By THOMAS LUCKIE III

OGDENSBURG -- The Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education approved several retirements, appointed several new employees, and reviewed anticipated staffing needs at Tuesday’s meeting.

The board approved the retirement of Ogdensburg Free Academy Middle School Principal Pamela Luckie effective June 30, 2018.

Luckie will have been employed by the district for 31 years at the time of her retirement, including 12 years as registered nurse/coordinator of health services, 10 years of teaching at all levels, and nine years in high school and middle school administration

“My passion for education, love for youth, deep connection to the Ogdensburg City School District and community have made this decision a difficult one,” Luckie wrote in a letter read by Superintendent Timothy Vernsey at the meeting.

Elementary teacher Mary Wills and school counselor Kathy Verville were also approved for retirement at the end of the current school year. Wills will have been employed by the district for 32 years, while Verville will have been employed for 13 years.

Physical education teacher Joseph Lynch was approved for retirement effective June 30, 2020 and will have been employed by the district for 28 years upon retiring.

The board also approved several personnel appointments at the meeting.

Leah Fisher was appointed keyboard specialist at a salary of $26,497. Scott Cole was appointed laborer at a salary of $24,739.

Jennifer Stevenson was appointed permanent computer operator and reading teacher Amy Garno was granted tenure.

Several appointments for substitute and on-call positions were also approved by the board.

The administration also updated the board with projected full-time staffing needs of the school district for the 2018-19 school year at the meeting.

Currently, the district projects to be in need of three elementary teachers, director of special education, middle school principal, one secondary special education teacher, one school counselor, one teaching assistant, one laborer, one building maintenance worker and one building maintenance helper.

Vernsey noted that the administration will likely recommended the district hire replacements for every open position.

The superintendent also welcomed the new hires and offered thanks to the retirees at the close of the meeting.

“I’d like to welcome our new employees to the district. I hope you have long and successful careers with us. I’d also like to thank those folks who submitted their letters of retirement for all their years of service, particularly Mrs. Luckie, who I’ve had the pleasure to work with pretty much my whole career. Thank you for your service to the district,” Vernsey said.