BY TERESA ACKERMAN
Gazette Newspapers
MADISON TOWNSHIP – Faculty, staff, students and families discovered North Elementary was going to be closing its doors permanently at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
Reasons given were financial, according to the Madison Local Schools website.
The reality hit on Thursday, May 28, the last day of school for the students.
Staff, students and their family members were at the school for the final 5th grade clap-out.
Sally Rogus was the principal of North Elementary when it opened for the 2013-14 school year. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the history of the Madison schools.
“I taught in Geneva for four years before coming to Madison. I was hired in Madison in the summer of 1967 and retired in June 2018,” she said. “The beginning years in Madison were at North Madison Elementary on Route 20. When NME was closed, we went to the old middle school on Red Bird Road. It became North Elementary School. Traci Shantery was hired as the assistant principal.”
During the 2013-14 school year they planted a time capsule in the courtyard at NES – where they also put the old NME sign.
Rogus said they included items in the time capsule (a white, plastic tube): a copy of the 2013-14 yearbook, two t-shirts, a copy of the roster, including the names of everyone who worked in the building, 5th grade letters written about what NES meant to them and a photograph of Diane Nicholson, Connie Kiper, Patty Davis and Traci Shantery standing in front of a tree they planted.
After Rogus retired in 2018, there were a few other principals at NES: William Mayer Jr., Doug Baker and, finally, Theresa Solar, along with assistant principal Melissa Schultz.
Solar has been with Madison Schools since 2003, having started as a substitute teacher.
“I was a long-term substitute for Title I math in 2005 and officially got hired in 2006 as an intervention specialist, both positions at North Madison Elementary. I moved over to North Elementary in 2013 when the building opened as North Elementary,” she said. “I am very sad about the closing of North Elementary. The building has been an integral part of the lives of the staff, students and families for many years, even in the years that it housed Madison Middle School. There was a warm feeling of belonging experienced by students and staff at North Elementary. A culture that was cultivated by caring for one another while working to exceed goals of personal and academic excellence. I encourage students and staff to carry the spirit of NES forward into their new buildings and their future endeavors in life.”
Melissa Schultz was the assistant principal at NES and has been there for the past two years.
“I have lived in the community for over 30 years, and both of my children are Madison graduates,” said Schultz. “Over the past two years I have made so many amazing relationships. It is sad to not be working with everyone from NES. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of the students and the staff.”
Schultz added, “Change can be hard, but we will help each other build something really special.”
Laura Arietta has been with Madison Schools for the past 20 years, 13 of those years at North Elementary as a 2nd grade teacher.
“It is a mixture of emotions when I think about North closing. Teaching 2nd grade, I was always able to check in on my students and watching them grow up in 3rd through 5th grade. This is the hardest thing for me when I think about the building changes. I am really sad that after 2nd grade, they will be leaving our building,” said Arietta. “It is also hard to think about not teaching or working with people that I got hired with 20 years ago. As teachers you go through so many ups and downs professionally and personally. It is hard to think that some of those people that have been there through all of it will not be anymore.”
Arietta said she has so many fond memories of North.
“First and foremost, meeting people that have become some of my closest friends. We were at North when COVID happened,” she said.
“It was such a trying time for people personally and professionally. I heard so many horror stories about online learning and the lack of support from people that taught in other states or districts. I never felt that at North. The families that I worked with throughout those tough years were more understanding. They were supportive, helpful and so grateful every step of the way.
“Field days were one of my favorite whole school memories. Most of the staff and students were out altogether on these days playing, having fun, and enjoying each other’s company.”
Arietta said she is hopeful and looks forward to meeting new students, colleagues and families and developing relationships with them.
Patty Davis has been with Madison Schools for the past 21 years, 13 of those years at North.
Davis worked as an aide then, as a secretary.
“I have bittersweet feelings about North closing. So many memories were made here. My coworker, Connie (Kiper), and I have worked so well together,” she said. “I do not know what I will do without her. We were a perfect team, often dressing alike and we could not wait to hear about each other’s adventures. I will miss seeing her and so many others very much. Even though I am sad we are all leaving North, I am looking forward to making new friends and memories at our new school.”
Rogus believes leaving this building is a good idea.
“It has too much upkeep and drains finances that could be used to educate our students and support our staff. This staff has worked very hard to help students work to their potential,” said Rogus. “They are well trained in the science of reading, which has created successful readers. The staff connects with students and sees their individual needs. The math skills are addressed every year by all teachers with the third-grade teachers challenging students to memorize math facts.”
Rogus has nothing but praise for the teachers at North Elementary.
“What I continue to experience is a team working to bring out the best in students and one another. They continue to be a ‘we’ group of educators. It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Madison School system,” said Rogus.
And finally, Solar wanted to share these words with the staff, students and parents.
“Forever proud to be North Elementary!”
