District honors retirees

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The Lake Orion Board of Education offered ‘farewells? and ‘thank yous? to this year’s retirees at their meeting last week.
‘When you add it all together, there is over 400 years of service to Lake Orion’s kids that’s leaving us this year,? said Superintendent Christine Lehman, noting the individuals have shown a ‘strong commitment for kids and a strong love and passion for doing what’s right? for today’s youth.
‘This meeting each year is a happy time and a sad time,? said school board President Jim Weidman. ‘It’s a happy time because we celebrate the contributions of people who have made a difference over many years in the district. It’s a sad time because we celebrate the end of those contributions.?
Retiring from the district are Rose Edwards, principal of Carpenter Year-Round Elementary; Nancy Hornacek, head dispatcher; Christine Lehman, superintendent; Loretta Meek, Waldon Middle School teacher; Alan Miller, high school custodian; Donna Newton, Pine Tree Elementary teacher; Marianne O’Neill, Carpenter teacher; Pam Rusin, high school guidance counselor; Kathy Shanahan, custodian; Sharon Staniek, secretary to the high school principal; George Stringer, Waldon teacher; Kay Zuzelski, Waldon secretary; and Diane Winter, high school teacher.

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Lake Orion Community Schools honored this year’s retirees from the district at its meeting last week.
According to Lake Orion Superintendent Christine Lehman, 11 individuals are retiring with over 300 years of service to the district.
‘It is a true pleasure to honor those people who have helped our kids learn in a safe environment,? she added.
Among the retirees is school board president Leeann Bartley who served on the school board for 12 years, eight of which were as president.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction David Beiter will be leaving after spending over 30 years in the district, during which time he served as a teacher at East Junior High and the high school, an assistant principal at the high school and middle school and the principal at the middle school, junior high, Blanche Sims and Scripps. He and his wife, Helen, will be moving to North Carolina.
Teachers Karin Heathcock, Marion McGraw and Stan Mijal are also among the retirees. Heathcock has taught for over 36 years, most currently as a fifth grade teacher at Webber Elementary. She has also taught at Proper Elementary, Blanche Sims and Carpenter. McGraw, a first grade teacher at Pine Tree, has taught in Lake Orion for 35 years. She has also taught first grade at Carpenter and Webber. Mijal, a math teacher at Lake Orion High School, is retiring after 20 years of service in Lake Orion.
Also among the retirees is mechanic Gerald Baxter (over 35 years), head bus driver/trainer Kathleen Biller (24 years), Assistant Director of Transportation Barbara Ealy (over 37 years), cafeteria helper Frances Frease (21 years), custodian and bus driver Delphine Graves (over 30 years) and custodian Joseph Uryga (18 years).
‘That’s a lot of experience that leaves,? said school board treasurer Mary Jo Burchart. ‘There’s a lot to be said of experience. We’re going to miss those 300+ years.?
The retirees and their families were invited to a reception prior to the school board meeting and a formal presentation during the meeting. Lehman thanked the retirees and their families for all their years of service to Lake Orion Schools.
‘Thank you again and we wish you the very best in the years to come,? Lehman said to the groups of retirees at the meeting.

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