Board honors 63 who are retiring this school year

More than a third have at least 30 years of service.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city school district has said goodbye to about 1,600 years of educational experience.
The school board had a retirees' recognition and reception program Tuesday honoring 63 people who are retiring with the end of this school year.
The retirees gathered in the board meeting room of the Irene Ward building and were called forward one at a time to receive a watch and a personal "thank you" from the superintendent and board members.
Each retiree took a turn down what school officials call the "walk of fame," moving along the front of the dais, shaking hands with each board member present.
The retirees included teachers, administrators, educational assistants, custodians and others.
A mix of longevity
Some, such as John Whitman, a custodian at West Elementary School, were relatively new employees. Whitman is retiring with just five years of service.
Others, such as Claudette Boris and Joan Melnick, both teachers at Kirkmere Elementary, and James Ramunno, a teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, have been around for a much longer time. All three are leaving with 38 years of service each.
Twenty-six of the retirees have at least 30 years of service and the combined service time of all 63 reaches around 1,600 years.
"We're going to miss you," Germaine Bennett, assistant superintendent of human resources, told the group as she finished calling each one forward to be recognized.
Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent, and the Rev. Michael Write, board president, thanked the group for their years of dedication and service to the district's pupils.
The watch given to each retiree features the school district's lighthouse "Beacon of Hope" logo on the face, along with the school district's name.