Clintondale board rescinds opt-in to 2731aa27 funding after debate over transparency; motion passes 5-2

The Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education voted 5-2 to rescind the districts prior opt-in to "31aa" funding and authorized the superintendent to notify the Michigan Department of Education, the board announced after returning from closed session.

Trustee and Treasurer Powers (speaker 8) argued against rescinding the opt-in, urging colleagues to accept the funding and saying the district needed the money: "They're offering us over $300,000... I'm not for secret. I'm for transparency," Powers said, urging the board to either ratify the prior opt-in or accept the funds with transparency. Another board member said the Court of Claims had already ruled the program lawful.

Supporters of rescinding the opt-in contended the board should guard district autonomy and raised concerns about the transparency conditions that might accompany the funds. After public discussion and board debate, the secretary called the roll and the motion passed by a 5-2 margin.

Public commenters earlier in the meeting had argued the "31aa" item should not be handled in closed session and pressed the board for openness about the program and any conditions attached to accepting the money.

The transcript records the motion and the vote tally but does not list a complete, unambiguous roll-call mapping of each board member to an individual yes/no vote in the record that was provided. The motion passed 5-2; two members voted no. The board did not, during this meeting, provide additional written detail about the funding conditions; comments in the record referred to amounts of "over $300,000" and specifically referenced "$325,000" as an approximate figure.