Hazel Park board votes to return superintendent, orders financial discipline and keeps paid leave in place

The Hazel Park Board of Education on May 15, 2025, voted to return Dr. Amy Kroupi to the superintendent position on or before June 30, 2025, directed that the board will issue disciplinary action regarding financial matters, and said paid administrative leave will continue until the effective return date.

Board member Heidi made the motion, supported by board member Debbie, and the board approved it in a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded affirmative votes by Fortress, Leframowicz, Beaton, Becker, Fox, LaVaux Boyce, Rathee and Henson.

The vote follows a closed-session review of an investigation into alleged policy violations. A board member told colleagues that the investigation is complete and that the board must first meet with the attorney who conducted the second investigation before releasing the report publicly. The board said the exact return date for Dr. Kroupi will be determined later and that an official letter with an explanation is expected to be issued Monday.

Why it matters: The decision ends more than three months of public controversy and closed-session deliberations over the district’s leadership, a period that several public commenters said has cost the district significant money and harmed public trust. Speakers at the meeting included long-time district residents, teachers and parents who urged either the superintendent’s reinstatement or resignations by board members.

Public comments at the meeting included multiple claims about the financial cost of the investigations and interim staffing. Resident Ryan Voss said the expenses from the investigation have been "staggering" and called on the board to act with "integrity, responsibility, and above all else, transparency." Resident Jennifer Jackson said, "It's been 108 days since this board voted to place" Dr. Kroupi on nondisciplinary paid administrative leave and asked for more transparency about the policy at issue and investigation costs. Several speakers named specific figures; those figures were asserted by commenters and not verified during the meeting.

Reported amounts mentioned by commenters included an investigator billing a reported $250 per hour, approval of an interim superintendent rate of $800 per day, and an in-house legal counsel salary cited at about $125,000 a year. A commenter also asserted roughly $97,400 in billed investigation fees to date; another speaker referenced larger, unverified totals. The board did not provide an itemized cost total at the meeting.

Procedure and next steps: Earlier in the meeting the board recessed to closed session to consider "material exempt from discussion or disclosure by State and Federal statute" and attorney-client privileged matters. After the closed session the board returned to open session and approved the motion to return Dr. Kroupi, to develop a disciplinary action focused on financial matters, and to prepare a plan to assist her upon return. The board also said the paid administrative leave requirements will remain in place until the superintendent returns to work.

Several public speakers urged the board to move quickly to restore stability. Teacher and longtime district resident Angela Wilkins said she supports Dr. Kroupi for her "consistency" and presence at school events. Other commenters pressed the board for immediate transparency about the investigation and questioned the board’s spending decisions while the matter was pending.

The district staff said scheduling with the investigating attorney and upcoming graduations and holidays made setting a public update time difficult; the board reiterated that it will meet with the attorney who prepared the second investigation report before releasing the report's findings to the public. The board indicated an official explanatory letter would be released Monday following the meeting.

No additional disciplinary details, the precise return date, or the full investigative report were released at the meeting. The board's action instructs staff to finalize the disciplinary plan and a reintegration plan for Dr. Kroupi before her return.

Votes at a glance: Motion by board member Heidi, supported by board member Debbie, to return Dr. Amy Kroupi to the superintendent position on or before June 30, 2025; to issue disciplinary action regarding financial matters; and to maintain paid administrative leave until her return — Approved (roll-call affirmative votes recorded for Fortress; Leframowicz; Beaton; Becker; Fox; LaVaux Boyce; Rathee; Henson). An official explanatory letter was promised to follow.