Hamtramck Schools Contract Out Administrator Position

District faces financial troubles, fails to complete required audits

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:52pm

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Hamtramck's public school district has been forced to contract out its building and grounds management to a private consulting firm, BRC, after failing to complete its required annual financial audits. This has led to the district dipping into its own savings to cover costs and requesting a state bailout, which was delayed due to the missing audits.

Why it matters

The district's financial troubles and reliance on an outside contractor raise concerns about oversight and transparency, as the school board appears to have limited awareness of the significant monthly payments to BRC. This highlights broader challenges facing underfunded public school systems in managing their operations and finances.

The details

After the district's Building and Grounds Director retired two years ago, Hamtramck Public Schools hired BRC Consulting, run by Bruce Coltman, to manage the maintenance of buildings, grounds, security, transportation, food services, and construction projects. BRC is paid $80 per hour, amounting to over $150,000 per year. While contracting out this work may save the district on pension and health insurance costs, the teachers' union president argues the board has failed to properly oversee these significant monthly expenses.

  • The district had been operating without state funding for three months before requesting a bailout.
  • The district's annual financial audit was normally due by November each year but had not been completed.
  • BRC Consulting has been paid about $344,000 from April 2024 to the present.

The players

James Larson-Shidler

Interim Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools.

Toni Coral

President of the Hamtramck teachers' union.

Bruce Coltman

Owner of BRC Consulting, which was hired by Hamtramck Public Schools to manage various district operations.

Richard Waszynski

Former Building and Grounds Director for Hamtramck Public Schools, who retired about two years ago.

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What they’re saying

“The board never asked about those repeat expenses that are on the check registers every month. Their job is oversight and they dropped the ball. If they're OK with paying somebody that, then they should make that known. My issue is that I don't think they had any idea that that money was being spent.”

— Toni Coral, President, Hamtramck teachers' union

What’s next

The school district must complete its overdue financial audit in order to receive the state funding it has requested. The school board will also likely face increased scrutiny and calls for greater oversight of the district's finances and contracts with outside firms like BRC Consulting.

The takeaway

This case highlights the financial challenges facing underfunded public school systems, where a lack of transparency and oversight can lead to significant outsourcing of core operations. It raises questions about the role of school boards in monitoring district spending and ensuring taxpayer dollars are being used effectively.