By the late 1920s it because necessary to consider the construction of another building in which to educate the children of the area, which now included high school pupils from outlying districts. The story is told that a dispute arose as the location of this school. To settle the argument, Thomas S. Leigh, school board Trustee and later Mayor of Brighton donated the land for the school.
Construction cost of the brick, two story building was $140,000. In 1928, this school, 125 S. Church Street, opened its doors with grades K-4 on the first level and grades 5-12 upstairs.
In the first graduating class at the new school, 1929, thirteen received their diplomas. This class was the first to take a Senior trip; to Washington DC. By 1931, the number had increased to 20. Then the Great Depression shut down the country. The closing of the banks by President Roosevelt and subsequent freezing of all funds, forces the school board to dismiss classes for the year on April 21, 1933, almost six weeks early.
The old Union School was commonly the scene of teen dances during the 1930s and 40s. By 1947 it was used by St. Patricks Catholic Church as a parochial school. The building was razed August 12, 1957.
Following WW II, the advent of better highways allowed many families to move to the area. The land, which for 100 years has grown grains and pasture, now had crops of new homes and families. With the ensuing baby boom, the population of the school age children rose in the surrounding townships. The one-room elementary school districts in the townships found it increasingly difficult to keep up. A high school diploma quickly became the accepted norm. The charge for tuition for children to attend high school in town was not sufficient to cover the cost of the new facilities which became necessary to handle the increased number of pupils who wished to attend. This, understandably, did not sit too well with city taxpayers. It was not a reasonable decision to build a high school in each township, so the wisest alternative seemed to be consolidation with the district which had the building available and the shouldering of increased school taxes. Not all districts were enthusiastic about the idea. Occasionally one can still be aware of ill feelings engendered almost 40 years ago.
Space needs forces the reopening of the “Little” school on Rickett Road and the remodeling and enlarging of the 1928 school in 1950 and again in 1859 and 1970. Now called the Robert S. Scranton Middle School it is named for its long time teacher and principal.
The consolidation of country schools with the Brighton City systems, during the 1950s, mimicked the trend throughout the state. Elementary schools were built in areas where the children lived. It is believed parents take a more personal interest if their childs school is nearby.
In 1951 West Elementary School, 1010 State Street, opened for grades 1-6. Now called the Carl H. Lindbom Elementary School, for the man who was its principal, 1951-83, it underwent major additions and renovations in 1970 & 1988.
1957 saw the construction of the Burton S. Miller Elementary School on the east side of town, 850 Spencer Road. Additions in 1970 and 1988 have greatly enlarged the building and it is now the Miller Early Childhood Center and also houses facilities for the use of Brighton Senior Citizens.
The elementary school at 8900 Lee Road, south of town, named after H. Gordon Hawkins, a long time superintendent, was built in 1960. 1970 & 1988 saw major remodeling and substantial new construction.
A new high school was built in 1966, 7878 Brighton Rd. In 1973 a large addition was constructed and the pool added in 1978.
The Spencer Road Elementary School, 10639 Spencer Road, was built in 1973. Obviously named after its location, northeast of town, which was most likely named after John G. Spencer, an early settler in the area.
Need for a second middle school prompted the construction of Maltby Middle School, 4740 Bauer Road in 1977; named after the family which built the first saw mill in Brighton in 1834.