Has the closure of R.J. Wallis impacted us?

I think that it is a shame that the township let that school close. Not only did we lose a good school they should have looked at how this community pulled and worked together to build a great play ground for the kids. Now this play ground sits and it hardle utilized by the kids. I think that it is the saddest move our township has made since I been a member of this community (10+ years).

First let me state that Marv Chappa was not elected by the people but was appointed by the board when Mike Rizzo resigned. Secondly the issue should have been argued by our elected Supervisor and he too was in the audience. When I moved here over 20 years ago the Rudyard school was half boarded up and there was no talk of the growth of our community until both the sale of our extra homes to the tribe and the building and manning of the last 4 prisons. The camp has since been closed and the unit has been obsorbed by KCF (Kinross) for the beds needed for the overflow of prisoners. Staffing was reduced and now there are only three of the newest left.

Jim Moore wrote:

First let me state that Marv Chappa was not elected by the people but was appointed by the board when Mike Rizzo resigned. Secondly the issue should have been argued by our elected Supervisor and he too was in the audience. When I moved here over 20 years ago the Rudyard school was half boarded up and there was no talk of the growth of our community until both the sale of our extra homes to the tribe and the building and manning of the last 4 prisons. The camp has since been closed and the unit has been obsorbed by KCF (Kinross) for the beds needed for the overflow of prisoners. Staffing was reduced and now there are only three of the newest left.

Jim, please explain more concerning the school closure subject.

First consider some things that time lined the closure of R. J. Wallis closure. The day before the announcement the school board members, that were going to run or rerun in some cases ( from Rudyard), had to have filed for elections and after the filing date pasted the announcement came of the possible closing. Was this to keep Kinross residents from filing to make a difference??? It does seem that the Kinross took a wait and see attitude and now we have what we have to live with. The townsip 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 wrote:

First consider some things that time lined the closure of R. J. Wallis closure. The day before the announcement the school board members, that were going to run or rerun in some cases ( from Rudyard), had to have filed for elections and after the filing date pasted the announcement came of the possible closing. Was this to keep Kinross residents from filing to make a difference??? It does seem that the Kinross took a wait and see attitude and now we have what we have to live with. The townsip 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, Thank you for your insight. May I quote you on this on the front page of kinross.biz? The public needs to hear this. Your leadership on this is appreciated.

With all the budget cuts around the county and schools closing down around Michigan I can understand the closure. I do not believe RJ Wallis closing has had that great of an impat though it is a shame.
The township could not have done anything that would have had an inpact on keeping the school open. It was the dession of the Rudyard Area School system not Kinross Charter Township.
Kinross Charter Township does not have a school we have always attended the Rudyard Area Schools since I can remember. I went to school in Rudyard in 1967.

Sheila Gaines wrote:

With all the budget cuts around the county and schools closing down around Michigan I can understand the closure. I do not believe RJ Wallis closing has had that great of an impat though it is a shame.
The township could not have done anything that would have had an inpact on keeping the school open. It was the dession of the Rudyard Area School system not Kinross Charter Township.
Kinross Charter Township does not have a school we have always attended the Rudyard Area Schools since I can remember. I went to school in Rudyard in 1967.

What about Dan Mitchell's point from the news article at the time this issue was debated - 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.

Not only did the township fail us but the school system failed us.

Kincheloe in particular has always been the unwanted step-child, and as long as we keep "in-fighting" within ourselves and remain split as a community nothing will happen anywhere, either at the educational level or on the township level. For the most part more time is spent bickering and spatting that there is never anytime to get anything done.

i dont think it was a good idea. Turner Housing was a dirty old place. the kids from trout lake were far away but it would be okay if they had to get up early and get ready to go to school. R.J.Wallis was a very good place for all kids. now R.JWallis ic closed it makes much families sad. that was the worst decision ever made.