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When Dona Weaver rushed from Hedges Elementary School to her interview at FHS 14 years ago, she hadn’t the first clue what to expect from her future boss, Gene Boyle. So it didn’t help much when, as soon as she walked in the door, she noticed she was wearing bright red tennis shoes. She sat through the entire interview worried about what Boyle would think of her red footwear.
Soon after that Boyle called Weaver and hired her — “because of those red shoes,” in Boyle’s words.
Working among students as bookkeeper, the “red-shoed” Weaver has survived the fluorescent fads of the Eighties and has tolerated the casual attire of the Nineties. Now she will have to endure sterile surgical scrubs and masks of a family dentistry practice. As of Monday, Weaver left her position as bookkeeper at FHS to work as office manager and bookkeeper at Leslie Anthony’s family dentistry office.
“I hate to leave,” said Weaver. “I just thought it was time for a change.”
For about 12 years, Weaver has handled the finances for athletics and other student activities, the billing for facility rentals and, recently, has helped Randy Russell as assistant adviser for student council.
“Working with people, seeing people you know and being able to work with your friends is the best part of working with people anywhere,” said Weaver. “It’s nice to be able to work with people who are so compatible and fun to be with.”
Weaver began working for Boyle in the attendance office in 1985, and continued until 1988. She then moved to Idaho Falls, but returned two years later. After her return, she became FHS’s bookkeeper, and continued to keep the books for the remainder of her FHS career. Weaver has also worked as a coordinator for the cheerleading squad for the past five years.
Through the years, Weaver has grown attached to students school-wide. According to Weaver, it’s going to be difficult to say goodbye.
“It’s going to be hard to leave all the kids,” said Weaver. “They’re the part I love the most about my job.”
There are some who feel it’s going to be hard to find someone to replace Weaver.
“Dona has been one of our school’s most valuable assets in both her personality and ability to perform her job so incredibly well,” said band director Allen Slater. “She’ll be greatly missed at Flathead High School.”
Weaver’s job will be open for applications until Jan. 20; then the district will interview to find a replacement. There aren’t any candidates yet, according to Weaver.
Though Weaver may have left FHS, she says she will never be able to forget the memories from students and faculty she has accumulated during her FHS career. She says she’ll still attend school activities.
“I’ll most certainly be at all the games, concerts and plays,” said Weaver. “I love the plays so much — I don’t think I could miss one.” |
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