Van Buren Public Schools honors 12 retirees with dinner

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
The Van Buren Public Schools honored 12 retirees with dinner and a celebration Monday evening at the Belleville High School Commons area.
Honored were:
• Paul Smith, 40 years
• Linda Clayton, 35 years
• Lori Spangler, 34 years
• Donna Wright, 33 years
• Paula Young, 31 years
• Ron Stokes, 25 years
• Mary Ivan, 22 years
• Ron Small, 22 years
• Rose Griffin, 15 years
• Karen Sanders, 15 years
• Diane Gedda, 14 years
• Dorothy Peters, 12 years
Dinner was served by the William D. Ford Technical Center Culinary Arts Program and Pam Kloc, followed by presentation of awards to the retirees.
Presenters were administrators Abdul Madyun, Andrew Lindsay, Jeff Moore, Karensa Smith, Karen Bliven, Karen Moffitt, Karen Sanders, James Williams, and Erin Radtka.
Union representatives present were Susan Duda-Osbourne, VBEA; Debbie McWilliams, VBAES; Melinda Smith, VBEST; and Cynthia Graveldinger, VB Food Service Association.
Closing remarks were by Brent Mikulski, president of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education.
Honoring of the retirees had been planned for the BHS Auditorium, as in past years, but at the last minute was changed to a dinner party at the BHS Commons.