By Sterling McGinn
Deb Canfield, a 36-year administrative assistant of Tahquamenon Area Schools (TAS) was reinstated to her position after a public grievance hearing at the April 20 board of education meeting.
A crowd of nearly 75 people attended the meeting, many in support of Canfield.
In early November, Canfield and two others were placed on leave months ago in connection to what was believed to be misappropriation of athletic department funds. All three employees were reinstated, Canfield only briefly before she was placed on leave again as the confusion continued. She had been on leave since.
Approximately 15 people spoke in Canfield’s defense, including Fred Bryant, former TAS athletic director, coach, and teacher. Bryant drove from Cadillac, Michigan to be present for the meeting.
“Deb was my secretary when I was the athletic director,” Bryant said. “I feel terrible that this is even being talked about. Deb was in it for the right reasons for the stakeholders, the kids, the parents and the community.”
The audience applauded each time someone spoke up for Canfield.
“I am on my fifth athletic director in my nine years as a coach,” said Bob Bowler. “The only consistency in that department is Deb Canfield.”
Canfield’s hearing took place in open session, and the audience listened to the discussion between the board and Canfield’s Michigan Education Association union representative.
At the heart of the situation was a concern from auditors about a $17,0000 discrepancy in athletic gate revenue from the school years of 2023-24 and 24-25.
After returning weeks later from the first leave, Canfield was cleaning a closet in the athletic office and found a money box with cash in it.
“I found the money, I closed the box up and called Shawn asking if she was at school yet and she said no,” Canfield said. “She asked me how much money was in it and I said ‘I don’t know’ so I closed it back up and put it back in the closet. I asked her what I should do with it and she [Tebo] said ‘keep it there and we will come in the morning and pick it up.’”
During the conversation, Tebo thought she heard an adding machine running in the background, and didn’t believe Canfield’s assurance that she did not know how much money was in the box. Tebo also said that the closet had been searched by five individuals with no one finding the money.
“It was definitely a red flag that tall of a sudden money just appeared,” said Tebo. She also explained that money that should have been deposited in the bank was instead found in safes in the old high school.
Canfield said that night she did not have or use an adding machine at her job.
After speaking with the district’s executive board and getting advice from the district attorney, Canfield was asked to retire or be terminated. In late February 2026, Canfield received a letter from Tebo terminating her as of that date.
The Michigan Education Association filed a grievance on Canfield’s behalf, alleging she was terminated without just cause, a violation of the district’s employee association master agreement.
After a lengthy discussion, the board voted to accept Canfield’s grievance, meaning she will be reinstated to her position with full back pay and with benefits, and a clean personnel record. She can return as soon as she likes. Canfield was not given an apology.
The board determined that the method used by the athletic department to deposit money was a “failed system”.
In other news, Tebo and Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructor Linus Parr explained the two millage proposals that will be on the May 5 ballot.
The CTE millage, through the ISD, is a renewal and funds vocational programing at all the EUP schools. This includes construction and health sciences courses at TAS. The millage was originally approved in 2017.
“This provides all of the high-quality CTE programs in all EUP schools,” said Tebo. “We have construction trades by Mr. Parr and health science…the students go off to the hospital for their work.”
The CTE renewal, if approved by voters, will begin next year. It must be approved by all three counties to pass.
The second millage proposal is a TAS operating proposal.
“We have to have a Headlee rollback—what that means is originally we went with 18 mills three years ago,” Tebo said. “Because property rates have been rising, it makes our Headlee go down.
We have actually lost money—it’s a restoration millage to go back up to our 18 mills and it’s on second homes and businesses.”
Tebo also said that if the operating millage does not pass, the district will lose upwards of $80,000.
Also taking place was a presentation by contractors to possibly fix brick issues on the current school building. There have been water leaks in the bump-out windows in the classrooms on the second floor, which now houses grades 7-12.
Brick deterioration around the front entrance and the two tower-like structures that house the air handlers has also been seen. The exterior work will have to be handled carefully as the materials around the bump-out windows contain asbestos.
Tebo said that there is remaining bond money that the district must spend in the next couple of months. The estimated cost of the project is around $100,000. The board will make a decision at a later date.
The board also accepted the resignation of teacher Claire Neeb and approved the hiring of Jessica Rahilly to fill the executive assistant position that was held by Jane Freeborn, who is retiring.
