HISTORY OF SAN FERNANDO SOUTH CENTRAL INTEGRATED SCHOOL
The Gabaldon Building of the South Central School is standing majestically in a one hectare site which was procured in the year 1903. Geographically, it is located about one kilometer away from the poblacion surrounded by mountain ranges traversing from northeast to south direction. It is at the eastern most part of barangay Tanqui bounded b
y barangay Cabaroan to the east, barangay Sagayad to the south, barangay I to the west and barangay Biday to the north, a place not too far distant from adjacent barangays. Record shows that it was in 1907 that the construction of Gabaldon building of the San Fernando Elementary School now the San Fernando South Central School started simultaneously with other central schools in other municipalities of La Union like Bauang and San Juan while Bacnotan and Balaoan were repairing their schools that were built ahead than the aforementioned Gabaldon buildings. It was through bayanihan, spirit of volunteerism and cohesiveness of the parents and other local residents that the Gabaldon building was erected and it was made possible through the efforts of the former Governor Sixto Zandueta โ that the school started operations as an educational institution after its construction in 1909 with American and Filipino mentors starting the primary grades. Governor Zandueta noted the harmony among American teachers, Filipino teachers and municipal officials in his inspection. It was in 1912 that the intermediate grades were established and classes were conducted at the other buildings constructed just across the streets where North Central School is situated now. Due to the scarcity of faculty and facility, many of the school children dropped out of school or failed to be admitted due to disproportionate ratio between pupils and faculty. Regretfully, Governor Sixto Zandueta commented in 1912 that every year the number of applications for enrolment for public schools is growing while the number of teachers of the school is proportionately falling behind. The proportion of enrollees to each teacher peaked to an average of 77 is to 1. In 1915, the intermediate grades were fully established and more Filipino teachers were hired for the increasing number of pupils. Note the diminishing figure of American teachers from the Taft years to the Harrison era. In a yearโs time, more American teachers bowed out of the service, hence accelerating filipinization in the field of education. It is also noteworthy that the Gabaldon type of school house is named after Commissioner Gabaldon who was in-charge of the construction of buildings of this sort during the American regime. Now, the Gabaldon building is still in place with all its grandeur and splendor with its sixteen (16) classrooms and a social hall being used as the school library. The eastern wing, western wing and the northern wing was rehabilitated in 2010. The southern wing had been rehabilitated in 2011. A covered court is located at the center of the Gabaldon Building. The Gabaldon building at the South Central School housed the primary pupils (Grade I to III) and across the highway, another Gabaldon building housed the intermediate pupils (Grade IV-VI). Due to the growing number of pupils in the early 70โs, the schoolhouse on the northern side was registered as a separate school named San Fernando North Central School and the schoolhouse on the southern side was named San Fernando South Central School. Aside from the Gabaldon building, other buildings were also constructed around it to cater to the growing number of school children coming to enroll in the San Fernando South Central School. In the year 2006, the Special Science Class was organized to cater the needs of the mentally gifted children which make the school unique compared to other public schools in the City Schools Division of San Fernando. It was also in June 2008 that ALIVE classes were established to cater to the needs of Muslim pupils. Classes were held during Saturdays but starting SY 2010-2011, ALIVE classes were already integrated in the curriculum. On June 4, 2012, the Regional Office I approved the establishment of an Integrated School and the school was named San Fernando South Central Integrated School. Grade 7 was offered and there were 35 students who enrolled for the school year 2012-2013. For School Year 2013-2014, there were 48 students in Grade 7 and 44 in Grade 8. Teachers teaching the high school students are borrowed from LUNHS, and 1 teacher from the elementary.
