Board selects GMB/Clark/3 Rivers for facilities assessment after debate over engagement and conflicts

The Midland Public Schools Board of Education voted Oct. 20 to select the joint GMB/Clark/3 Rivers team to perform a districtwide facilities assessment that will feed into strategic planning and any future bond proposal. Board members said the decision reflected the team’s proposed community‑engagement approach and its ability to integrate facility recommendations with the district’s strategic planning work.

The vote came after an extended discussion in which trustees reviewed 10 responses to the district’s RFP and heard in‑person presentations from three shortlisted teams: Barton Mallow & French; GMB/Clark/3 Rivers; and Wolgast with its collaborative. Several board members publicly disclosed past business ties with firms that had submitted proposals while stressing that they would not vote on the firms if a contract were recommended later in the procurement process.

“GMB brought the most comprehensive package for community engagement to the table,” a trustee said during deliberations, noting the importance of connecting technical analysis to what the community will support. Another trustee, while praising Barton Mallow’s track record in the district, said the board also wanted “fresh eyes” and strong communications to rebuild public trust.

Concerns voiced during public comment and by some trustees focused on whether previous facility work had been sufficiently transparent and whether consultant recommendations would be independent. Don Hinkle, a resident who addressed the board, said an earlier study recommending demolition over repair had the appearance of a predetermined result: “This doesn't pass the smell test,” he said.

Board members responded that the RFP evaluation included demonstration of how each team would engage the public and work with OmniTech’s strategic planning schedule. After a motion to adopt the GMB/Clark/3 Rivers proposal and a second, the board approved the selection on a voice vote.

Next steps outlined by administrators included onboarding the team, aligning the assessment timeline with strategic‑planning milestones, and beginning community visioning sessions. Board members said the assessment will be used to inform any potential bond proposal, but that no final construction decisions will be made until the assessment and the strategic‑planning framework are complete.

The motion to select GMB/Clark/3 Rivers was recorded as carried; the board did not require a roll‑call vote for this item.