Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Bloomfield Schools board approves interlocal agreement with Oakland County to steward Bowers Farm and E.L. Johnson Nature Center
Loading...
Summary
The Bloomfield Schools Board voted 5-0 to enter an interlocal agreement with the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission to help preserve Bowers Farm and the E.L. Johnson Nature Center. Trustees stressed the need for written commitments to preserve programs (including TreeSchool), staff continuity and a preliminary park action plan during a transition period through at least 06/30/2026.
The Bloomfield Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution to enter an interlocal agreement with the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission covering Bowers Farm and the E.L. Johnson Nature Center.
Trustee Abel, who said his family moved into the district in part because of the farm and nature center, urged protections for the TreeSchool program and continuity for current staff. “The agreement does not reference TreeSchool. Everyone here is 100% accurate as to that,” Abel said, and noted the agreement includes a transition period that “runs until at least 06/30/2026 and can be extended to September 2026.” He said the board could terminate the agreement before that period ends if the parties do not reach acceptable commitments.
Board President Fala described the proposal as an opportunity to secure funding and investment that the district cannot provide alone. Speaking as a parent, Fala said the board’s goal is to preserve the identity and programming of the farm and nature center while addressing long-term financial sustainability: “This is an opportunity for us to invest… with us still being an active participant.” Fala said the board expects clarity about staffing and termination clauses and said those protections would affect whether the district proceeds.
Another board member who said they had been the sitting president when Oakland County first approached the district two years ago called for continued vetting and emphasized the board’s fiduciary obligations. A separate committee member said the plan could strengthen programs while maintaining what the community values about the sites.
Trustees noted a requirement in the agreement for a preliminary park action plan to be in place by the end of the transition period and reiterated that the district retains the option to terminate if the plan or staffing arrangements are unsatisfactory. The board also discussed — without committing to specific language in the agreement — the need for assurances that many current staff members would remain employed or be engaged in the transition.
The motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded and passed unanimously. The board recorded the outcome as 5-0; next steps include the planned due-diligence and negotiation during the transition period and development of the preliminary park action plan.
The vote advances the agreement into the transition and negotiation phase; the board may revisit or terminate the agreement if the required commitments on programs or staffing are not secured.
