SHELBY – As the school year draws to a close, the Shelby Board of Education said goodbye to retirees and soon, the graduating class of 2016.
According to Principal John Gies, there are tentatively 119 students in the class of 2016, one of the smallest graduating classes in the past 50 years. This year’s class valedictorians will be Eric Gove, Nate Emerson and Bailey stone.
Graduation will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Shelby High School, with a 1:30 p.m. baccalaureate. Angela Phillips, vice president of Phillips Manufacturing Inc., will be delivering the commencement address.
Though they may be but little, this class packed a big punch in scholarships this year. In local scholarships alone, class of 2016 graduates earned $160,000 in scholarships.
“It’s not somebody somewhere else or scholarships from big universities. This is $160,000 that people generously give who have been dug in this community for years and years,” said Superintendent Tim Tarvin.
Also ending their final school year in Shelby City Schools are retirees Janet Bloom, Connie Dietz and Kimberly Nadolsky. Both Dietz and Nadolsky were present at Monday’s board meeting to receive a handmade charm bracelent and a commendation from Tarvin as parting gifts.
Dietz started with Shelby City Schools in August of 1986 as a bus driver. Tarvin noted Dietz has worked diligently to provide for the safety and security of all students she transported, and positively affected all students who knew her.
“Connie has a lot of patience, in case you haven’t noticed,” Tarvin joked. “You have a wonderful way with the kids.”
“I’ve enjoyed my years with the kids, and I’ve really enjoyed busing,” Dietz said. “In 30 years I’ve only written up one child, and that was for…cursing,” she said with a laugh.
Nadolsky started with Shelby City Schools in August of 1983. Tarvin thanked her for sharing her love of learning with hundreds of students over her 33-year career.
“A mentor of mine always said that everybody should always quit when they’re having fun,” Nadolsky said. “So I’m quitting because I’m having fun.”
Nadolsky shared a number of anecdotes from her second-grade students, from sweet moments commemorating her retirement to funny stories about boys picking their noses.
“There’s never a dull moment,” she said. “The author of ‘Winnie the Pooh’ wrote about being lucky to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard, and I think that’s what my job is.”
“When you have to face the decision of retirement, it’s difficult to cross that line,” Tarvin said. “But once you’ve crossed, you feel pretty good about it.”
A final commemoration came from Kim Miller-Smith of the Ohio School Board Association. Miller-Smith presented board member Randy Terman with the OSBA Milestone Service Certificate. Terman earned the award for his 15 years of service on the Shelby Board of Education.
“We thank you for your service to public education and your commitment to the students and families of Shelby City Schools,” Miller-Smith said. “To all board members, we thank you for your leadership and your willingness to serve your district and your community. It’s because of people like you that we enjoy strong public schools in the state of Ohio.”
For his part, Terman was humble in accepting his recognition.
“Thank you very much; it’s been a pleasure and I’ll try to keep you laughing as much as I can,” Terman said.
