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Public speakers urge partnership with Oakland County Parks as Bowers Farm reports multiple staff departures
Summary
Community members and Friends groups urged the board to pursue a partnership with Oakland County Parks to preserve Bowers Farm and the Johnson Nature Center. Public speakers described recent staff resignations at the farm and asked for community input before decisions are made.
At the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education meeting the district announced it will solicit public feedback on a possible partnership with Oakland County Parks for two properties: Bowers Farm and the Johnson Nature Center. Superintendent Rick West said the district will send a survey early next week and hold two in‑person community sessions at the farm and the nature center (scheduled October 18 and October 20). Findings will be shared with the strategic planning committee and the full board in November.
Why it matters: community speakers said the properties are unique educational assets for district students and argued a county parks partnership would help secure long‑term stewardship and capital support.
Public comments and community concerns: several residents and nonprofit leaders addressed the board during public comment. Amy Carden, who identified herself as a long‑time Bowers Farm volunteer and former 4‑H parent, said six key farm staff members have left recently, including farm manager Kate Bell; operations team member Ken Wallace; education specialist Brooke Larm; learning‑expedition leader Megan Isabelle; and instructional guides Christy McGraw and Lydia Verzi. “That’s 4 out of 7 members of the education team that have resigned,” Carden said, adding that the farm is operating with three part‑time guides while fall field trip season is underway.
Michael Sosa, president of Friends of the Johnson Nature Center, urged continued exploration of a county parks partnership, saying Oakland County Parks “has the resources and expertise to help maintain trails, ponds, wildlife areas, while Bloomfield Hills Schools can continue to provide the strong educational programming.”
Margaret Baxter, president of Friends of Bowers Farm, told the board the nonprofit supports exploring a partnership and called it “a great match” to protect the farm and nature center’s educational mission.
District process and next steps: Superintendent West said the district has been working with friends groups and with Oakland County Parks and will publish an informational landing page and a survey link. The district will solicit feedback in three channels: staff surveys for Bowers/Johnson employees, surveys of district students/families/staff/residents, and two in‑person engagement events on Oct. 18 and Oct. 20. The administration intends to digest community feedback and report back to the board’s strategic planning committee and then to the full board in November so the board can decide whether to continue formal partnership exploration.
Ending: supporters and several board members framed the partnership discussion as a preservation step intended to maintain education‑focused use of the sites. The board stopped short of any formal agreement and will use the public feedback to inform next steps.
