BAY MILLS — Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School students were queuing up for gym when the tribe officially cut the ribbon at the doors of the Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School the morning of Sept. 16, to officially mark the beginning of the school's inaugural year.
The ceremony began with a drum song by Lance Teeple.
The school management firm Mosaica's Regional Vice President of Operation and Curriculum Jim Rundborg was there to conduct the ceremony that day. Tribal Elder Bill “Bun” LeBlanc was there to cut the ribbon.
Along with Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School CAO/Principal Diane Benjamin, on hand that day along with community members were the Ojibwe Charter School Board — Shelly St. Peter, president, Wanda Perron, vice president, Michelle Carrick, secretary, Cheryl Baragwanath, treasurer and former school board member Marcia Malloy, who resigned to become a third grade teacher at the school — and the Bay Mills executive council — L.John Lufkins, chairman, Allyn Cameron, vice chairman, and Terry Carrick, secretary.
Local officials attending the ceremony were Bay Mills Community College President Mickey Parish, BMCC Director of Charter Schools Pat Shannon, Chippewa County Sheriff Jeff Moran and Chippewa County Commissioner Rita Dale.
Rundborg also recognized Bryan Newland, a Bay Mills member and Management Resource Group assistant executive director, for his work to promote school.
“This is a very momentous occasion for Bay Mills Indian Community, Ojibwe Charter School and Mosaica Education, the staff and students,” Rundborg said. “It has been a dream and vision for many people in this community.”
He turned the podium over to Lufkins, who reminisced about childhood memories of playing in the foundation of old school near an old pine just a few 100 feet west. “We've come full circle,” he said. “A lot of people said it couldn't be done. We overcame a lot of challenges.”
He told the audience that Bay Mills has so far chartered 11 schools. They had closed one the night before because it had not been inspected by the fire marshall — an example of how Bay Mills is holding itself accountable for its schools and making sure they're in compliance.
He thanked Mosaica, modular builders Miller Homes, modular assembler Dennis Schaaf, landscapers Fox Excavating, BMCC, plumber Steve Morley, electrician Ron Cherette, and heating installers Great Lakes Services. He thanked Bay Mills Construction for building the decking (“they worked night and day”), Dana Parish, who came off of a layoff to help, Bay Mills Head Start bus drivers for covering the bus routes, and Bay Mills Maintenance for working to get the school ready in time.
Mickey Parish said that five of the graduates from the BMCC teacher class had been hired to teach at the Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School. He added that it was great to have all the paperwork in place and have the school open and operating.
School board member and tribal historian Wanda Perron talked about the history of Bay Mills schools. She said the first school opened in 1856 under the Methodist mission. It became a government school in 1916 until it was shut down in 1941, after 85 years of operation. Now we have a school here again, she said.
“I'm very proud, not only as a school board member, but as a member of Bay Mills Indian Community,” added Perron.
School board member Cheryl Baragwanath said that teachers have the gift to be able to teach, so she presented the teachers with gifts accepted by Marcia Malloy.
With the sun peeking over the top of the school building, Bun LeBlanc cut the ribbon with a pair of giant scissors. He remarked that education is the lifeblood of a community.
“The birth of this school by the community shows that the community recognizes the need to grow from without and within,” he said, adding that he was honored to be a part of ceremony.
