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Romulus board censures trustee over expense reimbursements; trustee apologizes, offers to repay about $800
Summary
After reviewing an internal attorney–client-privilege report, the Romulus Community Schools Board of Education voted 6–1 Dec. 16 to censure Trustee Debbie Pyles for conduct the board said violated bylaws and reimbursement policy; Pyles apologized and said she will return roughly $800 in mileage reimbursements.
The Romulus Community Schools Board of Education voted 6–1 on Dec. 16 to adopt a formal censure of Trustee Debbie Pyles, citing findings in an internal attorney–client-privilege review that the board said showed Pyles acted inconsistently with board policy and bylaws.
The resolution, offered by member Davis and supported by member Wester, said the board’s review raised questions about reimbursements and payments and concluded that Pyles’s conduct “failed to meet the professional standards for an elected representative” and violated district policies and board bylaws, including bylaw 01/2001 and board bylaw 1,001. The resolution directs a series of restrictions during the period of censure: removal from board committees, prohibition on officially representing the board at external events, limits on board-paid classes and conferences (except those provided to the entire board), and a requirement that Pyles submit any reimbursement requests to the board president unless the expense is pre-approved by a majority of the board. It also requires completion of board-approved ethics training by June 30, 2026, or an extension of the censure terms.
Trustee Debbie Pyles spoke during the meeting to address the conduct described in the report. “For this, I am genuinely sorry and apologize to my board colleagues, the superintendent, district staff, students, families, and citizens of Romulus,” Pyles said, acknowledging that she had been reimbursed for flights and that she “did not receive free or discounted flights.” She said her reimbursements had been approved through the district’s administrative processes and that she had not attempted to conceal bookings. Pyles told the board she would review expense reports with finance staff and “will return to the district the sum of mileage reimbursements paid to me when I flew, approximately $800.”
A trustee asked whether the ethics training would be provided by the Michigan Association of School Boards or another organization; board members responded that the training has not yet been selected and will be decided by the board in the new year.
At roll call, the board recorded yea votes from Davis, Kennard, Evitz, Wester, McCarthy and Laster; Pyles voted no. Following the vote, the board secretary certified that the resolution was adopted at a special meeting noticed in compliance with the Open Meetings Act.
The censure is a formal disciplinary action that does not remove an elected member from office but places named restrictions on participation and sets conditions — including required ethics training and reimbursement procedures — meant to address the board’s stated concerns. The board’s resolution said the censure’s terms “shall be in effect no earlier than 06/30/2026,” and specified conditions for extension if the required training is not completed by that date.
The board did not vote on removal or other employment actions during the meeting; the adopted measure was limited to censure and the listed restrictions and follow-up steps.
The board plans to finalize the logistics of the mandated ethics training and any additional follow-up in the coming weeks.
