DOLLAR BAY — As the students of Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Schools enter the halls of their newly-renovated building this fall, they’ll notice a number of changes have taken place. But there’s one change they’ll notice that isn’t the result of hard-working contractors.

Longtime administrative assistant Karen (Anderson) Ham’s retirement marked the end of a career serving the students and families of this Copper Country district for nearly 32-1/2 years. Ham, who gave a heartfelt farewell speech during the district’s Board of Education meeting earlier this month, will be stepping away from a role that enabled her to become a part of thousands of students’ lives over her more than three decades on the job.

Ham’s role with the district wasn’t limited to clerical duties; she stepped into significant roles in the school’s homecoming festivities, athletic honors events, graduations, and countless other events. Her most recent demonstration of her devotion to the district was the purchase of individual banners honoring every graduating senior from DB-TC this spring; these banners were displayed at the Dollar Bay baseball field from mid-May through the district’s graduation ceremony at the field in early June. Whether her gestures were public or more intimate, every decision she made was because of her love for the students.

Her decision to retire follows that mantra to the letter; by retiring this summer, Ham’s acceptance of the offer allows the district to realize a significant budgetary savings, critical to district operations with the uncertainty of Covid-19 swirling around public education and state budgets.

“There’s no way we’ll ever truly replace what Karen brought to our district,” said superintendent-principal Christina Norland. “But, she’s mentioned for a while that she’d like to retire someday soon, and we’re grateful we were able to create a scenario where we were able to show Karen how much she’s appreciated, and give our district some budget relief that it sorely needs in these uncertain times.”

School board president Donna Engman echoed those sentiments. “Whenever you mention Karen Ham, everyone who’s been connected to our district during the past 30-plus years has a story about something she’s said or done,” said Engman. “She’s seen several generations of local families — including my own — walk the halls of our building, and has a passion for the district. She will be missed, for sure, but even as she retires, it’s wonderful that she has the best interests of the district in mind.”