Dearest reader,
Oh, Grand Ledge. Just when Lady B thought she was finished following one breadcrumb, another appeared.
And this time, it leads to a swimming pool.
As readers know, I've been examining Grand Ledge Public Schools' Bond Supervisor position, which carries approximately $175,299 in annual total compensation.
But a reader recently raised another interesting question about the district's previous bond projects.
What happened with the Beagle Middle School competition pool?
Well, I went looking.
The pool was constructed as part of the district's previous bond program. Yet after construction, changes were needed.
The diving well was originally 11.5 feet deep. The district subsequently arranged to deepen it to 12 feet.
The original two-diving-board configuration was also reduced to one board.
According to the district, its architects and construction partners covered the costs of these corrections.
That's important context. I'm not suggesting taxpayers paid for the corrections or that any particular company was responsible for the original design decisions.
But there's more to the story.
Clark Construction served as construction manager for the previous bond program, while GMB Architects provided architectural services.
And here's where the history becomes particularly interesting.
Former Grand Ledge Board President Sara Clark Pierson had a documented family connection to individuals associated with Clark Construction.
Board minutes show that she abstained from certain bond-related votes, including the October 2020 pool construction bid approvals.
Those abstentions deserve to be acknowledged. I'm not suggesting she acted improperly.
Now, fast-forward to 2026.
Grand Ledge is proposing another $123.5 million bond.
The architectural firm has changed to TMP Architecture.
But Clark Construction was again recommended to provide construction management services, according to the district's January 12, 2026 board packet.
Which brings me back to a few questions.
What did the district learn from the Beagle pool modifications?
How were the previous construction projects evaluated before selecting firms for future work?
What role did the district's Bond Supervisor play in identifying, overseeing, and resolving construction issues?
And speaking of that position, was it originally publicly advertised when former Assistant Superintendent Mike Johnson retired and subsequently became Bond Supervisor?
I've searched publicly accessible records and haven't located that original advertisement. That doesn't establish that one never existed.
These are separate questions, but they all concern the same thing: how Grand Ledge manages major taxpayer-funded construction projects.
I'm not here to decide who was responsible for a diving well that needed modifications, or to suggest that a family relationship establishes wrongdoing.
I'm here to examine the records, connect the documented history, and ask questions that taxpayers may reasonably want answered.
Because with another $123.5 million proposal on the horizon, understanding what happened during the previous bond program seems like useful context.
And Lady B does love context.
Especially when it comes with receipts. 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #GrandLedgePublicSchools #SchoolBonds #TaxpayerTransparency #FollowTheReceipts