Hazel Park Neighbors For Change 2026

09/03/2026

REVIEW THE RECORD: APRIL 2025

Three Board meetings. One month. A lot to review.

April included discussion of the Therapy Dog Policy, district policy review, March financials, a proposed $45,000 workforce analysis, grants, staffing, contracts, and continued work surrounding Seclusion & Restraint.

The Seclusion & Restraint Reduction Plan began in August 2024. The work included a district focus group, staff training and data monitoring. By February 2025, the district reported a 90%+ reduction in incidents. In April, the Board reviewed updated Focus Group-developed safety language clarifying that seclusion and restraint are a last resort, used only in situations involving imminent danger, and must end when the danger passes.

At the April 21 Regular Meeting, the Board acted on the amended budget, staffing, additional support for Webster, administrative contracts and other service agreements. The Board also received an update on Portrait of a Learner, including $16,900 paid to Battelle for Kids for the contracted work.

The green items on our graphic represent approved actions. The red highlights identify costs or financial items we believe deserve a closer look — not failed motions.

Our goal is simple: put the information in one place so residents can look at the meetings, understand the decisions, and form their own conclusions.

Watch the discussion in context. Review the record. Decide for yourself.

Meeting links can be found under the meeting graphic in our photos.

09/01/2026

Now it’s time to understand how the system is supposed to work.

School governance can get complicated. Before forming an opinion about any Board member, superintendent, decision, or controversy, it helps to understand the roles, responsibilities, policies, and processes behind those decisions.

That’s what this post for HPNFC is about.

We’ll continue reviewing the record—but we’ll also break down how a public school district operates, what authority the Board actually has, what belongs to the superintendent and administration, and where the public fits into the process.

Because ultimately, YOU are the voter.

The goal isn’t to tell you what to think. It’s to give you information so you can form an educated opinion and cast an informed vote—one that matters for our students, our staff, our schools, and our community.

Know the roles. Understand the process. Review the record. Decide for yourself.

08/31/2026

REVIEW THE RECORD | MARCH 2025

Four Board of Education meetings. One month.

March included discussions and decisions involving Board governance, district finances, staffing, handbooks, interim superintendent records, outside investigations and legal matters.

Some numbers are worth noting:
• Approximately $993,000 — about a 1% fund balance
• $500,200 in grant funding awarded
• A proposed $40,000–$45,000 spending on outside staffing analysis
• An outside fact-finding investigation at $250/hour, not to exceed $7,500

Each meeting also tells part of a larger story about how the Board governs, how district resources are being considered, and how decisions are made.

The graphic includes Board attendance for each meeting so the public can see who was present when these discussions and decisions are being made.

Watch the discussions in context.
Review the record.
Decide for yourself.

08/30/2026

School finance numbers tell a story—but only when they’re viewed in context.

Hazel Park Schools faced significant financial challenges for many years before 2015. From 2015–2020, the district moved from an approximately $8 million General Fund deficit to a positive fund balance, a turnaround of roughly $9.63 million.

Today’s posts look at both the historical financial record and the financial information presented during the February 25, 2025 Board of Education meeting.

Why does the history matter? Because understanding where the district started, how its finances changed, and where it stands today provides important context when evaluating decisions, statements, and concerns about school finances.

Look at the numbers.
Understand the history.
Review the source documents.

Review the record. Decide for yourself.

08/26/2026

REVIEW THE RECORD | FEBRUARY 25, 2025

School funding can be complicated—but understanding where the money comes from and how it is used matters.

At the February 25, 2025 Regular Board of Education Meeting, discussion included budget development, federal funding, school meal funding, Medicaid reimbursement, Title I funding, grant-funded programs, and budget priorities.

As you watch, consider:

Where does the funding come from? What programs depend on it? What happens when that funding changes or ends?

Watch the discussion in context.

Review the record. Decide for yourself.

08/19/2026

SCHOOL FINANCE 101 | Understanding the February 10 Meeting

The February 10, 2025 Committee of the Whole included a detailed discussion of District finances—including fund balance, cash flow, audit findings, delayed federal reimbursements, current-year spending, and the $12 million borrowing.

These terms can sound similar. They aren’t.

Before asking what happened, it helps to understand what the numbers mean.

This graphic explains key financial terms referenced in the February 10 meeting so you can follow the discussion with context.

Meeting link in the comments.

Don’t just react to the number. Understand what it represents.

Review the record.
Decide for yourself.

08/18/2026

Watch the discussion in context.
Review the record.
Decide for yourself.

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

COMING SOON

We’re continuing to review the public record and making it easier for our community to follow the meetings, discussions, and decisions that matter.

Stay informed.
Review the Record.
Decide for yourself.

Meeting links coming soon.

Accountability. Transparency. Better Schools.

08/17/2026

KNOW THE RULES. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

The Michigan Open Meetings Act (OMA) helps ensure the public’s business is conducted openly and transparently.

Want to know what the law actually says? Check out the Michigan OMA Handbook.

Link to the handbook is in the comments.