Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

As of 3:00pm on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, another Salmon River Central School Board Trustee resigned. Roger Lapage’s resignation adds to the growing number of resignations on SRCS Board of Trustees. Matthew Mainville resigned on July 2, 2015, Peter Ghostlaw resigned on August 28, 2015, Greg Cunningham resigned on September 24, 2013 and Clarissa Chatland resigned on April 16, 2013. To add to that; Annie Delormier, Stacy Skidders, and Corrina David; all former Salmon River School Board Trustees resigned before their tenure had expired.

In a midterm election recently held on Tuesday, October 27, 2015, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police officer Peter J. Burns filled the seat of the last resignation.

The Salmon River Board of Education is composed of nine non-paid members who serve five-year terms. Members are elected by the voters in the district to establish policy and govern the schools. As of November 4, 2015 these are the present SRCS Board members; Sheila Marshall, President, Term: July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019, Emily Lauzon, Vice President, Term: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2020, Jason Brockway, Member, Term: September 28, 2015- June 30, 2017, Michael Conners, Jr., Member, Term: July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019, Linda Durant, Member, Term: July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2017, Jason McDonald, Member, Term: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2020, Michael Sisto, Member, Term: July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2016, PJ Burns, Member, Term: November 01, 2015 – June 30, 2018 and Roger Lapage, Member, Term: July 1, 2013 whose term was to expire on June 30, 2018.

According to Superintendent Harper, Lapage allegedly resigned due to health reasons. The inordinately high turn over rate of Salmon River Central School Trustees unfortunately coincides with the recent appointment of Stanley Harper, unfortunate, at a time when SRCS needs stability. As of press time, the SRMT Chiefs and Director of Education had not responded when asked for a comment in regards to the latest SRCS Trustee resignation.