By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Before the USD 428 Board of Education got down to business Monday night, the body celebrated the milestones of more than 100 staff members from the Great Bend schools. Milestones are recognized for every five years of service with the district. Superintendent Khris Thexton called up each of the staff members present at the meeting.
"We're going to celebrate tonight 1,397 combined years of service by 110 dedicated team members," he said. "We have a large number of staff who have been with us for a number of years, and we're here to recognize them."
Tina Hiss, a math teacher at Great Bend High School, is celebrating her 45th with the district. Tim Friess has spent 40 years with the district in various roles, including 11 years as a physical education teacher at Lincoln and Washington elementary schools and 16 years as principal at GBHS. Both have announced they will retire at the close of the current school year.
"We want to thank them for their time and their giving to the district and to our kids," Thexton said. "They're both retiring this year so I want to wish them both the very best in their futures."
Middle school secretary Tammy Ensley has spent 35 years with the district. Teachers Amy Karst, Jason Perry, and Connie Mauck, a paraprofessional at Helping Hands Preschool, celebrated 30 years. As milestone employees, each staff member gets to select a gift that was delivered Monday evening.
