Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Choice Marketing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears complaints about Fowlerville postcards targeting Williamston students; considers letter and outreach
Summary
Trustees reported receiving complaints after Fowlerville Community Schools sent a second round of recruitment postcards that appeared to target students attending Williamston schools. Board members discussed courtesy norms among neighboring districts and considered sending a public letter.
Board members told colleagues they had received complaints after a second wave of recruitment postcards from Fowlerville Community Schools appeared to include Williamston students. Trustees said the spring mailer drew less attention, but a follow-up mailing this fall prompted calls from parents and trustees who felt the tactic breached local courtesy norms.
A trustee said she contacted the Fowlerville board president and was told the mailings were intended to target nearby districts that border Fowlerville; Williamston trustees noted Williamston does not border Fowlerville. The Fowlerville board president reportedly told the trustee Fowlerville believes 31–39 of its former students now attend Williamston schools and that it had 8 Williamston students attending Fowlerville. The trustee said Fowlerville had not yet evaluated whether the mailings were effective or held a follow-up discussion.
Trustees discussed options: do nothing, wait to see whether Fowlerville sends more mailings, ask other neighboring districts whether they were targeted, prepare a joint outreach to encourage students to return to their home district, or draft a letter from the Williamston board expressing concern. Several trustees said they would prefer not to enter a costly advertising battle or damage countywide collaborative relationships; others suggested documenting the incident with a letter on the public record.
Superintendent Adam said he had communicated with other county superintendents and noted boards act consistent with their local goals; he encouraged trustees to consider coordinated strategies if the board wanted to pursue outreach. No formal action was taken at the meeting; trustees asked staff to inform them if additional mailings occur and to draft a letter if the board wants to proceed.
Ending: Trustees agreed to monitor the situation and discuss drafting a board letter if Fowlerville sends another mailing or if trustees decide they want a public record of the complaint.
