Sidney school board honors retiring member

SIDNEY, NE — The Sidney school board is honoring one of their own.

It's years of service that I don't know will every be replicated," school board member Mike Palmer said. "Congratulations and thank you from my family to yours. That's quite the feat."

Steve Mattoon is retiring from the board after 36 years of serving Sidney Public Schools. During their meeting Monday evening, the school board took time to honor m=Mattoon and reminisce with him about his time on the board.

"Thank you, Steve for your dedication to the young people of our community," school board president Tom Von Seggern said. "You set a fine example for what it means to be a board member and we'll miss you very much."

There was also a surprise in store for Steve. Sidney superintendent Jay Ehler announced he's been working with Mattoon's daughters to establish a scholarship fund in his family’s name.

"They are working with me right now and eventually we'll be in contact with the foundation and there will be a scholarship in the Mattoon family name. 

The news caught Mattoon off guard.

"I'm kind of overwhelmed by that," Mattoon said. "That's really cool."

Steve is also a lawyer and served as the president of the Nebraska State Bar Association in 2019 and 2020. His time on the school board goes back just a bit further… to the time when Ronald Regan was in the Oval Office.

Matthew Wallace will replace Mattoon on the board beginning in January.