The 2011-12 retirements of a dozen district employees were commemorated at the Hamilton School Board meeting Monday evening.

Combined, the employees provided 257 years of service to the district. School Board members read and approved commendations for each employee that reflected comments from supervisors and colleagues, and each retiree was given a retirement gift.

"We work really hard to have this balance of having to make you feel valued and appreciated without passing out too many boxes of Kleenex," said Superintendent Kathleen Cooke. "We’re going to miss you terribly. Your competence, your standards of excellence, your personalities, your skills that you brought to your position will not be replaced... From all of us to all of you, thank you."

Retiring employees recognized were Hamilton custodian Frederick Krull, Jr., Assistant Buildings and Grounds Manager Steve Pehowski, Maple Avenue teacher Jean Jackson, Food Service Manager Judy Pinter, Templeton paraprofessional Sally Hanney, Woodside teachers Julie Smith and Beverly Konkol.

Those unable to attend were Templeton sixth grade teacher Erin Heikkila, Woodside special education teacher Pamala Kursel, Willow Springs custodian Guilio Tanel, Templeton night foreman custodian Dennis Hoyt and Hamilton applied engineering and technology teacher Steven E. Campeau.