Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to point out that January 2 is the deadline for candidates who want to run for the Merrill Area Public Schools Board of Education.
You might think, “Why would I want to be involved with that group of people?” That would be an excellent question.
Here are a few reasons why you might want to run for School Board:
Over the past few years, the state has allowed communities to regain control of some of the cost that have caused districts financial problems. Although this local control can be good for our district, I think it has also had a negative effect. In my opinion, we have Board Members who only have cutting money and taxes on their minds, and these members don’t really care about the education of our children. I believe they think that if they run off all the higher paid employees, and replace them with less paid and new inexperienced staff, that won’t affect the quality of education for our students.
I believe that just as in private business, if a majority of your employees are inexperienced, your product will be affected. In our case, that product may be students that aren’t as well educated or prepared. There needs to be a balance of new and experienced staff.
Currently, we have Board Members who don’t have children in school and whose focus doesn’t seem to be on the quality of education we provide. They seem to only care about money, and being in charge (my opinion).
This brings me to my second point. If we have a Board made up of people who only care about money, what cuts are going to be made over the next five years when we are going to still be roughly $3.5 million in the red? Are you passionate about any of these items because they all have been considered to balance the budget in the past? Perhaps they will eliminate SAGE, having bigger classes for K-3, fifth grade to the middle school, and close the school forest? Or maybe they eliminate electives, or perhaps Marching Band, art, building construction, or close Maple Grove Charter. They could also eliminate sports or return the sport fees. The list goes on and on, who knows?
I however do know that the School Board makes those decisions. So when you have a majority of Board Members who are only interested in the bottom line, and they don’t care about the environment they create for our children by their comments because it “doesn’t affect them personally,” don’t be surprised when you’re not happy with the decisions the Board makes.
The School Board sets the tone for the district, and portrays the image of the community. So, in closing, if you think the Board is representing our community and our children positively, don’t do a thing. But, if you would like to see a more positive, professional Board it takes positive, professional candidates – please consider running for the school board if you are one of those people. I know that we have a lot of people in the Merrill Community who care about our students and their education AND figuring out a way to provide a quality education!
I challenge you to run. Be a “game changer” for Merrill Schools. Be “part of the solution.” Run for Merrill area Public Schools Board of Education!
If you have students, staff, taxpayers, and our community’s best interests in mind, one person can make a difference.
Contact Tammy Woller (715-536-4581 EXT 1), at Central office to sign up to be a candidate. Thank you for your time. Go Bluejays!!
Sincerely,
Brad Kanitz
Merrill
To the editor,
This letter is in reaction to and concern over the passage and implementation of The Sporting Heritage Act 168, which opens state park lands to hunting and trapping and goes into effect on January 1, 2013. This law is not a SAFE, “balanced public access,” to our state parks when hunters and trappers can enter with lethal weapons and traps from October through the Thursday prior to Memorial Day.
The law has been passed and put in place by individuals and representatives, who failed to investigate the overall and potential ramifications it will impose on the safety of people, communities, animals and their environments. This “one law fits all” mentally should not be imposed on any or all parks in the state of Wisconsin for the following reasons.
It failed to take into consideration already pre-existing laws, ordinances, purposes and historical intent regulations, of cities, townships and communities, that are already in place to protect its citizen areas, environments and design.
Allowing hunting on state park properties during this designated time frame is potentially dangerous. There is a high concentration of people using the parks during this time such as state park volunteers, families, picknickers, school children, walkers, runners, senior citizens, skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers, horse riders, four wheel riders, bird watchers, bicyclists and disabled individuals. There are schools and residences near the parks. Bullets from a highpowered rifle can travel over a mile. Some parks do not cover a sufficient acreage for an activity such as hunting.
Can the cities, townships, counties and state accept the loss of revenue on one-hour, daily and annual admission fees because of unsafe recreating by these previously mentioned groups or the inevitable lawsuits from citizens, residents and pet owners, that can result in deaths, injuries and veterinary and hospital care?
How will the state have sufficient personnel and financial resources to enforce this new law, along with the task of co-ordinating all these regulation, seasons, times, buffer zones and protective areas to its citizens, out of state tourists and foreign visitors?
Wisconsin will no longer be a state of year around recreational use, unless you’re dressed in blaze orange at all times, in and around many places, parks, trails, historical sites and schools and residential areas bordering state parks.
How do we now teach our future generations of children and citizens to care about and to carry a respect for all of nature and its habitats if we continue to kill off or maim every animal, plant, product and environment set aside for the purpose of preserving all forms of nature?
There is presently six million acres open to hunters for hunting in the state of Wisconsin. When will the state of Wisconsin have backbone enough to prevent further expansion of its “killing fields,” by financial, corporate and lobby greed?
Where in Wisconsin can non hunting people find refuge or a place to be in harmony with nature and the land throughout the year, now that parks are open to hunting and our lives are at risk? What tourist will want to visit or resident want to reside in some state areas under these conditions?
Sincerely,
Linda Maki
Merrill
Editor,
Thank you so much to the fine group who worked very hard for us on Make A Difference Day. They warmed our hearts and lifted our spirits as we watched them rake an AWFUL LOT OF LEAVES! Young people are very good for old people in so many ways. Great job everyone.
Sincerely,
Barb & Jim Janowiak
Merrill
Dear Mr. Bialecki:
On behalf of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, I would like to express my thanks to you and to the Common Council of the city for the proclamation issued on November 13 and recognizing the Sisters on their 100th Anniversary.
Six Sisters came to the United States from Europe in 1912 and began service at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson, North Dakota. Eleven years later the Merrill city fathers invited the sisters to come to Merrill and to establish Holy Cross Hospital.
We have continued to serve the needs of the citizens of Merrill and the surrounding area in many different ways over these last 89 years. Our Sisters have engaged in healthcare, education and social ministry. We continue to provide assistance to older men and women through our services at Bell Tower Residence.
Many of our Sisters volunteer in various non-profits in the city which provide assistance to those in need. We have always been motivated by the motto of our founder, Father Theodosius Florentini, OMF Cap, who said: “The need of the times is the will of God.” We continue to look for ways to meet needs and we will continue to do so into the future.
Once again, thank you for the recognition of our anniversary. We wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Sister Pat Cormack, SCSC
Provincial