Grand Haven Area Public School (GHAPS) voters believe the district has not been transparent on a multitude of issues. In the survey administered by King Media regarding the failed May 2023 bond proposal, many GHAPS residents said a lack of transparency was a reason they voted against the proposal. Many comments referred to a lack of transparency in regards to the following issues.
Voters were told the bond proposal would not increase property taxes
Voters were given confusing information on district plans for Lakeshore Middle School
Voters were not informed of the district’s 5-10 year plans/ideas for infrastructure
The bond proposal was not transparent on how money would be spent (vague and lacked details)
The Wheeler embezzlement findings lacked transparency
Voters were not allowed to see the forensic audit from the Wheeler investigation
Voters have not been informed of additional financial losses related to the Wheeler embezzlement
Now the district is placing two new proposals on the November 7, 2023 ballot. These proposals are essentially subsets of the original proposal with construction of a new middle school making up the bulk of proposal 1, and a multipurpose facility located on the high school property making up the bulk of proposal 2. The day the district announced they were requesting voters approve these two new bond proposals, is the same day they announced they would be releasing the forensic audit. Do you believe that solves the transparency issue?
1) Voters were told the bond proposal would not increase property taxes
Voters were told the bond proposal would not increase their property taxes, but the district neglected to explain that a defeat of the proposal would result in a tax decrease of 4.2 mils over the next two years as existing bonds expired. The resulting reduction is roughly $500-$1000 per year for an average size home.
2) Voters were given confusing information on district plans for Lakeshore Middle School
Voters felt GHAPS was not being transparent with their future plans regarding Lakeshore Middle School. At a community meeting, residents were told plans for Lakeshore Middle School would be finalized in 2025-26 with community input, but they were not told that paperwork submitted to the State of Michigan contained a $100,000 allocation for demolition of Lakeshore Middle School and site restoration.
3) Voters were not informed of the district’s 5-10 year plans/ideas for infrastructure
GHAPS residents were asked to approve a bond which included constructing a new middle school, but were not informed of the district’s 5-10 year plan ideas for remodeling existing elementary schools and building new elementary schools. During the April 21, 2023, board retreat, district leaders mentioned renovating existing elementary schools and possibly constructing new elementary schools right next to existing elementary schools. They also mentioned “grade-level models” versus “neighborhood school models.” One survey respondent indicated district leaders may have future plans to construct additional buildings/schools on the proposed new middle school site.
4) The bond proposal was not transparent on how money would be spent (vague and lacked details)
GHAPS voters felt like the bond proposal made many promises, but lacked details on how exactly the money would be spent.
5) The Wheeler embezzlement findings lacked transparency
Voters are still concerned with the lack of transparency regarding the handling of the Wheeler embezzlement.
6) Voters were not allowed to see the forensic audit from the Wheeler investigation
GHAPS taxpayers paid $64,000 for the forensic audit associated with the Wheeler Embezzlement and were given permission to view it when the district announced they would be requesting money for two additional bond proposals. Do they think this makes them transparent?
7) Voters have not been informed of additional financial losses related to the Wheeler embezzlement
But perhaps the biggest lack of transparency is that there are likely additional financial losses due to the embezzlement that have not yet been reported. According to an email from GHAPS Finance Director Michael MacDonald to Superintendent Scott Grimes and School Board President Christine Baker, additional financial losses do not need to be reported until the bonds are sold. Perhaps that is the true reason the failed proposal intended to refinance all existing bonds for an additional 20 years? It seems refinancing would hide additional losses due to the embezzlement from the public for an additional 20 years.
GHAPS voters spoke loud and clear in May 2023. They want transparency and they want the truth. They want to support schools and children, but do not trust existing leadership to handle our tax dollars. They believe GHAPS leadership has misled the public, and believe more detailed plans should be produced before handing over millions of dollars.
On November 7, 2023, GHAPS will ask for public funding again. Will you vote to give money to an administration that many people feel is not being transparent?