MADISON TOWNSHIP — Mifflin Elementary may be closing its doors for good, but its impact will continue to ripple through generations.
That’s why Madison Local Schools is hosting an open house and farewell for students, staff and community members to walk the halls one last time.
“It’s not just about a building, it’s about honoring what that space has meant to generations of people,” said Renee Neron, Madison’s director of curriculum and instruction.
“We hope that it will give the community a sense of closure. Mifflin has been filled with memories — first days, friendships, favorite teachers, performances, and milestones. A farewell of this sort creates a shared moment where people can reflect, process the change, and say goodbye in a meaningful way.”
The event will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The building and grounds will be open with memorabilia and yearbooks on display in the cafeteria. The school will also display items a time capsule buried by Mifflin sixth graders in 1999. Light refreshments will be served.
The Madison Local Schools board of education voted to close Mifflin Elementary at the end of the school year amid financial difficulties and declining enrollment districtwide.
Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, Madison Primary School (formerly Madison South) will house prekindergarten through second grade students. Madison Intermediate (formerly Eastview) will house third and fourth grade.
Neron said the farewell event is a chance to recognize the educators, family and community members who have invested in Mifflin over the years.
“When a school closes, a farewell ensures that what happened inside those walls isn’t just left behind — it’s recognized, shared, and carried forward,” Neron said.
“It becomes a reunion of sorts — people share stories, reconnect, and celebrate what they experienced together. That sense of unity is especially important during times of change.”
Mifflin was constructed in 1949 (with additions in 1962 and 1980), making it the oldest building currently in use by the district, according to a recent audit.
Mifflin was named a National ESEA Distinguished School in the category of achievement during the 2022-2023 school year.
The school earned a four-star rating on its last Ohio School Report Card. Budget cuts within the school district necessitated its closure.
