Woman retires from CASD after 36 years
CALIFORNIA – For nearly 50 years when anyone has asked Diane Zielensky’s mother where her daughter is the answer has been the same: she’s still at school. She’s going to have to find a different answer.
Zielensky, 54, has officially retired from her job as the business manager and treasurer of the California Area School District.
“I was supposed to be out as of June 29, but I stayed on as the interim business manager,” Zielensky said.
Zielensky has worked for the school district since September 1970.
“As soon as I graduated from high school, I started here. I wanted to go to school, but my dad got hurt in the mine bad,” Zielensky said.
Instead of continuing her formal education, Zielensky returned to the school from which she had graduated and began working as a secretary.
“I was the library secretary for a while, then I was the middle school secretary. I subbed for all the secretaries at one point,” Zielensky said. “I’ve seen a lot of changes in administration.”
Zielensky said she has worked for eight superintendents and been through two building renovation projects. Zielensky said her lack of formal training did not prevent her from reaching her goals.
“I do not have a degree. I think if you have the ambition that you want to learn, you will learn,” Zielensky said.
Zielensky said she’s not at all disappointed to not be handling the research for the Act 1 tax study commission or putting together this year’s annual financial report that is due in Harrisburg at the end of October. Those tasks will fall to her replacement, Tracy Harris.
Dr. R. Tim Marks, the district superintendent, said it will be difficult for Harris to meet the deadline for the annual financial report, but she knows the task that is before her. Zielensky, he said, will definitely be missed, especially at budget time.
“She’s been very instrumental in running a conservative budget while still meeting the needs of the district,” Marks said. “We’ve had very good audits over the years.”
Zielensky said she has particularly enjoyed the people she has come in contact with.
“When I worked as a secretary in the middle school, little kids would come in with these big problems that weren’t really big. If you could do something for them, they went out with big smiles,” Zielensky said. “I’m getting e-mails from the teachers. They’re going to have me crying.”
Zielensky said she may consider volunteering in the district, but first she wants to travel a bit. Her first stop: Las Vegas.
“Everybody tells me it’s beautiful,” Zielensky said. “I don’t know whether I’ll fly or drive, now that I have the time.”
She also wants to visit a cousin in Florida, and just travel around, as much as her mother is able.
“I’m going to miss the district. This has been my second home for 36 years, and when you think about it, for 49 years. I started in kindergarten,” Zielensky said. “I’ll still be here if they need anything.”