Oak Glen Schoolhouse

A replica of the Old Wood Schoolhouse is being built by San Bernardino County Special Districts. The Oak Glen School House & Park Association will be furnishing the interior with school items appropriate for the time period the little schoolhouse was used; 1889 to 1927.

The two story permanent schoolhouse was built in 1927. It is a standard “stick” frame building with an exterior of stones brought by horse and sled from Mill Creek.

Apple ranch owner, Joe Wilshire, donated 1.2 acres of land for the school’s location, adjacent to the Wilshire Ranch. On May 13, 1927, the board called for a school bond election set for June 4th of that year. The Redlands Daily Facts reported on May 13, 1927, “It is expected that the bonds will carry without opposition for the people of the district are very much in favor of it.” Residents in the Oak Glen School District voted 12 – 0 for a $7,500 bond to build the new school. The amount may seem low, but by comparison  Model A Fords were selling for only $471.31.

The bond, needed to finance construction of the new school, was purchased by the only bidder, Elmer J. Kennedy of Los Angeles. The building, constructed with native stone, was built by H. B. Duke and his son Lee.

Holsinger’s Lumber & Hardware Company of Yucaipa took the construction contract, allowing area builders to work on the school to payoff bills they owed at the hardware store.

In 1965,the schoolhouse was closed as a school for two main reasons:

1. It failed to meet the earthquake standards of the Field Act of 1965.

2. There were not enough students registered to attend school for that year.

Yes. Alumni belong to the Oak Glen Schoolhouse Museum and Park Association. Several individuals have attended reunions that have been held through the years and some still visit with their families and friends and share their memories.

Unfortunately no full time teachers are alive. Mrs. Theresa Law, who served as a substitute teacher for Mrs VanHorn, still runs her shop, Apple Tree Gifts & Country Things, located under Law’s Oak Glen Coffee Shop.

Yes, you may bring your dog to the park if he/she is on a leash. Please bring your own supplies to clean up after him/her.

Please email oakglenschoolmuseum@gmail.com or phone 909-797-1691 with date, time and number of people expected to attend.

The schoolhouse is usually open Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 4pm.

September, October and November it is open Wednesday through Sunday 12 noon to 4pm .

Groups are welcome to call 909-797-1691 to make reservations for tours at their convenience.

It is closed in rain or snow.

The downstairs room served as a lunch room. It has a kitchenette used to cook hot lunches several times a week. The stage that was located on the east end was used for plays and assemblies.

Approximately once a month the community would have potluck dinners and dancing.

It is still used today for meeting, weddings and parties.

First grade through Eighth grade – then when Kindergarten became part of the school system, Kindergarten through Eighth grade.

Special Districts

The Special Districts Department is a relatively little known yet highly active and dynamic department of San Bernardino County. As stated in our Mission Statement, “The Special Districts Team, under the direction of the Board of Supervisors, set the standards for excellence in local government.” We do this through the formation, management and administration of Districts, County Service Areas (CSAs) and Improvement Zones to meet the individual needs of communities, neighborhoods and new developments in the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County.

Districts, CSAs and Improvement Zones provide tailored municipal-type services to unincorporated areas. They can provide one or all of the following services depending on needs and financial feasibility:

  1. Extended police protection
  2. Structural fire protection
  3. Local park, recreation, or parkway
  4. Extended library facilities and services
  5. Television translator station facilities
  6. Low power television services
  7. Miscellaneous extended services:
    • water service
    • sewer service
    • pest or rodent control
    • street & highway sweeping
    • street & highway lighting
    • refuse/garbage collection
    • ambulance service
    • area planning
    • soil conservation & drainage control
    • animal control
    • transportation services
    • geologic hazard abatement
    • road maintenance
    • open space and habitat conservation

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is the governing body for all Board governed Districts, CSAs, and Improvement Zones. The day to day management and administration is done through the Special Districts Department.

The County Board of Supervisors and the Special Districts Department depend quite heavily on input from the community. The successful operation of a District, CSA and Improvement Zone is a team effort between County staff and property owners. We like to say that we are here to help you help yourself. Where needed, the Board of Supervisors will set up a property owner Advisory Commission or Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) to work with and make recommendations to the Board and County staff.3

The formation process begins with a request from property owners and then involves a feasibility study performed by the Special District Department with the assistance of many other County Departments. The final approval of the District, CSA and Improvement Zone is done by the County Board of Supervisors at a public hearing. Depending on the complexity of the issues the process can take from three (3) months to one (1) year to complete.

The staff of the Special Districts Department is available to answer questions, attend community meetings and assist in the preparation of necessary documents.  Please visit our contact page for more information.

Yes, the Special Districts Department has an experienced team of staff and consultants that can assist with the formation and administration of public finance districts as such Community Facilities Districts and Assessment Districts to fund your infrastructure needs.

There are various forms of financial mechanisms that can be used to fund services such as fees, special taxes, assessments, etc. Prior to a new funding source being implemented, it must receive approval from either the property owners or the registered voters in the area. It is important to understand that all funding is generated through the Districts, CSAs, and Improvement Zones. No County general funds are used or are available.

WAS Billing

Payment is due and payable when the bill is received.  If you are having difficulties paying the bill, please contact the office to see what arrangements are available.

WAS Customer Service

The Division now installs Sensus IPERL water meters that comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards C700.  The Division employs certified testers and a test bench, which is tested for accuracy by the Department of Weights and Measures.  If you believe your meter is not registering accurately, contact the office to schedule a calibration test.

Assessed parcels within 660 feet of a water main line were allowed to connect and have meters installed even though the main line was not in front of the property.  These parcels were required to provide a private water service line easement.  The easement gives the property owner access to maintain the water line to the house, across the neighboring property to where the meter is installed.

Contact our Development Services Unit at 760-955-9885.  The Division can provide you with information regarding our service area, fees, requirements and other pertinent information.

Please remember that the Division bills bi-monthly (every two months).  In most cases, the current amount on the bill is for the previous two months of water and/or sewer charges.

Water is typically used in seasonal patterns, with summer having the highest consumption.  To determine whether or not you have an abnormal increase in water consumption, look at the current amount of water you used and compare it to the amount you used at the same time last year.  This information is found in the consumption information section of the bill.  If there is a significant increase over the last year’s consumption, examine your activities.  Did you have visitors, add new landscaping, fill a pool, or do anything else that could affect water usage?  If not, you may need to check your property, your toilets, and other fixtures for leaks.

Gallons Feet
7.48 Gallons 1 Cubic Foot (CF)
748 Gallons 100 Cubic Feet (HCF)
325,851 Gallons 1 Acre Foot (AF) or 435.60 HCF

A customer noticed a damp area in the dirt at the rear of their property.  Upon closer inspection, a broken water pipe was discovered.  Because the customer is responsible for all water that flows through the meter, this mishap could be costly if not found within a timely manner.  Customers should check for leaks periodically and learn how to turn the water off until the leak can be repaired.

At The House

Close the customer main line valve (clockwise) where the line enters the building.

At The Meter

Open the water meter box that is usually located near the curb or property line in front of the house.  Turn the customer courtesy valve clockwise to shut off the water.

If you do you have a customer shut-off valve, please contact us.

At The Sink Or Toilet

Turn off the valve (clockwise) located underneath the fixture.

The Division requires a final escrow closing date and one to two working days notice to schedule the closing of an account.  Once we receive notice, a closing read will be scheduled.  In order to close the account, the Division requires the first page of the final close of escrow papers showing a change in titled ownership of the property.

Tenants moving out of a property should provide several days advance notice and a forwarding address.

At this time, the Division does not offer reduced rates or low income programs. We have, however, compiled a list of rent and utility assistance providers for customers that may be seeking help.

WAS General

The Division now installs Sensus IPERL water meters that comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards C700.  The Division employs certified testers and a test bench, which is tested for accuracy by the Department of Weights and Measures.  If you believe your meter is not registering accurately, contact the office to schedule a calibration test.

At this time, the Division does not offer reduced rates or low income programs. We have, however, compiled a list of rent and utility assistance providers for customers that may be seeking help.

Please contact us to request utility service or complete the information on the new owner application, sign and mail to our office. If you are a new homeowner, we will also need proof of titled ownership.  If you are building a residence, see this page.

If a property is leased or rented to a tenant, the owner and the tenant are required to complete Owner/Tenant Agreements.  These forms must either be signed in the office or notarized.

Assessed parcels within 660 feet of a water main line were allowed to connect and have meters installed even though the main line was not in front of the property.  These parcels were required to provide a private water service line easement.  The easement gives the property owner access to maintain the water line to the house, across the neighboring property to where the meter is installed.

Contact our Development Services Unit at 760-955-9885.  The Division can provide you with information regarding our service area, fees, requirements and other pertinent information.

If a customer suspects a leak at their property, the Division recommends doing a “time test.”  In order to do this, locate the meter and write down all the numbers as they appear on the meter’s register. Do not use any water for 4-5 hours. At the end of this time, go back to the meter and see if the numbers have changed.  If so, there may be a leak at the property.  The customer may then want to contact a licensed plumber or a leak detection company.

WAS Water Quality

To ensure that County Service Area (CSA) water systems meet the strict standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State of California Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water, water samples are collected throughout the CSA water systems on a regularly scheduled basis.  These samples are then tested by an independent state-certified laboratory to verify that all standards are met.

The three most common reasons for bad tasting water are:

  1. Chlorine that is added to the water that kills germs.
  2. Naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide dissolved in groundwater.
  3. Algae and fungi in surface water.

Very few of the contaminants that could affect your health can be tasted in your drinking water. You should report any sudden change in taste or smell in your drinking water.

Water is classified as hard when calcium and magnesium are present.  While hard water does not cause any harmful health effects in humans, it can create issues with plumbing fixtures.

A milky appearance is caused by air mixing into the water.  Water in our system is under pressure.  When you draw water from your faucet, the pressure releases dissolved oxygen into the air.