The day before Madison's public schools throw open their doors to students as they begin a new school year, the school district

welcomes its new employees and honors its

veteran employees. It has become a tradition and this 2009-2010 school year followed tradition.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Anita Rutlin introduced 47 new staff members, who were all welcomed with warm applause. Then Superintendent of Schools David Klein began the acknowledgements for those employees marking service anniversaries-and as the anniversary years grew, so did the decibel level of the applause. This has also become a tradition.

This year there were 53 employees honored for years of service and two received special recognition. They are Joyce Merola, a food service employee presently working at Polson School, with 40 years of service and Maurice "Mo" Masse, a facilities employee, with 45 years of service.

Bill McMinn, director of facilities, in recognizing Masse's years of service, said, "Mo is one of the hardest working guys I know. He is respectful to everyone, happy in his life, and happy in his job and it shows. When I took this job 10 years ago I said to him, 'Mo, I need you for at least another 10 years.' Now, this morning, I am saying to him, 'Mo, I need you for at least another 10 years.'"

Jason Wallace of Chartwells School Dining Services recognized Merola for her years of service, saying that she was already working at Daniel Hand High School before he was born.

"I look to Joyce for guidance and advice and I know two things-it will always be wise and I had better listen to it," he said.

Both long-term employees were greeted with cheers, whistles, and extended standing ovations.

Here is the list of other employees recognized for years of service.

For 35 years of service: William Alberino, Daniel Hand High School, and Patricia Hill, Polson Middle School.

For 30 years of service: Dotty Bavin, Central Office; Jonathan Brooks, Daniel Hand High School; Anita Ferron, Daniel Hand High School; Steven Filippone, Daniel Hand High School; and John Gaskell, Daniel Hand High School.

For 25 years of service: Phyllis Annunziata, Daniel Hand High School; Sharon Baldi, Polson Middle School; Margaret Borden, Jeffrey School; Donna Daricek, Facilities; Jill Hale, Polson Middle School; Marika Joyner, Jeffrey School; Gloria Smith, Jeffrey School; Katherine Sweet, Polson Middle School; and Ralph

Wygonik, Daniel Hand High School.

For 20 years of service: Robert Faulkner, Daniel Hand High School; Patrick Irlbeck, Daniel Hand High School; Eleanor Nicholson, Brown School; Anne Novy, Central Office; and Patricia Sholly, Daniel Hand High School.

For 15 years of service: Susan Brinn, Ryerson School; Karen Buchetto, Jeffrey School; Laurie Cacace, Brown School; Donna Doraz, Ryerson School; Betsy Grant, Brown School; Barbara Gulick, Brown School; Mark

Harris, Daniel Hand High School; Peter Leonetti, Ryerson School; and Carolyn Stephan, Brown School.

For 10 years of service: Jennifer Amasino, Daniel Hand High School; Paul Birdsall, Daniel Hand High School; Britt Charlevois, Daniel Hand High School; Erin Chester, Ryerson Scjool; Martha Curran, Polson Middle School; Catherine Cyr-Sinicrope, Polson Middle School; Stacey Daly, Jeffrey School; Dianna Floyd, Polson Middle School; Donna Giddings, Polson Middle School; Nancy Girard, Daniel Hand High School; Jan Krasnor, Daniel Hand High School; Susan Leckey, Daniel Hand High School; Peter Nye, Daniel Hand High School; Christopher Pagliuco, Daniel Hand High School; Karan Proulx, Daniel Hand High School; Mary Rao, Brown School; Nancy Sylvain, Brown School; Nicole Sypher, Brown School; Dawn Tiscia, Daniel Hand High School; Christin Walker,

Daniel Hand High School; and Julie

Weber, Island Avenue School.