Residents praise Pleasant View principal, call for independent probe into superintendent

During the public comment portion of the Sept. 23 Eastpointe Community Schools board meeting, residents offered both strong praise for Pleasant View principal Felicia Trice and calls for the board to pursue an independent investigation into allegations involving Superintendent Gibson.

Darilyn Brown, a retired English teacher who said she tutors a recent Pleasant View graduate, described Trice's familiarity with students and organization at school events and asked the board to keep her at Pleasant View. "I think Miss Felicia Trice loves her students and shows that love by doing good work," Brown said.

Other speakers reiterated those endorsements. Judith Gon, a grandparent, credited Trice with turning around a grandchild's academic performance and described the school as "like a family." Fimy Perkins, also a grandparent, said ClassDojo and regular outreach made her feel her grandchildren were safe and supported under Trice's leadership.

At the same time, Cindy Federly — identifying herself as an Eastpointe resident — raised concerns about district decisions and alleged legal and ethical issues involving the superintendent. She stated there have been "three lawsuits" reported in the news and that "now his suit makes four," and urged the board to "develop an action plan" and hire an independent investigator; she said the public has "a right to know what action the board is taking." Another commenter described subsequent developments: Michael Riley (who had spoken at an earlier meeting) has since been suspended and a police report filed, and the speaker warned those facts "may be misconstrued by the public or the court as retaliation" if Mr. Riley brings a lawsuit.

No board response or formal action on the allegations was recorded during the public session; several commenters explicitly said some investigative details may be discussed in closed session. The public-comment period closed at 6:59 p.m.