WARREN SCHOOLS Fun Day marks last day at Devon

The school is one of two Warren schools closing its doors.
By JAYME RAMSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WARREN -- Devon Elementary School pupils and staff members shared one last annual party Tuesday.
It marked the last day of school for the kindergarten through fourth-grade pupils, the day where the school celebrates a Fun Day in appreciation of the pupils and their work throughout the school year.
Devon is one of two Warren elementary schools closing at the conclusion of the 2002-03 school year. Roosevelt Elementary is the other school scheduled to close. The school district has said that the closings are part of a cost-cutting effort.
Because of Tuesday's rain, Devon staff members and volunteers from the Parent Teacher Organization moved the Fun Day indoors.
School's history
Since 1949, pupils have attended the school on Central Parkway, but now, a continued decrease in enrollment has played a part in the school's demise. Principal Wendy Hartzell said 146 children were enrolled at the school this year.
"We've had low numbers for three years, and I've been very aware of that," Hartzell said. "I know that with the cuts from the state budget it does affect every district in Ohio, ours being one of them.
"And when they have to look at, overall, where does it make the most sense as far as looking at financial aspects as well as low numbers, this building kind of fits both criteria," she added.
Hartzell will become the assistant principal at Turner Middle School in the fall and most of Devon's teachers will get jobs at other Warren schools.
"I've been looking forward to a higher grade level," Hartzell said. "I've been challenged here. My work here definitely is not done and I'm looking forward to the new challenge of middle school."
Some teachers, like Elenie Mantos, a third-grade teacher who has been at the school for five years, have to wait until July 15, when the school district will tell her where her new classroom will be. She knows it will be in a Warren school.
Some will lose jobs
Some teachers were not as fortunate as Mantos.
"Most of us have a job except for four first-year teachers," Mantos said. "We have three of them in this building that won't have a job."
Despite the school's impending closing, staff members and pupils enjoyed one last day together in the Devon building.
The PTO organized three inflatable activity stations in the school's gymnasium and other events for the kids throughout the school.
Head Custodian Mary Grodesky has been with the school for 15 years. She said this year's Fun Day is different for her and the rest of the Devon staff.
"We've had fun days before, but we have not had activities like the caterpillar and the jumping machines," she explained. "I'll miss these kids. They have been fun to work with."
Positive memories
School officials and teachers want the pupils to take a lot of positive memories from the school with them in life.
"I want them to remember that it was a fun place to be, that they learned a lot from the teachers, from each other, that they've made some tremendous friendships, but that school is a good place to be and a comfortable place to be," Hartzell said.
Mantos said that she knows her pupils will be fine next year. Most will attend Garfield Elementary, a school they have already visited and loved, Mantos said. Still, she knows Devon was a special place.
"I just don't want it to close, it's been a wonderful experience here. The kids are wonderful, you can't find a better staff, and the principal is really caring," she said. "We're all very close, we're going to miss each other as well as the children. We know all the children in the building because it's not a very large building."
jramson@vindy.com