By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

As Sarah Wasinger started designing the informational program for the annual Hays USD 489 retirement reception, she was struck by the number of years the honorees had worked in the school district.

The list of 27 people includes principals, teachers, para-educators, secretaries and nutrition services personnel.

“The shortest length of time was 8 years, the longest was 40 years,” said Wasinger, school board clerk and assistant to Superintendent Dean Katt.

“I decided to add up all that experience.  The total was 692 years!”

One of the retirees is Lois Britten, Wasinger’s kindergarten teacher.

“She made our class full of life,” declared Wasinger, who has some fond memories of that long ago school year.

“I still remember the baby chicks we had in the classroom which we fed and petted. It was fun. I know it’s something she continued for years with her students. Mrs. Britten also had a teepee in the room at Thanksgiving when we were learning about Native Americans,” Wasinger recalled.

Britten was honored Monday with the Best of the Best Staff monthly award by the school board.

The 2014-2015 USD 489 retirees are:

Mary Casey–8 years
Carolyn Maska–9 years
Marla Deines–15 years
Melinda Cross–15 years
Nancy Flax–15 years
Sharon Howard–17 years
Stan Dreiling–17 years
Martha Lang–17 years
Patricia Weber–19 years
Anita Pfannenstiel–20 years
Lisa Colwell–20 years
Nina McNeal–22 years
Allen Park–25 years
Jannice Hawpe–25 years
Nancy Sprock–26 years
Nancy Harman–28 years
Linda Hammerschmidt–29 years
Robin Henman–31 years
Sheryl Rader–34 years
Linda Lang–35 years
Jonita Windholz–36 years
Kathy Beyer–37 years
Kathy Harper–37 years
Janice Bunker–38 years
Lois Britten–39 years
Kathy Ubert–40 years
Jeannette Budig–40 years

The retirement reception is Thursday, May 21, at the Rose Garden Steak Haus, 230 E. 8th, starting at 6p.m.  The public is invited to attend.