Dates set, as case against KPS Supt. moves forward

BELLAIRE – The suspended superintendent of Kalkaska Public Schools, Terry Starr, could soon have his day in court – even if he and his legal representatives are working to avoid it.

Judge Thomas Power ruled against a motion submitted by Starr’s legal team to have the felony charges against him dismissed during a hearing in the 13th Circuit Court on Nov. 19.

Starr, less than a year into his tenure as KPS’ top administrator, was placed on administrative leave in April after he was arraigned on felony charges of false reporting of a felony, intentional false report of child abuse and slander. The charges date back to his tenure at Elk Rapids Public Schools, where he served as an elementary and then middle school principal.

According to reports, Starr allegedly sent two anonymous letters in January 2018 to several different Elk Rapids school administrators – including himself – accusing high school principal Mike Travis of criminal sexual assault of a student in 2013.

Travis was exonerated of that charge by the student in question after an investigation by the Michigan State Police, which led to an MSP investigation regarding who may have written the two letters, which eventually led to Starr’s arrest.

A different ruling by Power at the Nov. 19 hearing in Bellaire might have ended Starr’s legal battle and allowed him to return to his Kalkaska office. Instead, his fight is slated to continue.

Starr will return to the Bellaire courtroom for a status conference hearing Dec. 16. And, after his legal counsel won a motion to delay a three-day trial originally set for Dec. 11-12 in light of new evidence, Starr’s case is now scheduled to go to trial Jan. 8-10.

A $2,500 bond for Starr, who is currently on unpaid leave from his position in Kalkaska, has been continued.