Alumni, staff and faculty say goodbye to South Bend's Warren Elementary before it closes

Scores of people poured over photos posted on the walls to find their school picture at Warren Elementary School. Then they walked the hallways and looked in classrooms. There were laughs and hugs. There were also tears.

The school held an open house Tuesday afternoon for alumni, parents and neighbors to get one more look and to share memories before the school closes at the end of the semester.

Last April, the South Bend Community School Corp. board voted to close Warren Elementary and Clay High School. With a decrease in systemwide enrollment, students will be shuffled to other schools.

Numerous people at the open house questioned the board’s decision. Others wondered why there wasn’t more concern from the public with Warren’s closure.

Warren Elementary, 55400 Quince Road, is on the western edge of the school system and currently is part of the district's Empowerment Zone.

It was built in 1957 on 14 acres and expanded in 1964 and 1980.  The first addition included home economics, industrial education, art and music rooms, a gym and a library. Warren Township had two other schools, Crumstown and Lydick, both closed in the 1960s and students were transferred to Warren.

At one point, Warren had kindergarten through eighth grade. For one year, in the mid-1960s, Washington High School was overflowing. The former eighth graders stayed at Warren for their freshman year rather than going to Washington.

Principal Kwalfle Scott-Bradley has been at the school for two years.

“It is a rich history," she said. "The community is connected to the school. The kids love it here. We love it here. We all get excited by the end of the year, but this year is different.”

Ed Bonczynski and his children Tiffany and Samuel made a stop at Warren for open house. Tiffany and Samuel are students at Olive School, in New Carlisle, and Ed was a Warren Wildcat in the mid-1990s.

"It was a sad walk down memory lane," Ed Bonczynski said. "It really hasn't changed much. The carpet replaced the tile floors. There needs to be some plumbing updates. The gym hasn't changed at all. Everything looks the same."

Scott-Bradley said when she first arrived, she was impressed with the size of the schoolyard. “We can do STEM classes out here, pond and animals. Then we got the word on closing. I said we could get more students, build on good test scores. We didn’t get the chance.”

The principal didn’t expect this many people at the open house. She was surprised at all the visitors. “We wanted people to be able to say goodbye.”

Former student Mark Woodcox said he grew up in the neighborhood and had not been in the building for nearly 50 years. “This is a bummer.”

Chuck Strasser remarked how good the school looked inside.

Linda Miles is a paraprofessional at the school and has been at Warren since 2009. She was standing near a photo gallery with decades of class pictures.

“I liked it since the first day I walked in," she said. "This is heartbreaking. Every year, we would be told we would be closing, and it didn’t happen. Not this year.”

Miles, who is transferring to Coquillard Elementary School, added that the focus was on Clay last spring with the closing announcement.

“Clay got a lot of attention," she said. "We’re important, too.”

Emma Washo is a first grade teacher at Warren and is transferring to Coquillard, too.

“It has been so welcoming from the start," she said. "Everyone knows each other. So helpful. I’m going to miss this.”

Karen Orlicki said she was looking forward to the visit, but it was bittersweet to see a good school close.

David Millar remembered the good teachers, nice people and the community spirit.

Others recalled end of the school year picnics, musical programs and favorite teachers.

Brittney Manning has been a custodian at Warren for nine months. “The teachers work with the kids. Everyone is kind and helpful. I love it here. The closing sucks.”

Claudia Stoneburner Estep’s father was Harry Stoneburner. He served as principal for 22 years. Her mother, Lorene, was a kindergarten teacher. Estep was looking for photos of her dad and all his friends and found several.

Estep said she didn't go to Warren because the family lived in New Carlisle. However, she spent some time in the building. "It was like a family with the staff."

Ray Melichar taught math and science beginning in 1960. Former students flocked to chat with him. He said the closing was a sad, heartbreaking day for him.

Asked for a favorite memory, Melichar recalled a poignant day was the death of John Kennedy. “Mr. Stoneburner made the announcement. It is a vivid memory. I remember how sad that was. That night, the eighth-grade class went to the Morris to see ‘Camelot.’”

Later, Melichar slipped into his old classroom one more time.

Richard Lichtenbarger looked down the hallway and shook his head.

“Closing," he said, "it is progress, I guess.”

To see a photo gallery from Warren's open house, go to southbendtribune.com.