Board hires Keefer for JROTC post

IRONWOOD — In a special meeting Monday, the Ironwood Area Schools Board of Education approved hiring Col. Sandra Keefer as the district’s senior army instructor for the district’s JROTC program.

Keefer comes to the district with glowing recommendations, according to Superintendent Tim Kolesar.

“(She’s done an) outstanding (job) in one of the most difficult staff positions in this command. Sandra was able to balance our military and civilian personnel needs,” said Kolesar, reading from one of the letters.

According to information presented at the July 20 board meeting — when it was first announced that Keefer was the likely hire pending board approval — Keefer has had a number of responsibilities in the military, including as a battalion commander in Iraq, as well as a finance officer and Army garrison officer.

She is also an Ironwood graduate, according to Kolesar, and the daughter of former teacher and Gogebic Community College professor Ken Bowman.

“She is so anxious to come here, come back home. I will also say (1st Sgt. William Murphy) has met with her and feels that it will be a great working relationship. He likes her way of thinking and he too is very impressed with her recommendations,” said Kolesar.

As the Senior Army Instructor, Keefer will serve as a department chair for the ROTC program, according to Murphy, the district’s other instructor.

In other board action:

— The board accepted the retirement of longtime secretary Karen Magdziak.

— Several 11th grade students and parents attended the meeting, expressing concern about the potential lack of an 11th grade honors English class in fall. Kolesar said the district planned on relabeling one of the English 11 classes into an honors class to ensure the students would be able to continue with honors classes.