The Bowers Academy, a Bloomfield Hills schools alternative education program, will be relocating this fall and the announcement has upset some district parents.

The academy opened its doors on 93 acres at Bowers School Farm in 1998. According to one parent, the district announced only days ago the academy would be moving to high school in the fall.

“I know for a fact that many board members found out after the students — which was Monday morning,” said Michelle Gilbert, a parent of an academy student. “And, we as parents found out after our students called us from school on Monday. This was handled horribly without any transparency.”

Bowers Farm has been owned by district since 1967.

The farm has sheep, horses, cattle and goats along with acres of gardens for vegetable production, community use, and curated horticultural displays.

“Beginning in the 2025—26 school year, the program will transition to Bloomfield Hills High School,” the district said in a statement. “This move is part of a thoughtful and strategic plan to enhance academic offerings, increase student support, and improve overall program effectiveness.”

The program currently serves 11th- and 12th-grade students and the district will begin accepting students entering the 10th grade next year.

“The program will maintain its focus on small class sizes, personalized learning, and multiple pathways to graduation,” the district said. “The students will now have access to the full range of Bloomfield Hills High School resources while continuing to benefit from the core principles of alternative education. A detailed and supportive transition plan is in place for the 17 currently enrolled students and their families.”

Lisa Efros, former Bloomfield Hills school board trustee, also said the announcement came as a surprise.

“I was sad when I heard the academy was closing. I reached out to friends on the board of education and was shocked to learn that the board had no knowledge of the closing. Neither did parents of the academy students,” Efros wrote on the “Dear Bloomfield” Facebook page. “I still cannot believe that a beloved Bloomfield Hills school could close with no board vote, no warning, no consideration for the students who attend.”

The district did not agree with the claims that the board was unaware of the move.

“This transition does not require a vote of the board of education, but has been shared with board members over the past several weeks and is aligned with the district’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement,” their statement read.

Efros, who served on the board from 2018-2022, is concerned about the effects of the move on academy students.

“I read a list of questions the confused and scared students were in the process of collecting,” Efros wrote in her post. “The predominant concern was for their safety. They wondered if they would be subjected to the nasty comments and unfriendly environment that led them to Bowers Academy. Students were told that the reason was ‘poor academic outcomes.’ ”

Gilbert said she and other parents will attend the next school board meeting on April 28.