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Board hears community support for Oakland County Parks partnership to preserve Bowers Farm
Summary
Public commenters and the superintendent described ongoing exploration of a partnership with Oakland County Parks for Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center; community speakers urged the board to preserve public access and programmatic value while staff compiles survey feedback for a November summary.
Several speakers urged the board to pursue a partnership with Oakland County Parks to protect Bowers School Farm and the Johnson Nature Center.
Lauren Dalitish, a school counselor and Friends of the Farm board member, said the farm provides unique, hands‑on learning and community connection and urged the district to explore a partnership with Oakland County Parks to sustain the site "for generations." Rebecca Solomon Witt, who said she has worked in environment and education, called the farm and nature center "historic community spaces" and warned that without a partnership public access and program quality could decline.
Superintendent West told the board the district is in an exploration phase, has held two public engagement sessions, and that the community survey remained open through Oct. 31 with more than 800 responses to date; a comprehensive summary will be presented to the strategic planning committee on Nov. 12 and to the full board on Nov. 24. He emphasized that the district is seeking feedback before making any decisions and that any partnership discussion remains preliminary.
