Brannigan retiring after 27 years

There will be something missing in the hallways of Boundary County Middle School next year — that familiar good morning “hello” from math and life science teacher Harvey Brannigan.

Brannigan, who will retire at the end of the school year after 27 years with the district, has always made a daily habit of greeting students — whether he knows them or not.

“I will miss that most,” he said. “I like getting there in the morning, walking down the hall and seeing all the kids. I try to say ‘hi’ to everyone, whether I taught them or not. Just so they make eye contact. I hope someone else will do it.”

Hired in 1981, Brannigan taught intervention reading at Mt. Hall Elementary School his first year. He then transferred to Naples Elementary School, where he remained before transferring to the middle school 2 1/2 years ago.

A native of Chicago, Brannigan has a bachelor’s from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., and master’s from Western Washington University in Bellingham.

Now that he is retiring, Brannigan said he plans to ski 100 times a winter instead of just 50 times. He also plans to sail at Bayview when he’s not skiing

In other business, the board:

• Promoted Bonners Ferry High School teacher Jan Bayer to curriculum director, testing coordinator and professional development coordinator, effective Aug. 14. Bayer will be paid $59,000. She replaces Brenda Walter, who is retiring Sept. 1. Walter will be paid up to $5,000 to assist Bayer with the transition.

• Hired Amanda Lammers as administrative assistant at Evergreen Elementary School, effective Aug. 12. Lammers will be paid $9.60 an hour. She will replace Lynne Arnold, who will retire June 15.

• Approved Josh Knaggs as art instructor and Lisa Naccarato as a social studies-English teacher, both for the high school for 2008-09. Both will be paid $31,750 annually plus benefits.

• Approved Doug Shryock as a special education teacher at the middle school at $37,405 annually plus benefits.

• Approved Brenda Kerttu as a seventh-grade science teacher for 2008-09 at $31,750 plus benefits.

• Approved Jasmine Robertson as a part-time middle school gym teacher for 2008-09 at $9,072 plus benefits. Robertson also will serve as a middle school librarian for six hours per school day.

• Approved Laura Nishek as part-time middle school intervention instructor for 2008-09 at $22,679 plus benefits. Nishek also will serve as middle school librarian two hours per school day.

• Approved Jan Studer as eighth-grade world history teacher at $50,662 annually plus benefits.

• Accepted the resignation of Sara Hall, who for 9 years taught English as a second language.

• Accepted the retirement of Lura Dinning as food service worker after 15 years with the district, effective May 2.

• Accepted the resignation of Faye Hudson as part-time food service worker effective May 1.

• Approved Jim Nash as summer school staff administrator at $1,476 to work one hour per day for 40 days; lead teachers Jan Bayer and Jim Adamson to work four hours daily for the two sessions at $2,250 and $2,694, respectively; and teachers Bayer at $2,466, and Adamson, Mike Cowley and Conrad Garner, all at $2,946 for one session. each.