Staff and residents urge transparency on Bowers Farm amid talks with Oakland County Parks; superintendent outlines next steps

Multiple staff members and long-time residents raised concerns about the future of Bowers Farm and the Johnson Nature Center during public comment at the Bloomfield Hills Schools board meeting on July 28, saying the district has not provided promised forums and that staff morale has suffered amid reported county visits and personnel changes.

Amy Carden, a 31-year district resident, told trustees she had been told earlier that public forums would precede any board discussion but that no meetings had been scheduled. "No meetings have been offered," she said, and asked the board to prioritize transparency and community-guided decision making.

Instructional guide Christie McGraw, who described a career shift to the farm and deep commitment to place-based learning, told the board staff felt "outside" and in turmoil, and urged the board to "sound the alarm" and bring staff into conversations before decisions are finalized.

After public comment, Superintendent West provided a brief update to the board: he said the district met with Oakland County Parks and asked for a clear statement of the county's intentions before conducting community engagement. He said the district will not immediately replace the recently departed farm director and that two resignations at the farm have created operational challenges that the administration is addressing through internal realignment. West said the board had passed a resolution in June to engage in a process with Oakland County Parks and that the administration would follow that commitment by convening authentic stakeholder input when substantive material from the county is available.

What happens next: The superintendent said staff will continue internal realignment and that the district will pursue stakeholder engagement and public forums when there is sufficient information to share.