Mankato school board honors employees with 25-, 30- and 35-year service awards

The Mankato Public School District board on April 20 recognized staff who have served the district for 25, 30 and 35 years, honoring classroom teachers, specialists and support staff from across the district.

The district observed its annual employee career recognition during the regular board meeting. Superintendent Peterson introduced the recognitions and noted honorees had shared a meal with the board and administrators at the Civic Center earlier in the evening.

The presiding officer read the roster of 25-year recipients who will receive recognition at their school buildings: Cathy Becker (West High School); Curtis Dole (West High School); Clarice Eslinger (Adult Basic Education); Tanya Fugazi (Franklin Elementary School); Melanie Helling (Intergovernmental Center); Eric Miller (Washington Elementary School); Kristen Moore (West High School); Jenny Reid (Bridges Community School); Matt Ringhofer (Dakota Meadows Middle School); Mark Sabinski (East High School); Marla Trio (Eagle Lake Elementary School); and Chris Wolmouth (West High School).

The board also honored multiple 30-year employees. A presenter outlined the career of Tony Broskopf of Central High School, describing his work across grade levels and his longtime role as a social studies teacher. The board recognized Deb Kienholz of Eagle Lake Elementary for her years teaching primary grades and for beginning her district career as a paraprofessional. Shelly Makala was recognized for a career that included media specialist work and more recent STEM teaching at Rosa Parks Elementary; Stacy Murphy of Hoover Elementary was celebrated for three decades in Mankato classrooms. The board noted two 35-year honorees: Laurie Hegberg (East and West High Schools), who was not present, and Julie Olsen, who attended and whose teaching career includes Spanish instruction at multiple grade levels.

Superintendent Peterson spoke in tribute to the honorees, thanking staff "for the passion and commitment that you bring to your work" and noting their steadiness through changing initiatives and leadership.

In routine business, the board approved the meeting agenda (which included a personnel addendum) after a motion and second. The consent agenda, including the personnel addendum, was then approved by roll call. A motion to adjourn carried and the meeting concluded.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve agenda with personnel addendum: moved, seconded, approved by voice vote.
- Consent agenda (with personnel addendum): approved by roll-call vote of members present.
- Motion to adjourn: approved.

What to know going forward: the district will celebrate the 25-year honorees at their individual schools; no additional board actions or policy decisions were taken at this meeting beyond routine approvals and the recognitions.