Brooke board honors retirees, athletes
WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Board of Education recognized 13 longtime employees who have retired, as well as several softball and track athletes, during Monday’s meeting.
Receiving honors were eight teachers, two aides, one speech pathologist, one school nurse and one bus operator.
Among the retirees recognized was Tamara Cutshall, who worked as a substitute teacher and full-time teacher in Brooke County from Aug. 24, 1994, through the end of the recently completed school year. She taught in Wood County for 10 years before coming to Brooke County.
“Thank you very much,” Cutshall said after receiving her award. “Teaching is a huge part of my life -- it always has been. The best part of teaching was working with the kids and working with the school family, and a lot of them are here tonight. I have the best memories that I will revisit often.
“I appreciate everything Brooke County has done -- I truly do,” she added. “And I will miss being a teacher full time.”
Also recognized were teachers Roberta Alvarez, Luann DiRemegio, Kim Douglass, Janice Gable, Julie Harvey, Beth Schuetz and Tammy Withers; aides Jacqueline Parr and Rebecca Raineri; speech pathologist Melanie Nixon; school nurse Mary Kay Pepe; and bus operator Karen Snoderly.
Combined, the retirees had 337 years of service.
“Thank you so much for all you have done,” said board President Antoinette Perkins.
The board also congratulated members of the Brooke High School softball team, which won the Region 1 Class AAA championship under head coach Tommy Diserio.
Recognized for earning individual honors were Avery Rado, who was named second-team all-state; Maggie Diserio, Eden McKinney and Jazmyn Wood, who received honorable mention all-state honors; and Wood, who was selected to play in the OVAC and North-South all-star games.
Track athletes recognized by the board included:
-- Marcus Reed, who won the Region 1 discus with a throw of 144 feet, 1 inch, placed fifth at the Class AAA state meet with a throw of 147-3 and earned first-team all-valley honors.
-- Gavin Scott, who won the Region 1 800-meter run in 1 minute, 59.39 seconds, placed fifth in the 1,600 and sixth in the 800 at the state meet, earned second-team all-valley honors and set a school record in the 1,600 with a time of 4:25.02.
-- Jude Blake, who won the Region 1 shot put with a throw of 46-3½ and earned second-team all-valley honors.
-- Ethan Fisher, who was named third-team all-valley.
-- Elizabeth Edgell, who set a school record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:52.65 and earned third-team all-valley honors.
Paul Julio is the head coach of the track teams.
“Congratulations to all of our student athletes. We are very proud of you -- you represented us well,” Superintendent Jeffrey Crook said.
The board also voted to renew its workers’ compensation and property casualty insurance with Erie Insurance.
A moment of silence was held for Evelyn Raineri and Robin Lahita, former district employees who recently died.
The board’s next meeting will be at 5 p.m. July 27 at the district offices.
CUTLINE
The Brooke County Board of Education honored 13 retirees with a combined 337 years of service and recognized members of the Brooke High School softball and track teams for their accomplishments during Monday’s meeting.