Superintendent pauses federal certification amid court injunction; police have not taken up LCN murder investigation, he says

Superintendent Keith Howell said April 28 the district paused signing a federal certification tied to a January 2025 executive order after federal courts issued an injunction affecting enforcement, and he said district attorneys recommended pausing to await further legal guidance.

Howell said the district had been prepared to sign the compliance certification but held off after receiving counsel from multiple law firms and in light of a court injunction. "At this time, we chose not to sign the certification, as many school districts in the state of Michigan chose the same thing," Howell said at the meeting. He added later that legal counsel told the district there was no requirement to sign while litigation is pending.

During public comment and board discussion several speakers raised concerns about a student who was later arrested in connection with a murder that occurred outside the district. Howell said the district had contacted law enforcement and that, as of the meeting, investigators had not taken up the investigation: "There is no update. ... They have not picked up this investigation, in any way, shape, or form at this time," he told the board.

Board members pressed Howell on whether the district’s legal advice and the decision not to sign had been discussed with the board before the action; Howell said the compliance certification is a routine part of grant applications and that he did not consult the full board before pausing to sign because the district was following legal counsel.

Ending: Howell told the board the district will return with updates from legal counsel and that the board could request the certification be placed on a future agenda if it wished to review it when litigation is resolved.