Simon Kenton High School
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Simon Kenton High School is located at 11132 Madison Pike in Independence, Kentucky. The school's athletic teams are known as "Pioneers".
On July 19, 1935, an application was filed with the Public Works Administration for Kenton County, Kentucky for funds to contruct a public High School. The application was approved, and on November 2, 1935 a deed was signed for a 23 acre site on Madison Pike, one-half mile south of the center of the city of Independence. A 5.5 acre addition was added shortly thereafter to allow for the construction of a lake on-site to provide water for the school. The overall project's cost is recorded as $175,606.85.
The decision to name the school Simon Kenton was made official on October 22, 1935, with the official dedication occurring September 5 of the same year. With an initial enrollment of 496 students, Simon Kenton High School opened its doors on September 13, 1937.
The initial building that housed the school remained static until 1954, when a new bi-level building was completed to accommodate the growing student population. In 1964, a new cafeteria was added to the existing structure. In 1970, the original lake was drained after the drowning death of senior Robert Blanton. 1970 also saw the addition of a wing to the North side of the school as well as the expansion of the paved parking lot.
On October 9, 1980, the school's four buildings suffered an estimated 1.5 million dollars in damage as a series of explosions from a natural gas line swept the campus. The continued explosions injured approximately 35 of the Fire and Rescue workers that responded to the scene. One student, a junior by the name of Robert Williams, also lost his life. Later in that same school year, the school would make headlines for a much more joyful reason; the Pioneers boys' basketball team won the 1981 Kentucky state championship, becoming the first school ever from Northern Kentucky to win the title. (Note that Kentucky, unlike almost all other states, has never adopted a multiple-class system for high school basketball.)
The current principal is Mr. Richard Culross, while Ms. Martha Setters & Ms. Georgina Campbell serve as Assistant Principals.
