Come to Kinross - At The Heart of It All

Rudyard Area Schools -  Board Election May 6, 2008

Anniversary of R.J. Wallis Elementary School closing (reprint of an earlier story)

by Joe Paczkowski

With the School Board election a little over a week away I thought it might be a good idea to reprint this story. You would think that there would be some notice of the upcoming election on the Township website wouldn't you? Not a thing about it or when it is to take place as of 1:30pm 4/29/08. Lets see how long it takes them to update their site.  UPDATE: The election information is on the Clerk's page - Thank you Gail for pointing that out but this information should be on the front page not hidden. Some people may  not know that the election is a clerk function so they may never see it. Not surprising considering the Clerk and his deputy's uncaring attitude. Take the poll and give your   input to this issue. Remember, you can also add comments to the poll.
Well its been over a year now since the School System decided to close R.J. Wallis Elementary School. What impact has it had on Kinross / Kincheloe area? Marvin Besteman, Kinross Township Clerk was quoted as saying
"It doesn't matter to me"
He said this at the time when the Township could have fought the closure. It sounds like he does what's best for him not what's best for the public. Do you think he was acting in the best interests of the public that voted him into office in the first place?

Take the poll and give your input to this issue. Remember, you can also add comments to the poll.

The only Township Trustee that spoke up for our children was Dan Mitchell. Dan Mitchell asked what criteria would be used to determine which building would be closed. Mitchell noted Kinross Township has more registered voters and pays over two-thirds of the taxes to keep the district afloat, implying that all that money should give them some input in the decision.

What action did our Township Clerk Marvin Besteman or the other Board members take? Did they speak up at the meeting? did they write letters of protest? Did they hold a town hall meeting to see what the public thought of the closing. Did they do anything? No! They let it happen. Now we are faced with the impact it has had on the community. It is time to replace the Township Board for the sake of our community.

"The township could have passed a resolution opposing the closure and did nothing to my knowledge? They could have gone to the school board in opposition and again did nothing? " Jim Moore, Chippewa County Commissioner District 6

Political Impact of our community when we choose to take action

The following excerpt was from a previous Sault Ste. Marie Evening News article:

There is ample evidence and word-of-mouth reports to indicate the Kinross Township voters used Tuesday's ballot box to show their displeasure for the school board's    decision to close the R.J. Wallis Elementary Building for the 2007-08 school year.