Salina Schools recognizes retiring staff during outdoor ceremony

During an outdoor ceremony at Salina Stadium Sunday afternoon, Salina Unified School District 305 recognized members set to retire at the end of this school year.

Families, friends and even previous students were on hand to celebrate over 30 teachers and faculty with up to 41 years of service in the district.

Superintendent Linn Exline began the recognition ceremony by thanking everyone for coming out to the stadium for the celebration and reminding everyone, particularly the retirees, about the importance of education to the community.

“We can all take great pride in our students’ accomplishments and the gains we are making as a school district,” Exline said. “However we can take even greater pride in the dedicated service of our staff. Throughout your careers, you have devoted yourselves to some of the most worthwhile work in the world.”

A lifetime in the district

For some, the dedication to the district started before they even began working for it.

Dee Schoof, who spent 31 years employed with USD 305 most recently as a library assistant at Schilling Elementary School, said she grew up in Salina and graduated from Salina High School in 1970 before the school was changed to Salina Central.

“Yeah, I’ve been here the whole time,” Schoof said.

She said the best part about working with kids was watching them grow in their skills and knowledge.

“My boss and I encourage the children to read…then you get to see them grow and then they can read,” Schoof said. “I mean it’s really cool. You don’t want to let them go.”

A common plan ahead

The program for the ceremony listed each teacher and faculty member that was retiring with information about their time at the district and what their plans in retirement were. One common thread was found throughout many of the retirees’ future plans, rest and relaxation.

“I’ll probably relax for a while,” said Ben Rohrer, band teacher at Central High.