Teachers:
1963 to 1964 Margaret Dickey - first and second grades Ethel Bristor - third and fourth grades
1964 to 1965 Hala Parsons - first and second grades Ethel Bristor - third and fourth grades
1965 to 1966 Darlene Murphy - first and second grades Ethel Bristor - third and fourth grades
1966 to 1968 Darlene Murphy - first and second grades Mabel Rasband - third and fourth grades
1968 to 1970 Lenore Black - first and second grades Mabel Rasband - third and fourth grades
York School was very much a part of School District 91. In addition to the Science Fair, there were hearing and reading tests, Parent/Teacher Conferences and competition in the District in art, posters, etc. In fact, Mrs. Rasband remembers that students from York took first, second, third and an honorable mention in a Dental Health poster contest.
The PTO continued to be active, and equipment purchased for the school included six folding chairs, records, an overhead projector, more library books, window shades, a typewriter, and two cases of pork and beans to be stored in the basement for civil defense.
The Christmas plays were still a big event for the year. In 1965 the PTO and students gave Mrs. Beulah Brieter a gift of recognition for thirty years of playing the piano for the Christmas plays and other events. When asked why she never refused to accompany anyone on the piano, Mrs. Brieter said, "The good Lord gave me a talent, and he intended I should use it." She was an accomplished pianist and wonderful accompanist. Many people mentioned her in their questionnaires. She passed away in December, 1966.
The schools were stressing "physical fitness", so York students learned to use jump ropes and do exercises. However, they enjoyed square dancing in the gym much more. One girl said there were never enough boys willing to dance, so the ones that would were very popular. Another girl loved square dancing in the "big" gym and the smell of the floor wax.
The teachers had their problems getting to and from school. Mrs. Dickey remembers that in January, 1964, she was trying to get back to Idaho Falls during a blizzard. The car in front of her got stuck, she stopped, and an empty school bus ran into the rear of her car. She was not seriously hurt.
Mrs. Rasband says she could write a book about trying to keep a country school going. Something was always going wrong with the plumbing or water system. She thinks she used a plunger and a wrench as often as a ruler or reference book. She had to chase cows out of the school yard and mend the fence.
She said that one time the children decided to give her a surprise birthday, except it was not her birthday. It was a good thing she didn't let the students know, because two "best friends" staged a mock fight in the far corner of the school yard to get her out of the building so that the party could be set up.
The younger children were always told that the old teachers' house was haunted, that there was a coffin in the basement, and that there were bats by the East side back door.
York School was closed as a regular school at the end of the school year, 1970. There were probably many reasons -- cheaper to bus children to town than to update the building, lower student population or just more efficiency. It was the end of an era when the school was the center of community life.