Recall Petition Launched Against Two Hazel Park School Board Members
(Crystal A. Proxmire, July 8, 2025)
Hazel Park, MI – A grassroots coalition, the Committee for Ethical Transparency, has initiated a recall petition against two members of the Hazel Park School Board – President Beverly Hinton and Vice President Deborah Laframboise, citing concerns over their leadership and decision-making.
The recall effort stems from the board members’ vote to place the district’s superintendent on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, the details of which were never revealed to the public.
At a special meeting on Jan. 27, the Hazel Park School Board voted unanimously to place Superintendent Amy Kruppe on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave while they conducted an investigation. The decision came following a closed session portion of the meeting and no specific reason was given to the public.
The School Board then put Kruppe on paid leave, hired an interim Superintendent who was also being paid, and hired a law firm outside of the board’s typical legal council to conduct an investigation.
In March the board voted to hire a second investigator to look into claims that President Hinton may have acted inappropriately by entering Kruppe’s office and searching the office and her computer.
The first attorney had been working at a fee of $250 per hour plus travel, and the second has been working at $350 per hour plus travel. From January through March the cost of the investigations and the dual Superintendents’ salaries has been estimated at over $97,000, not including whatever bills came in April or May.
In spite of not revealing more about the investigation, the board voted unanimously to reinstate Dr. Kruppe on May 15. The school board has declined Freedom of Information requests for the report regarding the investigations, leaving the community in the dark about why the superintendent was placed on leave and whether President Hinton’s actions were of concern to the attorney or not.
Kruppe has been with Hazel Park Schools for ten years. Prior to her arrival, the district was in grave financial shape due to years of mismanagement and her time in Hazel Park has been frequently marred by the contention of those who supported the former leadership and disagreed with changes Kruppe made to keep the district solvent.
Ryann Peters is among those gathering petitions for the recall. She said that the decisions of the board, guided by Hinton and Laframboise “resulted in unnecessary financial burden to the district. More troubling, these actions appear rooted in personal agendas rather than student-focused priorities. The current board leadership has eroded public trust, and we believe it’s time for a change that prioritizes ethical governance and educational excellence.”
The official ballot language states:
- Beverly Hinton (President)
“On January 27, 2025, at a school board meeting held at the Hazel Park School District Administration Building located at 1620 E. Elza, Hazel Park, MI 48030, President Beverly Hinton voted in favor of placing the superintendent on paid administrative leave.” - Deborah Laframboise (Vice President)
“On January 27, 2025, at a school board meeting held at the Hazel Park School District Administration Building located at 1620 E. Elza, Hazel Park, MI 48030, Vice President Deborah Laframboise voted in favor of placing the superintendent on paid administrative leave.”
The committee must gather at least 2,040 valid signatures by August 1st, 2025, for the recall to appear on the November 2025 ballot.
Voters who live in the Hazel Park School District, which also includes the eastern portion of Ferndale, are eligible to sign if interested. Those interested can email hprecall2025@gmail.com or contact Ryann Peters directly at 248-331-5532 to sign or learn more.
If the recall is successful, the seats will be declared vacant and filled according to Michigan election law, either through special election or appointment.
The Committee for Ethical Transparency has plans beyond just the recall effort. “Our group hopes to partner with other local coalitions to educate the community on the role and responsibilities of a school board member,” Peters said. “We view this not only as a corrective measure, but as an opportunity to empower the public and help identify and support ethical, student-first candidates for future service.”
Neither Hinton nor Laframboise responded to request for comment.
