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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2015)
14 Wednesday, June 17, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon HIKER: PCT trekker was suffering dehydration Linchpins of school district retiring By Jim Cornelius News Editor Sisters High School Principal Joe Hosang choked up a bit during graduation cer- emonies earlier this month, contemplating the retirement of school secretaries Pinky Pagano and Suzanne Lind. Well he might. Not only are Pagano and Lind beloved friends and mentors to staff and students, Hosang knows better than anyone how important those two women are to the smooth running of Sisters High School. In fact, they’ve been a major factor in the operations of the Sisters School District for three decades. Both started humbly enough. Lind and her husband, John, moved to Sisters from California to be closer to her parents in Redmond. Lind applied for a job as a special- education assistant — and didn’t get it. But she was soon tapped to become a PE/teach- er’s aide at Sisters Middle School, and her career in the district was off and running. Pagano’s start was similar. She was working as a dental assistant when her husband, John, was transferred by his company from Portland to Central Oregon — a transfer he had eagerly sought. Friends Teri Ast and Peg Bermel advised her to put in for part-time work and soon the district started calling her for jobs at Sisters Elementary School. “I started doing lunchroom detention and locker room shower duties and went from there,” she recalled. Sisters School District was tiny then, and there was no high school. The school cul- ture was very tight-knit. “We were like family,” Lind recalled. “We spent every single Friday night at somebody’s house with everybody’s kids. Every single Friday. We were a very close bunch.” If closeness was an upside, the downside was a loss of connection with kids as they aged up. After middle school, they headed to Redmond for high school. “When you graduated the eighth-graders, you just lost contact with them,” Lind said. Both said that getting a high school back in 1992 “was the best.” Both ended up working there as the district grew and the schools built a reputation for quality education and for turning out young adults of accomplishment and character. Pagano notes that, while the culture has changed during her 27 years in Sisters, impor- tant things remain the same. “I think there’s still tremen- dous pride our students have,” she said. “No other school can have art work, pictures (dis- played and respected in the high school) the way we have.” Both noted that the world of technology that has opened up for students carries pitfalls that concern them. “I worry about social media,” said Lind. “I don’t think they realize that what’s on there can be on there for the rest of their lives.” And the Internet allows for phenomenon that are new to the long-time school officials, who are parents themselves — like cyberbullying. “These are worries I never had to worry about,” Pagano said. Lind and Paganao are the event coordinators for gradu- ation, making the ceremonies for the Class of 2015 a wist- ful occasion. There’s a lot that they’ll miss. “Oh, the kids — all the kids,” says Pagano. “Every kid has a special need of some sort, and a story. That’s what I’ll miss.” Pagano decided to retire Continued from page 1 photo by JiM corneliuS Pinky Pagano and Suzanne Lind have been two key behind-the-scenes players in the success of Sisters School district. because it was time for her to spend more time with her family. For Lind, “it was just time.” Both women have daugh- ters teaching elementary school in Madras, and they are looking forward to volunteer- ing in their classrooms. Lind plans to travel — and she’s making sure she’s out of town when school rolls around again next year. “I don’t want to be here for September,” she said. Both are grateful for the opportunities they’ve had in Sisters. Pagano noted that, with the exception of a couple of dental assistant gigs, work- ing at Sisters School District has been her entire career. And Lind noted, “I’m just proud and thankful for what this school district has done for me. They’ve let me be a real part of a lot of decision- making. This has been the best job I could have ever asked for.” The departure of Pagano and Lind comes at a time of transition. A new schools superintendent is coming on board in July, and the district continues to adapt to a chang- ing educational and funding landscape. They appreciate that they’ll SISTERS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Thrift Store ReStore We will be closed Sun., June 21 for ANYTHING changeover. THAT PLUGS IN See you bright & early Monday! Electrifying! 50% OFF THE LOCALS’ CHOICE Call Jeff Today! The Hair Cache — Your Barber Shop — Jeff, Theresa, Ann, Jamie, Shiela, Terri, Shanntyl, Brittany 152 E. Main Ave. / 549-8771 541-549-1740 541-549-1621 141 W. Main Ave., Sisters 254 W. Adams Ave., Sisters Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Donations accepted Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Donations accepted Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. be deeply missed, especially by other members of the staff. But they’re not worried about what they leave behind. “I think our staff embraces change,” Lind said. “This school district is going to be OK. They’re top-notch.” location to the SAR team and he was located approxi- mately two miles from the trailhead. Chase was treated for dehydration by medics and was able to walk out to the trail head under his own power. He was transported by Sisters-Camp Sherman med- ics to St. Charles Hospital in Bend for further treatment. Jefferson County SAR Coordinator Dave Blann said Chase was very fortunate that paramedics were avail- able to go in with the Hasty Team, as this is not the case on most incidents. Hikers need to remember that help is not always quick to arrive in remote wilderness locations. Being prepared for any type of emergency while in the wilderness is advised. NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING