Bartholomew Consolidated schools said goodbye to 47 retiring staff members last night — a group who has collectively given more than 1,200 years of service to the students in the school district.

Superintendent Jim Roberts says that shows incredible dedication to the students of Bartholomew County.

He praised the skills of the teachers and staff that are departing the school district.

Among the retiring staff recognized Monday night, with the most years of service were Jim Darnell, a Rockcreek Elementary counselor with 50 years, bus driver Nancy Mahoney with 46 years, Terri Bord, a second grade teacher at Taylorsville with 42 and a half years. Those with 41 years included bus driver Anthony Harden, Columbus North music instructor Bill Stultz and North PE teacher Debbie Riga. And Kay Gorday, a Columbus East health science and nursing instructor, is retiring after 40 years.

Roberts talked about the significance of so many staff members putting in more than 40 years of service.

Roberts said that BCSC staff have already started working to replace those critical staff members. He said it has become common to see about a 10 percent turnover each year in the teaching staff.