students, it’s time to say goodbye to Iva Alice Mann Middle School,” said a May 23, 2020, Facebook posting of the Clover Park School District.
“Students and staff from Woodbrook Middle School have joined those of Mann Middle School in the Clover Park School District newest school Dr. Claudia Thomas Middle School,” wrote David Anderson in a Suburban Times posting on Oct. 5, 2020.
In response to what David Anderson posted, Sherri Thomas wrote, “I loved Claudia Thomas. She was a nice lady. What happened to honoring Iva Alice Mann? Will the name Claudia Thomas also be replaced when no one remembers who she is? I guess memorials are temporary.”
Amen.
Iva Alice Mann almost single handedly founded the Clover Park School District. There are certainly those who know that. But, as the years go by more and more will say “Iva Alice Mann Who?”
Sad.
Can the Clover Park School District do better than kicking important people who served the District into the dustbin of history?
P.S.
Woodbrook was named for the housing subdivision in which it was located.
ENCORE, ENCORE!
GOOD JOB, TIM!
I AM GLAD YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY WHAT I FEEL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WENT TO MANN JUNIOR HIGH, AND THE PIONEER KIDS WERE BUSED IN EVERY DAY FROM STEILACOOM.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IVA ALICE MANN AND FLORA B. TENZLER.
THANKS AGAIN, TIM.
I WAS IN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1977.
Guess Mann went the same place as our Warrior…..New people don’t know the old times, so make our time their new time. Remember when Bona Park in Tillicum became
(someone I never heard of) because new people don’t care about our memories.
It’s all part of the “Cancel Culture” and erase history movement. Very sad indeed.
My entire K-12 education was in the Clover Park district as well as my two brothers and my father who was in the first graduation class in 1941 at Clover Park. In addition, my entire career was with the district. As I read articles in the Suburban Times and the district’s newspaper, I have almost no idea where the schools mentioned are located. I’ve lived in Lakewood my entire life and am very disappointed that new “regimes” don’t recognize the value of history in the district. Shame on you.
As the proud and lucky granddaughter of Iva Alice Mann I, too, am disappointed and sad that her legacy of such dedicated and tireless work for the Clover Park School District may well be forgotten. She was very honored to have a school carry her name and as the humble person that she was she never did look for the accolades she richly deserved. I grew up in close proximity to this special woman so I got to hear a lot of stories about the development of CPSD where I experienced a great education from kindergarten through high school graduation. I am, and forever will be, glad that the Lakewood Historical Society will keep the work and memories of Iva Alice Mann available for others to know.
The city of Lakewood should also remember Julius Mann, Iva’s husband. Julius was an inventor and electronics genius. He along with Geoge Russell Sr. co-founded Mann-Russell Electronics based in Tacoma. Julius invented the Mann-Russell oscillator circuit that is still used today in Radio Frequency Gluing Presses. RF heating was the forerunner to microwave heating and Julius was one of the early pioneers that developed RF heating the gluing equipment. Julius worked part-time almost up to the time he passed away in 1975 and I had the honor of getting to know him when I went to work for Mann-Russell in 1974. Iva continued to visit the Mann-Russell plant even after Julius passed away. She was quite a lady.
Cheri Deyton Arkell I agree. I’m OK with new name and reasoning for it. But, CPSD needs a means to honor Iva Alice Mann (who used to have a school named for her) and Walter J. Thompson (who used to have an athletic field named for him). They deserved continuing recognition. It should not be out of sight, out of mind!
Let’s vote to oust every school board member who voted to oust Iva Alice Mann.
Greg Horn