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Video
by Charlie Ellis and Photos by Gary Olsen
 ubuque
Community School District has reached a significant milestone
in its long history. It marked the end of the Joe Link Era.
Dubuque native, and an institution within an institution,
Joe Link, Director of Finance for the Dubuque Community
School District, retired after 37 years of service to our
kids. Essentially, that's what the change-copy sign in front
of The Forum read this morning, and Joe, in his remarks
to well-wishers, took particular pride in those words, "service
to our kids."
"Isn't
that what we are all here for?" asked Joe of his audience
of friends and colleagues. Needless to say, he received
a round of applause. Joe made other remarks during this
gathering, and we managed to get everything on video and
an audio clip. His speech is not to be missed.
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like Mediacom or DSL. This movie is nearly 25 minutes
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Audio
of Joe's Speech
This button will provide you with a
RealAudio file of Joe's remarks (about 10 minutes
long)
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"Over
the last 37 years there have been eight superintendents
but only one Joe Link," said master of ceremonies for
the event, John Burgart (below are John's remarks on Joe's
career which were co-authored by Peggy Becker, in an award
nomination prepared for the Dubuque Labor-Management Council).
Besides
his accomplishments over the years in providing the necessary
support teachers and administrators needed to maintain the
best facilities possible so that children could learn, is
an incredibly well-run finance and business services department.
The fact that Dubuque schools are wonderfully clean, well-run
facilities, or that payrolls are always met, or that our
district has always passed its state mandated audits with
flying colors should never be taken for granted. Nothing
happens in a school district without money, and when the
taxpayers couldn't support certain necessities, Joe was
working with district colleagues and staff on grant applications,
lending his expertise in figuring out how to get the job
done. What we lacked in money, Joe made up for in genius.
At
right are the photos taken of the event, and each is linked
to a large original that can be downloaded, saved, or printed
on your home printer.
John
Burgart and Peggy Becker (President of the Dubuque Education
Association) prepared the following material on Joe Link
nominating him for a special award:
Joe
Link is a "native Dubuquer" who, by all appearances,
knows practically everyone in the city. Joe received his
BA from Loras College in 1962 and an MA in Public Administration
and Finance from the University of Iowa in 1964. Prior to
joining the school district in February of 1966, Joe served
as Administrative Assistant to the City Manager of the City
of Dubuque from 1963 to 1966. During his tenure with the
Dubuque Community School District, Joe has had responsibilities
for accounting, purchasing, payroll and benefits, transportation,
buildings and grounds, food service, and other business
operations.
Joe
is a long-time active member of both the national and state
chapters of the Association of School Business Officials
and has served on numerous national and state committees.
He was president of the Iowa chapter in 1989.
Throughout
his 36 years of service to the Dubuque public schools, Joe
has been actively involved in negotiations with all of the
unions representing the various district employee groups:
Dubuque Education Association, General Drivers Local 421,
Service Employees International 199, Carpenters 678. In
both the negotiations setting and outside, Joe's interpersonal
skills and sense of humor have enabled him to interact positively,
even when his viewpoint is not shared by those with whom
he is negotiating. He knows support services employees by
name, often knows their families, and can personalize his
contact with staff.
Joe's
expertise in Iowa school finance has been important to the
district - and to the community - and has helped the district
maintain financial stability. Recently, as a follow-up to
the district's strategic plan, Joe's input was essential
in the development of five-year financial and ten-year infrastructure
plans for the district. Furthermore, he has worked closely
with union representatives in examining insurance options
which provide needed benefits to employees in the most cost-effective
way.
Since1966,
the district has had eight different men and women serve
as superintendent - but there's been only one Joe Link.
As he moves toward retirement in December of 2002, we wish
to recognize his significant, long-term contributions toward
the development and maintenance of strong and positive labor-management
relationships within the Dubuque Community School District.
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For Those Outside of Our School Network (The General Public)
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Instructions
For Machines on our School Network (Teachers and Staff)
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Click here to get the free player from
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