SOUTH RANGE School principal celebrated by parents

The elementary principal plans to retire at the end of July.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA -- Steve Krivan's purpose at a luncheon on Friday was the same as it has been for the past 26 years -- to show his appreciation to the dozens of parents he credits with helping make the school year a success.
But the tables quickly turned on the South Range Elementary School principal when the parents took every opportunity to sing his praises.
Krivan recently announced that he will retire at the end of July.
"I can't say enough about him," said parent volunteer Karen Pierson. "It will be sad to see him go. He'll be a hard act to follow. I think it's going to be very hard for him to say goodbye."
Krivan established the annual luncheons for parent volunteers soon after he began working at the school in Beaver Township.
The initial luncheon served to thank volunteers who helped at the library, but the idea soon expanded to include all of the parents who donated time to the elementary school.
Quotable
"Without the volunteer program we've had here, our school wouldn't be what it is," Krivan said during the luncheon.
"We wouldn't have been able to do a lot of things we've done without our dedicated parents. They've made a difference to the school, the students, the teachers, to all of us."
In keeping with tradition, parents -- including about a dozen dads -- were served lunch and presented with gardenia plants.
"There are parents here who have put in numerous hours volunteering," said Michelle Colettis, whose 10-year-old son, George, will be moving to the middle school next year.
"Steve Krivan has made it easier for all of us. He's a great man to work with."
Colettis is chairperson for Field Day, a carnival-type event to be held on the last day of school in honor of Krivan.
"The luncheons have been great," Colettis said.
"Working with Mr. Krivan has been great. We, the volunteers, appreciate that he has appreciated us. It's been a good partnership, and I think we'll all miss that, and miss him."