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On the first day of summer vacation, Superintendent Joe Gothard strolled the grounds of Elvehjem Elementary School on Madison’s east side in a suit and tie.
While Gothard, 54, now towers over much of the playground equipment at over 6 feet tall, he grew up near the school and considered it to be his own backyard as a kid. He pointed out where he and his friends played baseball until their “arms fell off,” the tree-lined trails in the woods behind the school and the park shelter that converted into an ice skating rink in winter…