Swartz Creek Board Member Resigns After Threats Over Megasite

Swartz Creek Board of Education Treasurer Alyssa Bouchard stepped down this week, citing harassment and threats tied to the ongoing controversy over a proposed megasite and its potential impact on Morrish Elementary School. The harassment even spilled into her personal life, with Bouchard telling The Flint Journal that her family received online attacks via Facebook from an individual.

Harassment Sparks Resignation

In her resignation letter to Board President Carrie Germain and Interim Superintendent Jim Kitchen, Bouchard described behavior she called 'beyond what should be tolerated', including verbal attacks, intimidation, and aggressive actions at board meetings. She also noted calls expressing fear for her family’s safety, including one to her mother. Bouchard had filed a formal complaint previously and recently contacted law enforcement to obtain a PPO, consulting legal counsel regarding defamation.

Second Resignation of the Year

Bouchard, who was elected to the board last November after a brief stint in 2022 filling a vacancy, is the second member to resign this year, following trustee Holly Jarvis’ departure in June. That same month, former Superintendent Rod Hetherton left for a position in Zeeland.

Kitchen said in an email:

This is a shame. Alyssa volunteered her time for children and was subjected to treatment that made her fear for her family. She represented our district professionally and with care, and we respect her decision.

Megasite Controversy Context

Bouchard says the harassment began after she questioned the term “megasite” in an email to Kitchen, which one individual misinterpreted as support for the controversial project. The megasite in Mundy Township had been pitched as a $55 billion semiconductor factory by SanDisk, promising up to 10,000 jobs, but the project was canceled in July due to economic uncertainty and potential federal policy shifts. Discussions also included a $40 million offer to purchase Morrish Elementary to make way for the Advanced Manufacturing District, which would fund a new school nearby.

Despite being targeted, Bouchard maintains she has no position on the megasite. She said, 'I like to look at things with a full lens. I like to see both the good and the bad.'

Focus Back on Education

She also emphasized that the board’s focus needs to return to education:

For nine months, we hardly talked about education. Our board meetings were taken over by the megasite. I want to focus on stopping this kind of bullying and harassment. People can disagree, but we need to respect each other.

Bouchard’s voice may be stepping away from the board, but her message about respect and focus on students is loud and clear.