Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Bryan Hellios/Daily Globe Hurley School Board President Joe Simonich, left, reads one of several plaques presented to retiring school administrator Chris Patritto, front row right, at Monday evening's board meeting.
HURLEY - The Hurley K-12 School Board and community members gave retiring superintendent Chris Patritto a round of applause at Monday's board meeting
"Every challenge our board has given Chris Patritto he's performed admirably," board president Joe Simonich said.
Simonich presented Patritto with a certificate of commendation from Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and a plaque on behalf of state Sen. Janet Bewley and state Rep. Beth Meyer, who represent Iron County in Madison.
Simonich said the district has gone through "hell" in the past with the roof collapse, a $6 million fire and $1 million non-funded unemployment fund.
He said Patritto always found a way to fix the problems without costing a lot of money.
"I just can't say enough about Chris Patritto," Simonich said. "Good luck."
Patritto told the Daily Globe he never intended to stay at Hurley because he had aspirations to become a Division I basketball coach.
"Within a couple years I just kinda fell in love with the Hurley School District and the kids here," he said.
Patritto credits the Hurley staff as "second to none" and said anything the school has ever done could not have been done without them.
He also spoke highly of the community and expressed thanks for its support.
"When something needs to be done, you know the community is going to be behind you."
As for future plans; Patritto said he is going to "retire, but not retire retire."
"I'll find something to do," he said.
In other business, the board:
-Started the meeting with a moment of silence for the two teens killed in Saturday morning's crash on Lake Road in Ironwood Township.
-In reorganizing, approved Simonich as the board president; Darryl Mattson, vice president; Maria Sokol, clerk; Leslie Kolesar, treasurer.
-Appointed Kolesar to represent the district as the Wisconsin Association of School Board delegate.
-Appointed Andy Lourin as representative for the Cooperative Educational Service Agency.
-Accepted the resignation of Rose Barbacovi from student council advisor and forensics advisor.
-Accepted Nicole Giancola resignation as the prom advisor.
