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Canfield school officials serve volunteers and retirees
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
CANFIELD
The tables were turned on Canfield school district volunteers and retirees Saturday.
Rather than serve the district that day, board of education and administration members came together to serve volunteers and retirees. They spent two hours preparing a breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, fruit and more, then served it to the 200 participants.
Alex Geordan, superintendent, took the idea from his father, who was a superintendent in the LaBrae school district.
“I guess you could say I stole it from my father,” he said. “So many times when you’re growing up, you look around and you definitely look for role models. Those were my folks growing up, and not only in the home and how they carried their lives, but also professionally.”
Both of Geordan’s parents were educators, and he followed them into the field. He started the appreciation breakfast when he became superintendent of the Canfield district three years ago.
The invite-only event includes those who are frequent volunteers in the Canfield schools, as well as retirees from the school system.
It takes so many people to make a community outstanding, to make a school system great,” Geordan said. “It’s not just the employees, but it’s so many countless volunteers that come forward through the years.”
Andrea Smesko, a member of the parent-teacher organization, attended the breakfast for the first time.
“I do as much as I can,” she said. “When I can do, I do.”
She was expecting doughnuts and bagels but was pleasantly surprised to be offered a hot breakfast.
“I think it’s really nice. I think it shows that they appreciate the parents and involvement, so it’s kind of nice,” she said.
Smesko has three children in the district.
Diane Degnan, a retiree, also attended for the first time.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said.
Degnan worked in the cafeteria at Hilltop Elementary School for 10 years. She retired five years ago. Saturday, she enjoyed being waited on instead of waiting on others.
“This is great,” she said.
She said it was also nice to see people she worked with.
“We miss each other,” Degnan said. “This is one way to get together and meet the new administration.”
Larry Eastman, another retired cafeteria worker, agreed. He has attended the breakfast since its inception.
“You give 25 years to an organization or company, a little bit of return appreciation is nice,” Eastman added.
He also worked as a bus driver for the district. He retired in 2010.
Members of the school district band and chorus performed at the event.