On May 21, 2019, one of Beacon’s newest Board of Education members, Michael Rutkoske, ran unopposed for a second term, along with Meredith Heuer and Antony Tseng, who were also elected for the first time when Michael was. On July 1, 2020, Michael Rutkoske announced he would resign during a Board of Education meeting, citing work and other commitments, as first reported by Jeff Simms of the Highlands Current. By this time, the racial revolution started nation-wide, and was active in Beacon, with many young people, including recent Beacon alums, speaking out at open mic sessions after protest Marches in Beacon.

Michael Rutkoske was part of a new wave of Board of Education members for the Beacon City School District in 2016, which was a tumultuous year for the Beacon City School District (BCSD). During a decade where the turnover rate of Beacon’s Superintendent was almost yearly, at one point paying $398,000 to buy out contracts of Superintendents who did not stay in the position longer than one year (Poughkeepsie Journal, via FOIA request) parents in Beacon’s school district formed a strong push to remove the then Superintendent, Barbera Walkley, from her position. A petition (read in full here) was filed to New York State Education Department by attorney Melissa Rutkoske, wife of Michael, asking for Barbara’s removal, and the removal of the district’s attorney, Michael Lambert.

After dramatic Board of Education meetings and the submission and scrutiny of personal emails between Barbara Walkley and then Teacher Union President Kim Pilla (formerly married name Atwell), Barbara Walkley did resign, and later with Kim filed a defamation lawsuit against Kim’s ex-husband and teacher Robert Atwell, who allegedly supplied personal emails which were used by Michael’s wife Melissa in the filing of the petition.

At the same Board of Education meeting where Michael announced his resignation, the Board needed to elect a new president - Meredith Hauer - who formerly served as the Vice President. The Board’s former long-time president, Anthony White, had stepped aside a month after winning re-election. Anthony had been the only board member to vote against adopting a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, written on June 17, 2020 and sent to district families. The board voted 8-1 in favor of the letter, which was written by Board member James Case-Leal, who has this week submitted his notice of resignation “in order to open an additional space for John Galloway Jr. and Jasmine Johnson, two well-qualified candidates of color, to both be appointed,” according to his resignation letter submitted September 22, 2020.

Michael Rutkoske is the Senior Manager Capital Asset Program and Project Controls at Entergy Services Inc. for a fleet of 8 nuclear generating stations. According to his LinkedIn page, he is responsible for the development and implementation of the fleet capital portfolio utilizing a risk informed project prioritization methodology including development of strategies to address emergent and shifting project priorities.

To apply for a vacant seat on the Board of Education, download an applications from the District Office and on the district website. Forward applications to the Board of Education by email to bcsdboe@beaconk12.org or by paper application to Kelly Pologe, District Clerk, at 10 Education Drive. Click here for more information.