Stockero recognizes CCISD school board
HANCOCK — George Stocker, Copper Country Intermediate School District superintendent, took time to recognize the board recently, as January is National School Board Recognition Month.
“I personally just want to thank you all for everything that you do,” Stockero said in addressing the seven board members, “It’s very rare to see — I’ll use the word ‘seasoned’ — board members that are willing to give up their time for this length. Many of you have been on the board for countless years, and that wisdom and strength helps, and it helps me.”
Within the state of Michigan, there are 56 intermediate school districts, 540 local school districts, and over 4,000 elected school board members making decisions that affect 1.7 million school children.
“Coming in as a new superintendent, I know that in my first two years, I leaned on you considerably and I appreciate everything you did for me, and we are very thankful to have you as board members,” Stockero said.
Nels Christopherson, board vice-president, said being a board member is gratifying.
“I think a lot of us are rewarded simply by the fact of what we see happening with the students, and all that does go on,” he said. Christopherson is a professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, retiring from Michigan Technological University in 2010.
Stockero agreed with Christopherson’s comment, saying that there are 6,700 students in the Copper Country, and “we should all be very proud of what the accomplishments are in all our schools.”
At the conclusion of the regular monthly board meeting, the board members were presented with a cake as a token of appreciation.
“We have a nice cake for you, to just sit back and enjoy with each other,” Stockero said, “and again we are just very appreciative of you being our board members.”