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Parents urge Romulus officials to intervene after housing authority pressure on home-based preschool; ADA access for playgrounds also raised
Summary
Two parents told the council that a home‑based preschool (Beyond the Bell) is being pressured to relocate by a housing authority/association, and another resident urged that a recently renovated school playground lacks wheelchair access for her son; mayor asked for details for follow-up.
Romulus — During public comment at Tuesday’s council meeting, residents urged elected officials to intervene after what they described as pressure from a housing authority or association that forced a well-reviewed home-based preschool, Beyond the Bell, to relocate out of Romulus.
Sam Miller, who introduced himself as a firefighter/EMT and parent, said he and other families “gave it the nickname Pleasantville” and praised Beyond the Bell for its care and recent recognition by the governor’s team. Miller said he and other parents were upset that the housing committee had forced the business to move “all the way to Westland” and asked the council to ‘‘hear with an open ear’’ and consider protecting the program locally. "These kids aren't hurting nobody," he said.
Samantha Stewart, another parent, told the council her 4‑year‑old attends Beyond the Bell and that the program’s removal would be “a grave disappointment.” She asked city leaders to look into the reasons it has been given a hard time, noting the program received praise during the governor’s visit.
Stewart also spoke about accessibility at Romulus Elementary, saying her older son, Samson Williams, uses a wheelchair and that a recent playground renovation did not include accessible surfacing or routes that would allow him to use the new equipment. "How do you have a child that's been going to the school since kindergarten and you do not take into consideration the fact that he can also be social with his peers and play on the playground with them?" she asked. Stewart said she had spoken with parks and recreation staff but urged council and staff to make school playgrounds ADA compliant.
Mayor McCrae responded from the dais that the city would need more details about the housing authority and the specific property, and invited the residents to meet after the meeting so staff and elected officials could gather facts and identify appropriate next steps.
