Resident raises FOIA fee and facilities concerns during MPS public comment

During the public-comment period at the Jan. 16 Midland Public Schools meeting, Renita Bonadies told the board she had been charged what she considered excessive FOIA fees, that accounting for those fees was inadequate and that she was informed by an interim superintendent the district's online FOIA handbook was no longer valid and that appeals for fees could only be pursued in circuit court.

Bonadies said she had paid fees and did not receive the requested information, and that other local public organizations sometimes respond to information requests without charging. "So I guess that gives you kind of liberty to charge us whatever you want unless we wanna take time and money now to take you to court for those fees," Bonadies said, urging the board to make the process more accessible.

In a separate public comment, a resident identified as Joe raised questions about long-term enrollment decline — saying the district had fallen from more than 10,000 students in the late 1990s to under 8,000 today — and asked whether an independent population projection had been used in facilities planning. He also urged any bond proposal to be scheduled on a major election to ensure maximum participation.

Board members later referenced an independent consultant and noted a recent population forecast was ordered and received in the fall. The board did not take immediate action on FOIA procedures during the meeting; the speaker’s concerns were entered into the public record.