Letter to the editor: The complication of an off-year school election

November 21. 2021

To the Editor:

As Manchester township residents in the Columbia School District, we each had somewhat different experiences in trying to vote on November 2 on the Columbia millage proposal. None of us received written notice of the change in polling location, as pointed out by our neighbor, Dennis Kwapis, in the Exponent (Brooklyn’s weekly paper). Our township clerk is required to provide such notice well in advance of the election. Other neighbors also indicate they did not receive any notice.

Because Columbia put their millage on the ballot when there were no other elections in Manchester township, it makes sense that we would go to a polling location where the millage was already on the ballot.

A map of the Manchester Community School district shows that it includes most of Manchester, Sharon and Freedom Townships, as well as part of Freedom Township and a small portion of Jackson County. It borders seven other school districts, showing that clerks in each of the four townships must track off-year school elections in one or two other school districts. A map of the Columbia School District shows at least as much complexity. This demonstrates that many other voters could be subject to the same lack of information about off-year school elections.

Our election system is flexible enough that it allows townships and clerks to make the necessary adjustments. The schools and townships, as well as counties and the state, each have a role in these elections. It is essential that each of them administers their duties to the highest level to ensure that our schools get the support they deserve. As voters, we also need to go the extra mile.

This issue affects many school districts in the state, not just ours. All of our children deserve a quality education. Let’s make sure the adults they rely on are each doing their jobs and exercising their civic responsibilities.

Sincerely,

Sybil Kolon
Dennis Kwapis
Marilyn Kellum
Woody Kellum
Grace Hoyle
Susan Sabourin

Manchester Township

Views expressed in any Letter to the Editor are always exclusively those of the author. Do you have something you want Manchester to know? Send your Letter to the Editor to themanchestermirror@gmail.com.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.