James Bias Residents of Drummond Island, DeTour Township, and part of Raber Township will determine if they will renew 18 mills for operational funding for DeTour Area Schools on the May 4 election ballot. The millage will be for one year, and is expected to raise about $1,933,865. Last year's millage raised about $1,938,294 said Superintendent Angela Reed. The millage is used to pay for nearly everything at the schools, including operational costs, salaries, and maintenance.

“We would not be able to open our doors if it doesn't pass,” she said.

The tax, which is levied on nonhomestead properties such as businesses and second homes, is the primary funding source for the schools. Eighteen mills would be assessed as $18 for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

Two seats are also open on the DeTour Area Schools Board of Education, with four candidates running for the positions. Charlotte Moser Goudreau, who has served on the board as treasurer, is running for re-election, while Craig Hoffman, who served as vice president, will not. James Bias, Susan Schultz, and write-in candidate John Orr will seek election.

Photographs were not available for all candidates.

John Orr

Mr. Orr has served in multiple government positions. He was a Beulah Village Council trustee for 10 years, and also served on the village's sewer and water committee and equipment committee. He moved to Drummond Island 30 years ago, and now works at Kelly Excavating and Redi Mix and is a licensed water treatment officer for the state.

With his background in electronics, Mr. Orr has worked with several DeTour Area Schools staff and has helped work on the public address system. He worked on the schools' heating system, and helped make it more efficient, reducing the schools' fuel consumption by 100 gallons a day.

Mr. Orr wants to be on the board to help the school become more energy efficient and maintain its buildings. A few of the major challenges DeTour Area Schools faces are in funding and energy conservation, he said. Changing out the schools' high-energy metal halite lighting with more efficient fluorescent lights can save money, he added, along with replacing windows and switching from paper towels to electric hand dryers. Grants could be pursued to pay for replacing lighting and windows.

In his spare time, Mr. Orr enjoys spending time outdoors and camping.

Charlotte Moser Goudreau

Mrs. Goudreau was graduated from DeTour High School in 1989, and studied child development at Lake Superior State University. She later enrolled in Holloway's Real Estate Institute and obtained licenses in real estate sales and brokerage. Mrs. Goudreau has managed her own brokerage for 10 years, and has worked in real estate for more than 20 years.

Along with serving on the finance, transportation, and food service committees in DeTour Area Schools, Mrs. Goudreau has served on the board of education since 2006. She has assisted in staff contract negotiations, and is preparing for this year's contracts.

DeTour Area Schools faces financial challenges, Mrs. Goudreau said. As the state continues to struggle with the recession, the school must budget wisely in a way that will have the least impact on the students' education. DeTour Area Schools must also communicate well with the communities it serves and do what is best for every student, she said.

Mrs. Goudreau is married to Jesse Goudreau. They have three sons, Will, 12, Charlie, 7, and 22- month-old Joey.

In her spare time, Mrs. Goudreau spends time with her family and friends. She also enjoys camping, golf, gardening, knitting, reading, and outdoor activities.

James Bias

A Michigan attorney practicing in the Eastern Upper Peninsula since 1999, Mr. Bias has donated his time as legal counsel for many nonprofit boards and committees. He is also the EUP representative for Michigan's Citizen Waterfowl Advisory Committee, a volunteer for the United States Department of Agriculture's cormorant control program, and a volunteer mentor for youth hunting and trapping activities in the area.

Mr. Bias has worked with schools throughout the EUP on many issues including truancy policies, detention of at-risk children, and contract disputes. He also has experience working with issues concerning charter schools.

In light of budget shortfalls and uncertain state aid, DeTour Area Schools faces financial problems that could threaten the quality of education offered, Mr. Bias believes. Enrollment at the school could decline, Mr. Bias said, and lower property values only exacerbate the problem. Tightening the school's budget without impacting education will be difficult, although hard work will help overcome the difficulties. Mr. Bias wishes to use his experience and background to find ways to balance the budget in a way that satisfies everyone, and to ensure a quality, sustainable school district for his children and the children in the district's communities.

Susan Schultz

Susan Schultz wants to join the DeTour Area Schools Board of Education to help provide the best education and curriculum choices available to the community. A parent of a third grade student in DeTour Elementary, Mrs. Schultz says she experiences the needs of the school district as well as its goals.

An excellent board member must carefully consider all options before making an important decision, consult the proper sources, and develop clear, understandable reasons for a decision, she said. If elected, Mrs. Schultz says she will objectively listen to students, teachers, school administrators, and community leaders to understand the issues facing the school. She will also listen to opposing views, defend the board's philosophy and goals, and will understand that some decisions made will not be popular but would be performed to benefit the community and district.

With the State of Michigan balking on public school funding, it is important to carefully consider how cost saving measures are made, she said, to retain DeTour School's positive environment to learn and work.

Mrs. Schultz is a 1983 graduate of DeTour Area Schools, and possesses a bachelor's degree in business from Ferris State University. She works as the officer in charge at the DeTour Post Office.