School District employees talk about retirement plans

For many students and teachers, May means the approaching end of a school year and the approaching summer fun the next few months will provide.

However, for a few district employees, May means the approaching end of a career and whatever opportunities that may bloom in the coming months or years. Sweetwater County School District No. 2 hosted a special retirement ceremony to help send off retiring faculty and staff with a plaque, a rose and a little bit of cake.

A few see other opportunities on the horizon, like Jean Pivik and Lu Kasper. Pivik worked at the Green River High School as a home economics instructor for the past 13 years, but plans to continue working after her retirement.

The Rock Springs native said she’ll help with her family’s business, Canyon Court Mobile Home park.

Kasper, who has worked in the district for 28 years, doesn’t plan on leaving education as she’ll take over as director of the Sweetwater County Child Developmental Center after she leaves her current post as principal of Harrison Elementary School.

“I just love the little, tiny kids,” Kasper said.

She originally started as the first and second-grade teacher at Granger Elementary School.

For others, retirement means a chance to travel and spend more time with family. That’s what Pam Wolfe, the home economics instructor at Lincoln Middle School, plans to do. Another faculty member, Special Education Paraprofessional Virginia Stott, said she looks forward to riding her motorcycle more while accepting her plaque.

While many do have travel plans, at least one district employee plans to let someone else do the driving. Bus Driver Carolyn Jones said she plans to make her husband drive during their travels.

Jones has worked for the district for 27 years, driving the buses used for both activities and neighborhood routes resulting in her driving a number of miles comparable to driving around the earth’s equator four times.

Her current route takes her to Fontanelle and back, a round trip resulting in approximately 1,000 miles a week.