JACKSON – It was a bittersweet event but it provided an opportunity to say goodbye.
The Jackson School District invited the entire community, especially alumni and staff fortunate enough to have spent time at the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School, to come together and honor this recently closed school.
Teachers, parents and students participated in the “Walk to Remember” through the school. As they passed through the hallways, they read bulletin boards filled with messages. Photos were on display and the library hosted a video presentation.
While enjoying some refreshments in the school’s cafeteria, they had one final time to reminisce, sign a memorial display, play games and come together for a large group photo.
The School Board and administration had no desire to close the school and put it up for sale. The state had been cutting aid to the district for years, and a state monitor overturned the Board’s unanimous rejection of this year’s proposed spending plan. Officials said they were forced to seek a one-time revenue boost to supplement the financial loss it experienced.
Walking into the school brought back memories for Donna Risner who was a student back in 1962 when the school opened and had its original name of Brookwood Elementary School.
“I was a first grade student here. I was here when (President John F.) Kennedy got shot. I went to second grade here and then third grade I went to the Jackson firehouse.”
She attended other schools but “was back here for 6th grade. We moved here in ‘62 and my daughter-in-law just sold the house a few years ago.” Risner came to the event to say goodbye and noticed “this whole development and demographics have changed.”
Ed DeLouise was looking through the photo albums in the library. He attended the school in 1963. “I moved from Brooklyn and started kindergarten here. This is kind of a rush. It brings back a lot of good memories but it is sad. This (event) was a nice idea.”
Attendees were provided several keepsakes including a cup or sticker featuring the Rosenauer Roadrunner (the school’s longtime mascot) with the motto of “Once A Roadrunner, Always A Roadrunner.” Refreshments were provided by the school’s PTA including the option of a Chick Fil-A sandwich or a slice of pizza from one of three Jackson pizzerias close to the school.
PTA President Andrea Frangella served as president for the last nine years. She said the closure “was unfortunate. All the students were moved over to the Crawford Elementary School two miles up the road. I think it was about 175 kids. The nice thing about that is that principal that was just here is at Crawford. Some staff went there so there are some familiar faces.”
Frangella added that the Rosenauer PTA merged with the Crawford PTA. “Some of those new moms that were here are going to help out this year.”
Many who attended took the opportunity to sign the guest book wall in the gym/cafeteria and students had the chance to visit the playground one last time as well as to sign their name to the tree in the gym.
Former Principal Claire Kali noted in a bulletin board message that “The staff and students of Rosenauer schools were like my family and will always hold a cherished place in my heart. Rosenauer will go on in all of us.”
Another bulletin board message was from Mackenzie Angelone, a former student at the school from 2011 to 2016 who remarked, “My grandpa was on the PTA board and went on all the school trips with me so the school holds very important memories to me. I made friends that I’m still friends with today and I still have the Rosenauer Roadrunners song memorized by heart.”
Barry Rosenzweig, a former principal of the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School led those present in singing the Roadrunner school song at the close of the ceremony.
He was one of several former principals who spoke during the event. He explained its history and its importance to him personally – it was where he began his academic career at in the 1960s.
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli told The Jackson Times that while the school’s closure was sad, “at the same time we were happy it had such a wonderful legacy. It is bittersweet. It was very sad and very stressful and I lost a lot of sleep over this.”
“We had a small sub-committee, my admin team a couple of principals, PTA and staff members put this on today,” Pormilli added. The transition of students was something that “we worked hard and quickly on. We wanted everyone to know what was happening as soon as possible because that would be stressful for people knowing ‘we can’t go back to where I was?’”
Pormilli said, “within two weeks we had all the staff figured out and then we let the students know where they were going. Some of the staff had started here. We had no choice. We had to balance the budget.”
Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, who serves the town as part of the 12th District, recalled when Rosenauer retired and was surprised with the news that the school would be named after her. “When I started here it was the Brookwood School and I remember being in this auditorium in 1978 and the entire school came in here and surprised Sylvia Rosenauer. She came down not knowing we were here and we announced that we were changing the name of the school. She was the first principal and she was shocked. I remember this as clear as day.”
“My mom taught here for 12 years and then went to Crawford. She taught a total of 25 years in Jackson. She feels very sad about the closure. She had many memories here. Not only did she teach here but all four of her children came here,” he added.
