Royal Oak Schools Honors 3 Retiring School Board Members

ROYAL OAK, MI — Three longtime members of the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education had their final school board meeting with the district Thursday night.

Board president Jeff Brinker, Vice-President Gary Briggs and trustee Carrie Beerer previously announced that they would be stepping down following the meeting.

“It has been a pleasure working with such caring community members invested in the education of our young people, as they also supported our staff and families,” Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick said. “Mr. Briggs, Mr. Brinker and Ms. Beerer have selflessly dedicated themselves to the Royal Oak Schools community for quite a few years and they will be greatly missed.”

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Brinker has been on the school board for 10 years. He has served as President, Vice-President, and on various committees. He said he'll miss graduations the most.

"Having started on the Board during the 'recession' and ending during the 'pandemic,' it was nothing short of amazing at how well Royal Oak Schools reacted and succeeded during challenging times," Brinker said. "I am proud to have served on the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education."

Beerer has been on the district board of education for 10 years, the district said. She said that when she ran 10 years ago, it was a logical move as a mother with children in the district. She said the highlight of her 10 years was hiring two superintendents that “were the right people we needed when their time came to work with us.”

Briggs is a 17-year veteran of the district's board. Briggs first joined the school board in 2003, when he said he saw a need for schools to consolidate and wanted to be there to help “do it right.”

Briggs was instrumental in the Royal Oak Mural Project when, in the spring of 2004, the Royal Oak WPA Murals were rediscovered after being in storage for over 25 years.