Schools

Bierbaum Elementary PTO Dedicates New Playground Equipment

Bierbaum Elementary PTO President Beth Janzer dedicated the school's new playground equipment to former PTO President and Vice President of Fundraising, Chad Barton.

More than 70 students, staff and parents gathered at Friday afternoon to dedicate the school's new playground equipment to Chad Barton.

After a two-year battle with a cancerous brain tumor, Barton passed away Sept. 2, just two days before volunteers installed the playground he helped to fund.

Barton served for three years as the Vice President of Fundraising as well as a one-year term as President of the Bierbaum Elementary School PTO. His wife, Mary, also served as the president for three years while their son, Chad Barton III, attended Bierbaum.

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"Chad is our own only son and we wanted to make sure he had a strong PTO. We wanted to get involved and get other people involved," said Mary Barton.

Current Bierbaum PTO President Beth Janzer presented Mary and her son with a plaque and photograph of the playground.  The new additions to the south playground include a 10-foot slide, geodesic climbing dome and new seats and chains for the swing set.

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"We want to make sure and thank all of the parents and one uncle of you students who helped build the playground," Janzer said. Twenty-one volunteers spent 12 hours installing the new equipment under the supervision of an installation specialist in September.

Barton's help also allowed the PTO to replace the north playground during the 2007-2008 school year.  

"Once the one side was done, Chad said, 'Let's start saving for the south side.' He was adamant about keeping things repaired," Mary Barton said. 

"My husband was a maintenance man. He loved to build and fix things. I know he's looking down from heaven with a screwdriver in one hand and a bolt in the other." 


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