Matrella, Talaska appointed to Bessemer school board

By IAN MINIELLY

iminielly@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer - Last month, the Bessemer school board thought they only had one board position to fill with Sheri Graham's resignation. With that in mind they published the advertisement requesting candidates. In the meantime, Kevin Nyquist resigned from the board, leaving two vacancies and twice the need.

The board filled both positions Monday night, appointing Dick Matrella and Anna Talaska to fill the remainder of Graham and Nyquist's terms. The board also honored Graham for her 14-plus years of involvement in the school district and on the board, to which Graham said, "This is a thankless job sometimes, it is a difficult job, but I want to encourage people to start bringing a friend to the board meetings and get involved." She urged the public to be active with the board and the school because it is part of the community.

Four candidates applied for the vacant position, without knowing a second position had also opened up, meaning two of the candidates would be selected and not just one. Along with Matrella and Talaska, Bill McDonald and Robert Meyerson sought the opportunity to serve on the board.

Superintendent Dave Radovich gave each candidate a random number while the members of the board developed ten questions. Each candidate would be asked the same ten questions within twenty minutes, without prior knowledge of the questions or their opponents' answers.

The candidates discussed a variety of issues, including the upcoming bond issue and potential consolidation with neighboring districts.

Matrella said he felt the school and community are at a crossroads and the bond issue is extremely important. Saying at one point, "No school, no town." Matrella referenced his work with the citizens committee and familiarity with the bond issue and said he was fine with extra-curricular consolidation with other schools, but said, "Why consolidate if academically sound and financially sound, which we are." Matrella said he was, "For Bessemer, against consolidation."

Talaska described her route to the law and the importance the district has to her as she has two young children in the district. Talaska has been on the citizens committee for a year and said she sees passing the bond as the first thing that needs to be done. She expressed communication skills are her strong suit, which would address one of her concerns about the school and Bessemer, which is a lack of information for the public. Talaska said she, "is not excited about consolidation," because she is, "worried about the integrity of autonomy for Bessemer and the risk of losing Bessemer's identity."

Prior to the meeting; Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District director of general education Nick Steinmetz provided training to the school board regarding the electronic evaluation system of the superintendent mandated by Michigan law. The board elected to grade Radovich as one entity, instead of individually, and will begin the process of providing the evaluation, which will be made public upon completion.

Deanna Janczak and Todd Johnson, representing the citizens committee, briefed the board regarding the efforts of the committee since the last meeting and are having their next meeting March 1 at 5:30 p.m.

The committee has:

-Attended three nights and five games of basketball to issue handouts to Bessemer supporters about the referendum.

-Visited local businesses regarding their willingness to place flyers in their establishments, while also answering questions they might have regarding the May bond issue.

-Provided voting information to local residents.

-Delivered referendum info and details at games while answering resident questions.

-Issued project cost details to residents that were curious and unfamiliar with the details of the plan.

Jim Partunen, chair of the extra-curricular committee, informed the board there is a need to replace the pole vault pit on the track field. The pit is in a state of disrepair and dangerous. If it's not repaired, the school will not be able to support the event during tack and field meets. Partunen asked the board to pick up half the $3,200 cost, while the booster club picks up the rest. The board agreed to split the cost 50/50 with the booster club.

Partunen also briefed the board regarding current efforts involving the co-op Gogebic Miners football team consisting of Wakefield-Marenisco and Bessemer, and the potential of Ironwood joining the co-op. Last Tuesday a meeting between the three schools athletic directors, superintendents and others met to discuss the logistics of Ironwood joining. Partunen said a lot of details still need to be worked out, such as coaching and home games, a decision needs to be made soon because other schools are waiting to complete their football schedules and this decision needs to be made. It appears all three schools are interested in cooperating in football, but the details need to be ironed out.

When it came to public comments, Richard McDermit clarified the issue regarding his letter to the editor that was published prior to the last school board meeting and resulted in some disagreement between Bob Berg, board president, and McDermit. After his remarks were complete, it is unlikely the air had been cleared anymore than after the last meeting, as Beth Steiger felt McDermit insulted the board and her personally with his comments.