Mahwah board honors and approves retirement of teacher Kathy Dolan after 29 years

The board approved personnel item 19a on March 4, which recognized the retirement of Kathy Dolan, a Joyce Kilmer School teacher and Mahwah resident who served the district for 29 years.

Chair (speaker introducing the motion) and board members praised Dolan for her long service and the classroom environment she created. “She has inspired generations of students to find their voices, think critically, and develop a love of reading and writing,” an administrator said during the meeting. The board then moved the personnel item and approved it by roll call.

Vote: The roll-call vote recorded in the transcript shows affirmative votes from the members present; the recorded names called during the vote were Mister De Silva, Mister Kosmarski, Mister Gallo, Mister Houston, Mister Hughes, Missus Ting Jansen, Mister Copeland and Doctor Morton, with each recorded as voting yes for item 19a.

Why it matters: The board formally acknowledged a long-serving teacher’s retirement and approved the personnel action so the district can process her leave and any related staffing steps.

What’s next: The board continued through its agenda and scheduled budget and outreach items before adjourning.