Hurley board honors Simonich

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Hurley - With thank you signs around the school and recognition from officials and community, a departing Hurley School Board member was said to have helped the district to accomplish great things. 

Joe Simonich, a school board member for the past 27 years, sat at his last meeting Monday after announcing that he would not be running for a 10th term on April 6. He was honored by board members and administrators, past and present, and given a plaque for his service.

Leslie Kolesar, school board president, said it was hard to believe what Simonich and his past boards accomplished. Because of their foresight Hurley was ahead of the curve and at one time the most technologically advanced school district in the state, she said. 

"We were way ahead of the game when it came to expanding our tech programs and expanding Northwoods Manufacturing," Kolesar said. 

Simonich provided solid leadership that saw the school district through unexpected disasters including a fire and a roof collapse, she said. He also kept serving even through family tragedies. 

Simonich will be remembered for building a solid school district while maintaining a good fund balance, she said. The school is in sound financial shape because it was "fiscally run very, very well," she said. 

"I am personally going to miss you very, very much on the board, not only for everything you have done in the past and all your institutional knowledge, but for your sense of humor and your common sense," Kolesar said.

Kevin Genisot, school district administrator, said being a board member is a "special thing," but it also brings difficult responsibility with decisions that will bring "heat" from those who aren't satisfied.

Simonich was the old guard and the new guard, Genisot said. The leadership that he has provided since 1994 is incredible, he said.

"The Hurley School District is where it is due in large part to the leadership of Joe Simonich," he said. "If it wasn't for him we wouldn't be where we are today and I'm sure of that." 

Genisot said Simonich helped ensure there was a fund balance that allowed the school district to sustain itself into the foreseeable future.

"I became a better leader because of you and I can't thank you enough for what you've done for the Hurley School District, and forever we'll all be grateful," Genisot said.

Christopher Patritto, the former Hurley School District superintendent, said he and Simonich worked together from the time he was principal 24 years ago. He said he couldn't imagine his kids going to any other school and that is in large part due to his leadership on the board.

"I've watched all the trials and tribulations, and the good times and the bad times, and the tough decisions and the really good decisions," Patritto said. "When you look at where the Hurley School District is today, there is no doubt in my mind that this school wouldn't be here in the shape that it is now without your leadership." 

Simonich's goal was always to stay one step ahead for the kids, said Patritto.

"That shows all the way through from the time this building was built until today," Patritto said. "You know that it's a tough job. It's not an easy job being a board member. But I'll tell you that I'm so happy and so proud that I spent those many years working with you and sitting next to you."

Simonich said he was very moved following the remarks of his colleagues. He thanked his family for going through everything he has gone through as a board member, and the community for supporting him through nine elections. 

"It was really a tough decision," Simonich said. This has been a passion for me and I think over the years we've all done a pretty good job here to make Hurley School District what it is today."

Simonich thanked the Hurley Education Foundation for making it possible for the board to accomplish many of its ideas.

Simonich praised school response to COVID-19 and social distancing concerns. He said to his knowledge, Hurley was the only school district in the state that has been holding in-school learning since they reopened in September. Hurley does a better job and that is not because of any one person, he said.

"I have been blessed with good boards, good administrators, great teaching staff, and people who weren't afraid to take a chance," Simonich said. "Who would ever have thought that we would build a $1.3 million extension onto our building without ever having to go to the voters for money and still have $2 million left in our fund balance?"

Hurley School District "has been through hell and back," he said. The fire, the roof collapse, fixing Memorial Field and many other projects all took a lot of work, he said.

"I think we should all be very proud of the school district we have in Hurley," he said. "There's none other like it anywhere in the state."

Simonich thanked everyone for the kind words and closed with, "Who knows? Someday you might see me back up here."