California School for the Deaf, Riverside


The California School for the Deaf, Riverside is a school for deaf children located in Riverside, California. The school educates children from all over Southern California. Its companion school in Northern California is California School for the Deaf, Fremont.

History

On March 26, 1946, California Assembly Bill 75 was signed by Governor Earl Warren, future United States Supreme Court Chief Justice, authorizing appropriations to establish the Southern California School for the Deaf, later renamed the California School for the Deaf, Riverside. In May, 1948, the State Department of Education in Sacramento chose Riverside as the site for the new school on the Arlington Avenue agricultural property. The school began to accept students on February 2, 1953. Perry E. Seely is the founding father of today’s CSDR.
In 1951, Dr. Richard G. Brill became the school's first superintendent, a position he served for 26 years. In 1958, the student population reached 500.
In 1977, Dr. Robert Lennan became the second school superintendent. He oversaw implementation of an individualized education plan as required by federal law.
In 1989, Dr. Kenneth Randall took over as the school's new head.
In 2000, Dr. Rachel Stone, deaf since birth, became the fourth school chief.
In 2001, Mr. Harold Kund became the fifth school superintendent. His administration period was characterized by a rebuilding program on campus. Kund retired in 2005.
In 2006, Mal Grossinger was selected as the sixth superintendent of CSDR, and he remains in that position today. He is the second deaf superintendent to lead CSDR. CSDR recently received the maximum six-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Notable alumni