‘Thank you’

The Medford Township Public Schools District Board of Education held its latest meeting on June 24, the night before the last day of school. To wrap the end of the school year, the board honored the district’s retirees at the meeting. 

Superintendent Keira Scussa gave a presentation highlighting the backgrounds and contributions of each of the five present retirees. Additionally, she gifted each retiree with a bouquet of flowers. 

“What you’ve given, what you’ve sacrificed – we know, and we appreciate you. Thank you,” Scussa said. 

The first retiree honored was Jill Bieberbach, a guidance counselor at Medford Memorial Middle School who served the community for 24 years. In addition to counseling, Bieberbach was the girls soccer and girls lacrosse coach. While she is retired now from counseling, she is continuing to coach for the teams. 

“It’s been absolutely fantastic to serve in the community that I grew up in. And I said that on my application: I wanted to give back to the community that made me and gave me everything. It’s been wonderful,” Bieberbach said.

The next retiree honored was Kathie Chinn, the school nurse at Taunton Forge Elementary School for 14 years. Chinn said she will miss the meaningful bonds she built with the students over the years. 

Mandy Fisher is retiring after serving as a special education teacher in Medford for 28 years. She began at Taunton Forge Elementary School before moving to Kirby’s Mill Elementary School when it opened in 2004. However, Fisher’s husband, who came to the meeting with her, noted that she has been a teacher for a total of 36 years and started her career right after graduating from college. 

Melissa Maver began working for MTPS in 2004, initially working as a part-time kindergarten teacher and leave replacement before earning her tenure in 2010. She spent a total of 22 years teaching in Medford, majority of it teaching second grade at Kirby’s Mill Elementary School. 

Maver spoke highly of her time teaching and expressed how much she will miss her students and the structure of her job. However, she is excited to spend time with her own grandkids and be “summer Melissa” full-time, which is what her husband Ron, who came to the meeting with her, described her low-stress self to be during the summer months. 

“You have no idea how much [these teachers] stress to make sure each kid is getting what they need. And it’s important for you guys to know that they are really going over and above what their job is,” he said. “About three weeks into summer, she starts to relax…So we’re enjoying having ‘summer Melissa’ all the time.”

The last retiree honored was Bev Miraglia, who spent 38 years in MTPS. Over the years, she’s held several roles, from cafeteria helper and classroom assistant to her long-term role as a bus driver, which she loved deeply. Miraglia also served on the district’s safety committee and coordinated the Internet Safety Awareness Project at Haines 6th Grade Center. 

The entire board thanked each of the retirees for their contribution to the district, and president Dr. Michael Etter expressed how much of an honor it is to always see and hear about the staff and faculty’s dedication to their roles and the students. 

The remainder of the meeting was primarily dedicated to interviewing applicants for the recently opened BOE position. The term will last until December 31, and the elected candidate has the opportunity to run in the local election, if they would like to seek reelection. 

Five applications were submitted; however, only four candidates were present at the board meeting for public interviews. Jason Klineman, Greg Keresztury, Kristen Beyer, and Julie Smith all interviewed for the position. Each candidate sat before the board and answered the same questions presented by the board; the other candidates waited outside of the room when it was not their turn. 

The board went into executive session following the interviews. The decision will later be announced.