Parents raise concerns after Northville schools approve mental health clinic at middle school

Some parents say the district failed to provide transparency or require parental consent before approving the clinic at Hillside Middle School

NORTHVILLE, Mich. — The Northville Public Schools Board of Education has approved an agreement allowing a mental health clinic to operate out of Hillside Middle School, drawing criticism from some parents who say the district failed to provide transparency and adequate parental safeguards.

Support my independent journalism by becoming a paid subscriber if you have not yet done so. It’s less than $1 per week. You can leave at anytime. Help support my work by clicking red button below.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding in a unanimous 7–0 vote, allowing a clinic run by Trinity Health, formerly IHA Health, to use unused space at the middle school. The clinic is scheduled to operate between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and will be open to the general public, according to details shared during the board meeting.

Watch my interview with concerned parent Matthe Wilk:

Matthew Wilk, a Northville parent and former school board member, said parents were not informed about the proposal until shortly before the meeting and were not provided with supporting documents in advance.

“They didn’t announce this until a day before the meeting, and there was no backup material, no copy of the memorandum and no supporting documentation,” Wilk said in an interview.

Wilk said parents learned of the proposal through a Facebook post by the school board president, not through direct communication from the district. He said the agenda referenced only a memorandum of understanding with Trinity Health without additional explanation.

District officials described the clinic as a mental health resource but emphasized during the meeting that it is not a school-based health center, Wilk said. He added that the clinic will operate after most school hours and will accept appointments from the broader community, not only students.

One of Wilk’s primary concerns is parental consent. He said district officials did not clearly state whether parents would be notified or required to give permission before students receive services.

“There was no clear answer on whether parents would have to consent or even be informed,” Wilk said. “That’s a major concern for parents.”

Wilk, who is an attorney, said Michigan law allows certain medical services to be provided to minors without parental consent, but he argued the district could still require parental notification as a condition of hosting the clinic on school property.

“The law is permissive, not mandatory,” Wilk said. “The school district can set terms if a provider is operating in a public school building.”

He also questioned the necessity of placing a clinic at the middle school, noting that multiple health care facilities already operate within a few miles of the campus.

“This area is saturated with health care providers,” Wilk said. “Building a clinic at a middle school doesn’t solve the underlying shortage of mental health professionals.”

Wilk emphasized that he supports expanding access to mental health services but believes the district should have engaged parents before approving the agreement.

“When we had controversial issues, we held town halls and answered questions,” Wilk said, referencing his time on the board. “That didn’t happen here.”

The district has not publicly released the full memorandum of understanding or responded to specific concerns raised by parents during the meeting, Wilk said.

Parents who spoke during public comment asked the board to delay the vote and hold community forums, but the board approved the agreement without changes, according to Wilk.

“This could have been handled differently,” he said. “Parents just want transparency and to be part of the conversation.”

I reached out to the superintendent for comment but I have not heard back from anyone.