GHAPS Employees Leveraged Their Positions
in Support of an external Anti-Racism Task Force
The Anti-Racism Task Force at the Momentum Center holds monthly town hall meetings with the noble goal of reducing racism in our community. It is a non-profit organization supported by the work of volunteers. As Americans we are free to spend our time working and volunteering for any organization we choose. If, however, we are directed by our employer to be a liaison to an organization, then it is our employer who pays us for the time spent working on projects related to the partnering organization. The partnership makes sense when the goals are mutual.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools has partnered with the Anti-Racism Task Force at the Momentum Center. I do not believe that these two organizations have mutual goals, but rather individuals within GHAPS share the goals (ideology) of the Momentum Center Anti-Racism Task Force and have found a way to implement their goals in a way that is tax-payer funded. In addition, they have leveraged their positions within the school system to pursue personal agenda-driven political goals. The following emails will explain how the relationship works.
In August 2020, the Anti-Racism Task Force at the Momentum Center initiated forming a partnership with Grand Haven Area Public Schools. GHAPS eagerly supported the partnership.
Key individuals involved in the partnership formed a productive working relationship right from the start. For example, GHAPS has facilitated questions during the town hall meetings, typed up notes from town hall meetings, helped to plan events such as the DIE Expo, provided teachers with book suggestions and resources recommended by the Anti-Racism Task Force, coordinated speakers for the Anti-Racism Task Force monthly Town Halls, provided members with invites to GHAPS budgeting meetings, and even worked with the Momentum Center to find potential GHAPS school board candidates. Here are some emails documenting this work.
In this email exchange, GHAPS and Barbara Lee VanHorssen work to coordinate Rev. Jared Cramer speaking at a Town Hall on Racism and Religion.
In the following email, GHAPS Curriculum Director Mary Jane Evink summarizes a recent town hall meeting and suggests inviting Calvin Terrill to speak at a future meeting. Do you remember Calvin Terrill?
In the next email, the GHAPS Curriculum Director discusses inviting students to speak at a future town hall. The Curriculum Director references Calvin Terrell and his “Call to Warrior” training in which select students were invited to attend.
In this final email, the Anti-Racism Task Force Experi-Mentor includes GHAPS in planning speakers for another town hall.
As evidenced by these emails, GHAPS employees have spent many hours both during and after school working on Momentum Center initiatives.
The problem is not so much that these individuals have chosen to volunteer their free time working for a non-profit organization, but rather, as a paid members of the GHAPS staff these individuals have leveraged their positions to support Momentum Center initiatives. The Curriculum Director has clearly spent a significant number of hours during the school day working on the goals of the Momentum Center.
The Anti-Racism Task Force has a clear political agenda. While some people in the community support their agenda, others do not. Do the Grand Haven tax payers realize that their tax dollars are supporting the Anti-Racism Task Force through this partnership? How is this working relationship acceptable? Are there any limitations to the number of hours GHAPS employees can spend working on initiatives for non-profit organizations during school hours? GHAPS personnel have access to students, student records, and control over the selection of student learning materials. Is it really acceptable to use a position of influence to further the goals of an outside organization?
It seems this behavior violates several GHAPS policies.
po1130 Conflict of Interest
po2240 Controversial Issues
po3231 Outside Activities of Staff
Elected officials are expected to follow the established policies and ensure public employees act in the best interests of their constituents.