GRANT, Mich. (WOOD) — After the Grant Public School Board voted to cut ties with the health center inside its middle school, the meeting at which that vote occurred is facing a legal challenge, and the health center’s future remains unclear.

The challenge comes from Family Health Care, the operator of the Child and Adolescent Health Center. It centers on whether the Grant school board properly advertised its June 19 meeting to the public.

The district’s superintendent, Brett Zuver, said that during the June 19 meeting, a “surprise motion” — one that was not on the agenda — was made. As a result, four school board members voted to end the district’s contract with Family Health Care.

According to Family Health Care, the board may have violated the Open Meetings Act.

“We didn’t have public input,” Makayla Willett, whose son receives services at the health center, told News 8. “That was not only shocking, but it also kind of made me angry and sad for my kid, who relies on this place.”

On Friday evening, a special meeting took place to discuss whether the June 19 meeting was in compliance.

“You were so quick to shut down the community talking to you, before you made a decision about our children’s well-being,” said one community member at the meeting.

The mood was tense Friday as dozens of people packed into the Grant Middle School cafeteria for the school board meeting. Many members of the community argued in support of the health center.

At the meeting, some discussed the cost to run the health center. One board member said it is state-funded, and according to those who spoke Friday, the extra cost to run the center hovers around $5,000 for utilities.

According to Family Health Care, the Grant Public School Board has not mentioned any operational issues with its Child and Adolescent Health Center, but last year, some parents shared concerns about a mural at the facility which featured LGBTQ+ symbols.

At Friday’s meeting, the mural was a topic of discussion.

“I believe that the sexualizing of children at any level is wrong,” one person who spoke said. “And out of all the lovely things that could’ve been chosen to mark the walls of the health center, a sexual thing was chosen.”

But many people disagreed, including board member Rob Schuitema, who spoke on behalf of himself.

“I can’t get into too much of that, but I know that that mural has been a source of frustration and an issue for a lot of people in here,” Schuitema told News 8.

“Everybody knows this is about the mural,” said one person at the meeting. “Please, please realize kids’ lives are more important than the mural.”

After Friday’s meeting, News 8 asked board members who voted for the health center to close why they did so. They gave no comment.

Rachelle Hallo, whose grandson receives care at the Child and Adolescent Health Center, told News 8 the center’s closure will have a big impact on her grandson.

“My grandson has separation anxiety, and he also doesn’t transition well,” Hallo said. “And for me to think I need to find another doctor, when I know he has a connection there, is heartbreaking to me.”

Julie Tatko, president and CEO of Family Health Care, said the health center served almost 700 children in the last school year.

“It will be hard for them to find a new medical and mental health care home once those services close,” Tatko said.

Family Health Care said it will continue to provide services until its contract ends.

As for what’s next, Schuitema told News 8 he is holding out hope that the health center will remain open.

“What else do I have? Well, and I have the community that is obviously showing what Grant represents,” he said.