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Pictured above, Charlie Dickinson, right, stand with his wife Jeanna, middle, and son Cade, left. Photo/submitted.
Dale School Supt. Charlie Dickinson has attended his final Board of Education meeting as the district’s top administrator.
After spending 39 years in the district in various capacities, among them the last 20 years as superintendent, Dickinson is retiring June 30, turning the reins over to Ky Wilkins.
Wilkins officially will become the Acting Superintendent on July 1, the day after Dickinson steps down. The board made that decision during its February meeting.
They accepted Dickinson’s retirement letter during their meeting last December.
During a brief interview Monday evening prior to the board meeting, Dickinson described the past few months, “As something totally out of the blue,” referring to the COVID-19 outbreak and the impact it’s had on education.”
He recalls that day in early March this year when the girls’ basketball team was ready to head to the state tournament for an early afternoon game.
“We got a call and they told us the state tournament was canceled. And the boys were supposed to play that night, too.” Dickinson said, “The last nine weeks of the school year were the craziest I’ve ever been through and not just me, but all of us.”
Among his chief concerns was, “We had kids who didn’t get to participate in sports, band, Vo-Ag, Academic bowl, all the normal things they would have.”
He pointed out, “One of the greatest things I’ve had the pleasure of doing is putting medals around the kids’ necks. I feel really bad for the kids.”
He says he’s had some people say that he’s a lucky guy. “But I don’t feel that way. I’m a Dale Pirate and always will be. I have some different thoughts.”
“I’m leaving at a time when we don’t know where we are headed.”
Referring to administrators Ky Wilkins, Bruce Throckmorton, Carren (Cantrell-Milligan) and J.D. Widner, he said, “We don’t know if we will be online, back to normal, or a blended look. The bottom line,” he stressed, “Is we just don’t know.
“But we’re planning for the worse case scenario and that is, “All online, 100 percent if need be. We’ve purchased the new learning management system and are ready,” he said.
He said when he came to Dale 39 years ago, he found he was welcomed by the people, it was a good atmosphere and the people cared about the kids.
The Maysville native came to Dale after teaching and coaching at Purcell for one year following his graduation from Oklahoma University in 1980.
“What I have loved most about being here are the people I work with on a daily basis. I love my teachers and love to see them work with our students and see how they have improved through the years.”
He said that is what he also will miss the most.
“I love my job, but I am tired of the daily grind that just wears you down,” he added.
Dickinson reiterated, “I love our teachers, staff and our kids.”
He was 22 years old when he descended on the Dale campus to take a job as an assistant coach in both baseball and basketball and teach.
He recalled the hot July night in 1981 that he came to Dale for his interview in a room that had no air conditioning.
“When I arrived here, there was no football, just baseball and basketball. Never had been around a Fall baseball school and I truly loved it,” he remembers.
Looking at what’s ahead after June 30, he said, “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. No particular plans,” he ended.