RSU 40/MSAD 40 honors a year of longtime retirees, praising service across schools

The RSU 40/MSAD 40 school board spent a substantial portion of its meeting honoring retiring staff from across the district, including school leaders, teachers, bus drivers and long-serving support staff.

At the meeting Chair Ian McKenzie opened the program and board members read dozens of staff- and community-submitted comments celebrating the retirees’ decades of service. Genie, who led several of the tributes, summarized Julia’s contributions and said it was “both an honor and an emotional privilege to stand here today as we celebrate the retirement of someone who is dedicated so much of her life to the school, our students, and our community.”

The board and administrators highlighted specific examples of service: long tenures at Warren Community School and Friendship, classroom leadership that shaped student experiences, advocacy for arts education, coordination of school programs and daily operational work in front offices and libraries. Mary Ledger’s 21 years as an administrative assistant at Prescott Memorial School were singled out as an ‘‘anchor’’ for daily operations and school culture.

Retiree Julia addressed the audience and board, saying she was leaving ‘‘on a high note’’ and urging board members to continue visiting schools: “We welcome you. Every book, I can always be for Miller, but I know that we welcome you and would love to have you in our building to help you with those big decisions.”

Board members asked attendees to join a post-meeting reception and noted plans for in-person congratulations and future rededication events tied to upcoming projects. Several speakers connected the retirees’ local legacies to ongoing district priorities such as arts education and student-centered leadership.

The board then recessed briefly to allow attendees to greet the retirees before moving to the remainder of its agenda.