Dear friends and supporters,

First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who signed and shared our petition. Your support means the world—not only to me but to every student affected by this situation. Your voices amplified ours, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.

I’m writing to give you an important update and to let you know why I’ve decided to close the petition at this time.

On Monday, April 28th, I, along with several fellow Bowers students, teachers, parents, and graduates spoke during the public comment section of the Board of Education meeting. You can view the full meeting [link to recording of BHS Board of Education Meeting], and for those specifically interested in hearing our speeches, they begin at 1:30:50.

Immediately following our comments, both Superintendent Rick West and a board representative responded. In short, they stood by their decision. While Superintendent West did issue an apology for how the situation was communicated, many of us—students, parents, teachers, and alumni—were left feeling unheard and uneasy. The apology did not come with answers, and the biggest questions remain:

• Why can’t we stay on the farm?
• Why aren’t juniors being allowed to finish the two-year program we committed to?
• Why weren’t students, families, or faculty given a voice in this decision?

The lack of transparency and refusal to engage in open dialogue has been incredibly disappointing. We walked away that night frustrated—not just with the decision itself, but with how it was handled by both Superintendent West and the Board.

That said, this is not the end of the road.

Though this petition is closing, our fight is far from over. I encourage everyone to continue taking action:

• Email the Board of Education (board@bloomfield.org) and Superintendent West (rwest@bloomfield.org).
• Share your stories, share the speeches, and keep the conversation going.
• Post on social media, talk to your community, and let your voice be heard.

Thank you again for standing beside us. Your support has given us strength, and we’ll keep pushing forward—together.

With gratitude and determination,

Gabby Gilbert and the Students of Bowers Academy