By GRAHAM
JAEHNIG
Daily Press
HANCOCK — On Wednesday the Hancock School Board conducted its second meeting this week. Wednesday’s, like Monday, was held in the high school cafeteria.
The meeting was called to accept the resignation of Board Trustee Steve Koskela, the second trustee to resign this week. He resigned on Tuesday, the day after Dale Kero, who was board president, resigned. Kero’s and Koskela’s resignations followed Randy Heinonen’s resignation from the board last month.
His resignation was accepted at the board’s regular July meeting, when the board also accepted the resignation of Superintendent Steve Patchin. Charlie Klein was appointed to fill Heinonen’s position at Monday’s meeting.
Kristen Huffman, a member of the audience, lives in Houghton and teaches social studies at the Hancock Middle School. She was hired by Patchin recently; her husband is a graduate of Hancock High School.
Huffman’s comment reflected the sentiments of many who have contacted the Daily Mining Gazette in the past month when she said was concerned when she heard of Patchin’s resignation.
“I’ve not been on the news or social media but I’ve heard through word of mouth that we’ve lost trustees,” she said. “I’m concerned…What’s going on with this district?”
Huffman continued, saying that since she has moved to the community from Green Bay she has heard from Hancock students and also from community members that the district has a bad reputation as a school.
“And I don’t like that,” she said, “and I want to change that.”
Board President Catherine Jordan recommended accepting Koskela’s resignation.
“Steve said that with everything going on with the board operations right now, he just doesn’t have enough time to give it a full effort.”
The board accepted the resignation.
The next item, said Jordan, is to discuss how the trustees will fill the two vacancies.
An email has been set up, she said, because according to the bylaws, people who are interested in applying for the postions are required to submit their interest to the Board Secretary, who is Michael Lancour. Interested parties can also submit letters of interest by mail.
“We would like to have people, even at this point in time,” Jordan said, “if they expressed interest when we replaced Randy Heinonen, to re-apply so we know exactly what everybody’s interest is.”
There are three questions candidates will be asked, she said.
¯ What contributions can you make to the school district?
¯ What qualities, skills and experience would you bring to the school board?
¯ What do you see as the roles and responsibilities of school board members?
¯ The deadline for receiving applications is Noon on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
Interested parties can submit their interest to by email to boardsecretary@hancock.k12.mi.us
or in writing to:
Hancock Public Schools, C/O Board Secretary, 501 Campus Drive, Hancock, Mi. 49930