ELPS Board Plans for Fink Replacement, Hears Public Concerns about Suspended Teacher
Following the resignation of trustee Monica Fink and the second suspension of MacDonald Middle School (MMS) physical education teacher Dennis Petrowitz, the East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS) Board met to address plans for moving forward and the concerns of the public.
The Friday (Sept. 29) special meeting laid out the process to replace Fink. The board plans to follow a process similar to what was used following the August resignation of trustee Amanda Cormier.
The board has 30 days to fill this vacancy and is looking to move fast. Letters of interest for the open position are to be sent to Secretary Tali Faris-Hylen by noon Friday (Oct. 6). The board will then conduct public interviews at the board meeting on Monday (Oct. 9).
Few members of the public commented on Fink’s resignation, although some expressed skepticism as to the true reason behind her resignation.

The board said Fink indicated in her resignation letter that she moved out of the district perimeters, thus making her ineligible to serve on the board.
However, some members of the audience brought forth the mistreatment of Fink by the board, and presented that as a possible reason for her leaving.
“We watched as members of this board bullied Monica [Fink] out of her position,” one attendee said to the board. “We saw the outcome of the closed-door sessions, decisions made to the detriment of a brown/black advocate who said ‘Enough is enough.’ I’m here to tell you we are not going anywhere. We are here, we have been here, and we will remain here.”
With around 20 members in the audience, most speakers were focused on Petrowitz.
The physical education teacher was suspended last May after using the “N-word” while addressing students. His second, and most recent, suspension was Sept. 22 because of an“unprofessional verbal interaction.”
The morning prior to the Friday board meeting, MacDonald Middle School (MMS) students held a walkout in reaction to Petrowitz’s actions.
According to an email sent by Principal Amy Martin to MMS families, “most students reentered the building within five or ten minutes. Several students remained outside, and all students were safely back in the building before 9:00 a.m.”
Moving forward, Martin asked that students express their concerns about this situation to MMS Student Council representatives during their Trojan Time class. The student council representatives will then pass along the information to the MMS administration.
“We value student voice and encourage our young people to feel empowered to speak up when they feel an injustice has occurred,” the email concluded.
Brandi Branson, a parent, took time at public comment to commend the middle schoolers for their actions.

“The middle school did get out today, and it was overwhelming,” Branson said. “It was supportive, it was overwhelming with a resounding voice that I hope you all hear, that they would like him [Petrowitz] fired. And this is not coming from a parent, this came from the children.”
Parents and community members echoed many of these students’ concerns regarding the Petrowitz situation during the meeting.
Nine audience members raised similar concerns. Many voiced their belief that Petrowitz should be fired, while others spoke of previous issues in the district that remain unresolved. All speakers expressed an overwhelming concern for the students and the effect this situation has had on them, asking the board to think about the students and their needs.
Brad Lutz, a parent of two students at MMS, voiced his concern for the culture that has been created in the district.
“The issue that has brought the majority of people out today is not the problem, it’s the symptom of the problem,” Lutz said. “The problem is ‘What is the culture in the building that fostered an environment where a teacher could operate with impunity and damage students repeatedly.’ That is an issue. I have asked multiple times to this board and administration, and gotten zero answers on what they are going to do to provide safety to our children in the future.”
“I want you to know, silence is complicit,” Lutz said, addressing the board directly. “This district has been silent. We get hit or miss emails and you all hoped it would go away over the summer and guess what? We’re now a month into the school year and we’re right back where we ended the year.”
Speaking on behalf of the East Lansing Parent Advocacy Team (ELPAT), Branson spoke again echoing Lutz’s concerns about culture and asking the district to do something.
“Dennis Petrowitz’s repeated behavior is unacceptable,” Branson said. “The district utilizes policies, practices and procedures that create a space for repeated harm.”
“Principal Martin and Superintendent [Dori] Leyko, you cannot put children in harm’s way,” Branson said. “We look to you to make sound decisions around the education and safety of our students. This includes their social and emotional wellbeing. These buildings should not be spaces that harbor nor perpetuate harm. Our children are being exposed directly and indirectly to hurt and harm inflicted upon them and their peers by Dennis Petrowitz.”
A parent, Tara Miller, paralleled the situation with Petrowitz to the recent five-day suspension of her son.
“When do we take into consideration our children?” Miller asked. “This is a grown man. This is an adult. We expect our children to think of their words and their actions, but here we go time and time again giving an adult another chance. But this is also about an adult we have in our school district who is dealing with our children every day. So he can’t lead by example but they should act accordingly?”
The meeting concluded with board members sharing their thoughts and addressing the public comments.
Concerning the resignation of Fink, Board Treasurer Kath Edsall said she believes it is state law that requires board members to live within the district boundaries and the board does not have control over this.
Concerning comments involving Petrowitz, some board members said they do not wish to see him in front of kids today.
“I have no intention for Mr. Petrowitz to ever be in front of students again,” Edsall said. “I’m only one of seven, but I don’t think I’m alone. I don’t want to speak for everyone, but I don’t think I’m alone. And commenters are right, he is not the only one. Racism is insidious and you will find systemic racism wherever you go. I know that I got on this board to start to address that.”
“We sit in these seats because we want to be in the fight,” Board President Terah Chambers said. “There aren’t quick fixes to these things, but we want to find long-term solutions. And this means, if you want lasting change, it means building relationships, it means putting things in place that will have the kind of sustainable impact that you want to see.
“And we have made those kinds of changes, we’ve made those hires, we’re instituting the professional learning opportunities, we’re investing in those things,” Chambers said. “And it is frustrating when we see these kinds of steps backwards. It is frustrating for us and we feel you in that frustration.”