T-L Photo/KAILEY CARPINO Bridgeport Exempted Village School District honors six retiring teachers Wednesday. From left are Jim Swaton, April McFarland, Beth Albaugh, Amy Vavrock and Rudy Vavrock. Bob Krajnyak was not present at the school board meeting.

BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Exempted Village School District honored six retiring teachers at its board meeting on Wednesday.

Each retiring teacher received a compass as a retirement gift.

“We figured that since you are leaving, the compass will help you find your way home,” Superintendent Brent Ripley said.

Ripley presented the first compass to retiring teacher April McFarland. Ripley said she has been teaching for Bridgeport schools for 27 years. She taught second, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades during her career.

Ripley said that many parents in the past have requested McFarland as their child’s teacher, to the point where many students had to be turned away. McFarland plans to come back as a substitute teacher in the fall.

Board member Jerry Moore presented retiring teacher Beth Albaugh with the next compass. Moore said that she has been an outstanding teacher and that the school district is allowing her to retire and will rehire her for this school year. Albaugh has been teaching for 29 years.

Board President Don Cash presented retiring teacher Jim Swaton with his compass. Swaton has been teaching for 27 years. Cash said that many students have said that they get the most out of Swaton’s class.

“He’s going to be missed,” Cash said.

Board Vice President Karrie Puskas presented a compass to retiring teacher Rudy Vavrock. Vavrock has been teaching for 24 years.

“My brother had you. My children have had you. They have enjoyed having you as a teacher. You stepped up for our district,” Puskas told Vavrock.

Board member Patrick McConnaughy presented a compass to retiring teacher Amy Vavrock who has been teaching for 24 years alongside her husband Rudy.

“I’ve only been on the board for two years, but in that time I have seen the fantastic job that she’s done,” McConnaughy said.

McConnaughty said Mrs. Vavrock always fought for her fellow teachers and coworkers.

Retiring teacher Bob Krajnyak did not come to the board meeting because he was sick. Krajnyak taught for Bridgeport schools for 27 years and also coached volleyball and softball. “He was a mentor to me and became a friend,” board member Kori Rosnick said.

Rosnick said that Krajnyak was a substitute when she was in school.

“He taught me that when you believe in yourself, anything is possible,” she said.

Rosnick said that Krajnyak will be missed.

“I’m excited that he got to out with my son in his last class,” she said.

In other news, Cash said that the alumni weekend last Friday and Saturday was very successful.

Puskas said that the alumni weekend and banquet both had fantastic turnouts. She said about 190 people showed up at the banquet on Saturday at Undo’s West in St. Clairsville.

John Romanoski, Class of 1944; Lloyd Grandstaff, Class of 1955; and Kenneth Johnson, Class of 1963 were inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame during the banquet.

Cash said he wishes more younger people would come to the alumni events. He said not many people from the Class of 2000 or later show up to the events.

Cash discussed creating a Hall of Fame digital kiosk. He explained that it would be a touchscreen computer that would allow people to click on members of the Hall of Fame and learn more about why they were inducted. He even hopes to interview the living Hall of Fame members and have voice recordings of the members telling their stories on the kiosk.

“A lot of students don’t know who these people are or what they have accomplished,” Cash said regarding the members of the alumni Hall of Fame.

Cash said he would like to create a technology class for the 2024-25 school year where students would work on creating and programming the kiosk.