Jim Boebel, Superintendent of the Platteville School District, has been selected as the recipient of the Patriot Award from military support organization, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, for his dedication in making changes to employee leave and time off for military service men and women employed by the Platteville School District.
Boebel was nominated by Dakota Lovell, a 5th grade teacher at the Platteville Middle School, who has been a part of the Army Reserves for nearly 8 years. During his early years as a teacher, Mr. Lovell would have to take time off for trainings resulting in him having to use vacation days or paid time off in order to attend. He took his concerns to Mr. Boebel who agreed this is not correct and quickly took initiative to have this changed within employee policies.
At the end of the school year in April 2022, Mr. Lovell was deployed and spent nearly a year overseas before he returned to teaching in February 2023. “I highly recommended Mr. Jim Boebel for this award and for recognition,” says Sgt. Dakota Lovell. “He has earned it by being more than supportive during my military endeavors and I appreciate him beyond what I am able to put into words.”
Through collaboration with Mr. Lovell, Mr. Boebel, and the Platteville School District Board of Education, the school district has made changes to its Uniformed Services Leave allowing teachers who also serve in the military more flexibility with trainings and deployment while securing their place here in the Platteville School District.