Board hears community feedback on interim Suki facility options, requests fuller facilities work-group report

Administration presented a written summary of community engagement on interim Suki facility options and summarized three listening events and a joint session held to gather input.

Superintendent Stanley said the report included attendance counts and verbatim quotes and provided historical context for why a midterm option is under consideration. Administration reported roughly 44 family and staff attendees at the Hazel Park session, about 61 attendees at an East Side session and roughly 110 attendees at a combined meeting, with central-office staff and board directors also present.

Several board directors described a persistent pattern of hurt and distrust in affected communities and criticized the process as “reactionary,” urging clearer communications, timelines and a durable plan for trust-building. Directors raised concerns that earlier presentations to the work group lacked full financial vetting and that the community was sometimes surprised to find a named site (Hazel Park) was an administrative recommendation rather than a direct community request.

Multiple members asked the facilities work group to appear before the board at the December community-of-the-board meeting to present its complete analysis and estimations, and suggested site visits to the upper/lower campus and Hazel Park before the Dec. 16 vote. Administration agreed to compile unanswered questions from note takers and provide written responses.

Directors requested concrete next steps for repair and restoration of relationships in communities affected by facility changes. No vote was taken; the board will consider final action on Dec. 16 and expects follow-up materials and a full facilities work-group presentation in December.