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Staff resignations, community concern as district and Oakland County Parks discuss Bowers Farm and Johnson Nature Center
Summary
Community volunteers and staff at Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center told the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education they had not been consulted about a possible partnership with Oakland County Parks and described staff resignations and anxiety; the superintendent said he requested substantive intent language from the county and will brief the board in closed session before broad stakeholder engagement.
Several instructional staff and volunteers from Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center urged the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education for transparency after reports that Oakland County Parks had been in discussions about a potential partnership.
During public comment, Amy Carden and Kristy (also introduced as 'Kristy Debrat') told the board they had not been included in conversations and described staff anxiety and resignations. Carden said she was told the public would have "ample opportunities for input," but that "this has not happened." Kristy, an instructional guide, said staff did not feel safe and asked the board to "sound the alarm" if a change in status threatened operations.
Superintendent West gave a public update after the board added the item to the agenda. He said the district's farm director had recently left and he directed restructuring rather than immediately filling the vacancy. He said he and staff met with Oakland County Parks and asked for more substantive language from the county "to speak about with the community." He said he will share what can be released and noted two recent resignations at the farm that created operational challenges.
Why it matters: Bowers and Johnson are district-operated education sites used for place-based learning and community programs. Staff at those sites told the board they include people with advanced qualifications and that the sites' programming is a district asset. Board members and the superintendent said they want to follow a process of stakeholder engagement but that they first need details from Oakland County to present to the public.
Board response and next steps: The board added the discussion as a short public agenda item before moving into closed session. Superintendent West said he will discuss the precise county submission in closed session with the board as permitted by law, then proceed to stakeholder engagement that includes community forums. He also said he has asked staff to realign remaining personnel to maintain operations and that the district will continue discussions with Oakland County Parks.
Ending: Staff and community speakers asked for timely public briefings and inclusion in planning. The board and superintendent said they will provide updates once the district has substantive material to present and after a closed-session review of county-provided details.
