--------- I don't know if Oh, >> no. Did you call us back to order? All right. The next just to remind everybody that this upcoming issue on the agenda or upcoming item, I mean, sorry, is facilities master plan with Lameis Shor, David Mustinin, Thomas Wall, and Paul
Wills. >> So, for this, Paul will be taking the lead and we're all here to support. >> Thank you, sir. times roar and good evening board members. I will be brief. I'll be interested in the be gone but obviously we're here to talk about the master plan update and all the exciting work that's been over the last month and
a half talk a little bit about the background some of the proposed timing for the major capital projects and really dive into the K8 concepts that's both fielding there and um Quinn Evans kind of came through the initial interview uh recommendations and then just talk about kind of the overview of
the phases as it relates to those and then kind of next steps in the elevator speech. Sorry, Paul. Are you going to be basically going through this? >> That is correct. Okay, great. >> Yep. So, I appreciate everyone having a hard copy there for to uh to review as we go through. Um so, on the slide uh that you see on the screen, really the
district's done a great job over the last several years. So, people say, "Well, how did this facility master plan come to fruition? Um you had site and facility assessments done by multiple architects and construction managers. You did an enrollment analysis really for the last five to six years going forward. Um, you also took a look at
your facility condition indexes and also took a look at space program and budgeting and you did some preliminary financial modeling. Most importantly, you did community stakeholder input with Byron Fisk. Right now, we're kind of in that program validation phase. will really take a look at all this information and take a look at what are
the goals and objectives of the Dearborn public schools. Come up with a finalized project budget and scope. Look at a cash flow modeling over the next 20 years. Look at the phasing approach which we'll review tonight. And then more importantly, um if so desired and placed on the ballot, that's really where the bond issuing millillage campaign support
would take place. There is a lot of work that would take place after the bond passes. And again, I won't go column by column, but again, creating an oversight and communication process for the community, the district administration, and the board of education, getting your architects and construction managers on board, and ultimately going to design
and construction. As your program manager, uh, we work with a variety of different entities within the Dearborn public schools, including the superintendent office, the learning and academic teams, the finance teams, facility teams, technology teams, and communication teams. And with a capital program of this size, we're
going to look at potentially multiple architects, multiple construction managers and cons and contractors, allowing an opportunity for local participation um from that perspective over the variety of projects that are being contemplated. So again, what does the facility master plan entail? It's really a 20-year
capital spend. It allows you to address your critical needs and your infrastructure in a phased approach. As I mentioned earlier, it kind of takes a good meal melding of what feeling international talked about of creating an all K8 versus Quins or renovating all the existing. So, it's really kind of a blending of the two, keeping that
neighborhood approach, taking a look at historical components and also that local participation piece. Um, so in this particular facility master plan, uh, we're going to look at expanding key neighborhood schools from 2 to 7 and we'll get into those locations here shortly. More importantly, you're maintaining 11 elementary facilities, a
middle school facility, three high school facilities, an early college facility, and the Michael Berry Center. So again, from a current two L K8 element uh neighborhood locations at Lowry and McKill Ununice, we're going to have a deeper dive into the seven that
are shown here on the screen, so I won't read through them today. What this also does is allow some other short-term and long-term planning for the district. So for instance, Becker could could be utilized for swing space during construction of some of the area elementary schools. A long-term solution
would be for adult education as a portion of the 2,00 or 1500 students you have in adult education. The Henry Ford site could be a future fieldhouse or potentially a central office relocation. The Lindberg site uh could actually be considered for GSRP or an expanded early childhood center on the west side of the
district. Then ultimately Hag and Oakman which are later in the processes could be held for future considerations. So what does a facility master plan of this magnitude look like? Again it's really a four-phase approach. The first phase being about $366 million. Uh those monies would come really in the first
three to five years. And as you can see down there we've got a new K neighborhood school at Lowry with Becker. A new addition at Saline Intermediate with Sine Elementary creating a K neighborhood if so desired. and then O Smith, Nolan with how special education students and also grades four
five at Duval. In this case, Duval uh would currently be a K3 program in that in that scenario. More importantly, in the district-wide out of the $366 million, there's approximately $80 million of district-wide improvements. So, secured vestules, toilet rooms and
athletics, CT improvements, traffic roofing, technology, buses and furniture. As you heard Mr. all ear a lot of those improvements are being um sp um supported out of the general fund. So in this scenario in the first phase addressing those critical infrastructures districtwide also a
development of the oversight committee as mentioned earlier and also the architect CM selection process. Phase two in yellow is about $394 million again focusing on Woodworth Henry Ford neighborhood uh school a Howard Lindberg school and also renovating four existing
elementary schools that you see there. also a continuation of the districtwide of roughly $55 million for technology athletics traffic roofing buses. If you're looking for the high schools, uh those are actually classified in phase three uh for Dearborn High, Edsil
Ford, and then Fordsson High. Again, keeping the three existing high school campuses. Also in this one, taking a look at Heg Bryant and having a new Kate neighborhood on that uh site with Bryant and also renovating the two existing elementaryaries, Duval and Long. As mentioned earlier, Lindberg would be
renovated for the GSRP early childhood center and a new transportation center. And lastly, uh year uh phase four through about $314 million, you'd have Makulla units, which is existing renovation of Stout, your other remaining elementary schools and the remaining administration team. So again,
these priorities are colorcoordinated and again kind of taken off the Quinn Evans report that was presented earlier from a timing standpoint. Oh, yes. >> Okay, if I ask a question. >> Yeah, >> Paul. Um just so that it's clear
well to me and hope and to others. So these items that you have at the bottom of each phase like districtwide items that would include >> take a place like fortson that would include doing things in Fortzson just so people think we're not leaving Fortzson something like Fortson correct until the
until the end. >> So what is the difference? What what is the actual difference between these district-wide things just take take forts for instance these district-wide things that would be done and then what you would be classifying under the renovation part that would be in phase
>> three so uh addressing the crit >> feel free to be as brief and quick as possible >> absolutely uh secured vestules at Fords would be a great example and toilet rooms those are the critical the critical most and that's pretty much districtwide so out of your 3 million square feet nine of your elementary schools middle and high schools do not have a separate secure desk best
reception those nine schools being that top priority in that first phase. And obviously toilet rooms, Mr. Anders and his team have done a great job kind of saying here's the top. So um if I'm at a certain school that's not in those first two priorities. I will actually be seeing some of that same thing with furniture technology integration. So I
don't want you're right parents and residents think oh my gosh I have to wait 10 years to get new furniture and technology. That's not the case in this scenario. So >> okay and then what would be the things that in year 10 would be the things that we'd be f let's say finally getting to in a place like Fortson. So a great example when you start to look at some
of the spaces you'll see on the K8s is really integrating the academic transformational spaces. So taking a look at how do you create those open and learning labs um that you maybe see how do you incorporate introductory steam uh exploratory at the elementary middle school and out to the high school. Um we do know programs will change over time.
So again a lot of that focus is not just the roofs and the parking lots and the and the mechanical system but how can you integrate the technology and the academics into those programs as part of that major renovation. And then things like the mechanical system and the electric uh electrical uh wiring and all
that kinds of in a place like Fortson that would be in the phase three part or that gets addressed in the district-wide stuff earlier. >> Yeah. So actually I mentioned $80 million of that email. There's 20 million just for miscellaneous capital expenditures. So for instance the boiler goes, electrical system goes. Mr. Anders and his team have a pot of money that
don't have to rely on the general fund. They can rely on the bond funds to address that immediately. >> Okay. Um but then at the end of the day, um kind of take a look at a very judicious process of going through not to make sure you're spending money at uh good money at bad. So >> Okay. Thank you, >> Trusty Buzzy. >> Um I think another thing that we had
talked about and we look at some of the phase uh phase 4 schools. Some of the schools are newer schools as it is, but once we get there, >> we're talking about now 15 years from now from when they were built and all that. Some of those have, if you can talk a little bit about that, some of those already have some of those spaces that we're looking for for the for the
schools that we're looking at phase one and phase two. >> Yeah, correct. So, if you go back in time, I think in the 1920s, the district made a conscious effort of investing in new schools. So, you have uh 8 to9 schools that were built in in the 1920s. Fast forward to the 40s50s, you had another sequence of of facilities that were designed kind of in the 40s50s
style. back in the late 90s and early 2000s, those newer schools that are currently shown in blue do have some of those incorporated learn labs, some of those collaboration spaces. So again, um taking a look at that holistically to say how can we build onto that um from that perspective, but also how do you incorporate the technology and furniture
changes that may take place in the next 10 to 15 years. So that's why in blue people like why do we have to wait so long? These are actually some of your newer schools that like you said trusted bad by the time you get to it maybe in that 25 30 year time cycle. So it's time for those improvements. Trusty Maz.
>> Yeah. So, the one in the green as far as phase three, we're are we saying we're just besides obviously the district-wide initiatives that we're doing in phase one and phase two, but as far as addressing the high
schools right away, we will have to wait 10 years. >> No, like for instance, in the first one, you see CT improvements. We didn't envision those CT improvements being at the three high schools. >> Um, athletics would be another good one. So, we know your field turfs, your tennis courts, um tracks, things of that nature would take place at the high
schools without having to wait till year 10 if you want. >> But in in phase three, the major capital on the high schools is major renovations to the actual buildings. >> Correct. To give an example, about $90 million would be at Fortson and about 75 million to 80 million would be at Edsil
and at Dearborn High. So, we're talking a major major overhaulation. Um but again those schools will probably see millions of dollars of investments through phase one and phase two with the secured vestibules, CT improvements, other infrastructure such as roofing and others. >> And we're doing this in phases be we
can't do this obviously at the same time. >> Correct. Yeah. Actually um that's why you see those dollar amounts at the top. And so at the end of the day the district will receive about $366 million in the first five years. The second five years is roughly 394 million. And then the third tranch if you will is about
426 million. And then last you have 314. So that's that 20 year I'll call it 15 to 20 year spending plan. Um that really kind of aligns with your capital needs is identified you know through that uh earlier assessments from the architects construction managers and
>> these numbers figures take into consideration the rate of inflation and all of >> escalation factors net present value then anticipated cost inflation. Correct. But oh, sorry. >> And so to to kind of continue on that point where these funds are coming from
when we're looking at, you know, potential bond rates, we've taken into account, you know, uh when our rates go down, um you know, potential partnership with the city with their uh sewage uh millillage going down. So we're trying to uh if you could talk a little about
that, we're trying to make sure maybe it's a refresher because I know we have talked about >> Oh, that's great. Great. Yeah. So again, this 1.51 billion is over that 15 to 20 year cycle and it's um the ability you have a very unique opportunity right now to really partner with the city. So as uh Trusty Bazzy mentioned, the combined
sewer overflow from 2013 bonds are getting paid off. >> Sorry, Paul. We need to make a motion to extend the meeting for 15 minutes. >> I'll support >> I mean I make a motion to extend the meeting for 16 minutes. >> I'll support that motion. >> All right. All in favor? >> I motion. >> We have to do a roll call. >> We have
>> Oh, sorry. Roll call. Trusty Mos. >> Yes. Trusty Bazzy. Yes. >> Trusty Zaher. Yes. Trusty De Roio. Yes. >> Trusty Pelichkov. Yes. >> Trusty Sarah. Yes. >> President Jamie. >> Yes. >> Go ahead. >> Y. So, great example. Actually, it's one of our last slides, too. But as a reminder, you have a very unique opportunity here in this this fiscal
year to capture the declining city of Dearbornne's uh combined sew overflow and take advantage of that to keep the millage rate about 26.3 mills for the current city of Dearborn homeowners from that perspective. Um, and so again, those monies are sold in a series of bonds. And in this case, it's actually
eight bonds over that that time period. And so again, out of that 366 million, about $80 million is going to geared towards traffic improvements at the high schools, uh, the middle schools, um, CT improvements, um, you know, toilet rooms, secured vestments. So, every school will see
something done in that first five years from that aspect. And then again, um, as facility needs change, again, every tranch has kind of a capex that allows the district to use bond dollars versus general fund for some things that may be of emergency use, um, if they do arise. So, >> so I'm just going to ask one last thing.
We keep using the word secure vestibules. I remember when I first learned this, I'm like, what does that mean? >> We have a great slide. It shows. >> So, um, so as I mentioned, you know, again, these are kind of the first four uh phases. Again, color cording by critical, high priority in yellow, moderate, and low on in blue.
This actually shows kind of the time frame. So again, it's very important as you start uh a lot of these projects to give you community input into the design and the programming pieces. Again, maintaining those neighborhood schools and then ultimately you don't have to wait year five or 10. So some of the
things you see in yellow could actually happen in year two. Same thing with the high schools. You could probably start talking about what are those facility needs improvements kind of year six or seven to really make sure the drawings are complete before you go out for bid. So you're not rushing the design process when you get there. That lower orange
bar you see again that's that phase one and phase two um as we talked about um all the schools that would receive that and it also includes buses, technology and furniture from those facilities from that perspective including traffic improvements. So again with the eight neighborhood
school con or concepts Kate going from on the left hand side this is your existing portfolio of elementary, middle school and K8 facilities. So again, you have 18 current elementarymentaries, uh, five middle school, and you have your 2K8s. And in the proposed facility
master plan, uh, you have your 11 elementary schools. Again, kind of color coordinated by the legend that you see on the right hand side. Stout remains a middle school. You have your seven locations for the new K8s over those time frames. And then ultimately, what would you repurpose or readapt about
250,000 square feet for? So again, um not going to read them verbatim, but you kind of see the color coordination. On the next slide, we actually take a look at where all these locations are going to take place. So circled in red or outlined in red, you see the seven neighborhood schools. Um the ones that
are in orange. So in the lower right hand side, you have Salina Intermediate. And I thought what a great presentation um from those students on what could take place with the green spaces around Selena. So again, incorporating some of that if the bond was to be successful. In the north uh east quadrant, Lowry um
being K8. Again, looking at students from Becker um coming in as part of that program. In the lower left hand or in the southwest corner, you have O Smith Nolan site. In this case, the house students about 160 specialed students would um join that campus along with the
four or five Duval students and Duval would stay as a K3 in this scenario. So, you mentioned what does a a secured vestial reception look like? So, think of a two-part building. So, on the left hand side in the screen, what you have is proposed elementary school wings. So,
this could be your PK, junior, kindergarten, kindergartener, uh, all the way up to fifth grade. On the right hand side, you could have your sixth through 8th grade middle schools. And obviously, those classrooms serve different purposes from that perspective. Um, you uh, right above the
secure vestial entrance, you actually have a proposed two-stage cafeteria. And what this means is you can feed both the elementary school and the middle school students at the same time. So you have one shared kitchen. Um so you don't have six lunch hours as some schools may have in that scenario. Um on the upper left hand side you have a three-stage gym.
What that means is this large gym space could be converted into three separate gym spaces. Uh we all call it a gym. So one of the ends would actually have a stage with curtains, sight lighting and and sound. So if you have a music program, that gymnasium or gymatorium
could be set up for that while you still have two gym classes going simultaneously. Uh we also have a proposed pool uh in this scenario. And then obviously you have support spaces for um art, music, steam, exploratory, um support space for staff and teachers.
So right now if you have 60 classrooms and again looking at as Mr. Wall said they don't come in nice packets of 25 kids per classroom. But kind of using that scenario, a building of roughly 160,000 square feet could accommodate about 1300 students or 1,350 students. So that does leave for some growth
because these are 50-year investments to 100year investments if Dearborn proves us how long you use your facilities for. Um I did have a short video um >> before the video question about the proposed two-stage cafeteria. Is that a the cafeterium or is that
>> actually the gym would be the auditorium piece because it's larger. So if you want to have like all school assemblies, >> you could have that in that larger three gym space versus let's say just in the cafeteria. We have seen a lot of districts use the cafeteria for before and after school programming. So again, how you handle the furniture, the chairs, the tables. That's kind of those
design entities would like some more input from. So uh let's see. Oh, it does play. Okay, so this is what uh AI can actually generate for you. So again, just an idea of large spaces um you know, parents walking in the
building, being greeted by a greeter, um kids collaborating, and again, this is just a visualization. We're not saying this is what your school could look like. Um but just an idea of where AI's kind of taken us. What is helpful is what are actually local in inspirational spaces. So, these are just some examples
of some of our clients. In the upper left, we've got some outdoor learning spaces at a middle school recently done. That gym is currently being built um in Detroit. On the large lower right hand side is actually an existing middle school that was converted to early childhood center. And obviously, MCO
unit still stands as a good example of how to create a two-part school from that perspective. So, why the Kate neighborhood schools? Uh if you take a look at it um in your current situation only about 1,400 students are in that model. Um going from 2 to 7 about 7,500 of your students
would now be in newer facilities. Um and again I want to be I want to stress that just because you have an existing school does not mean you won't have equity in terms of the academic spaces. When we get to those spaces and the district spending 25 $30 million renovating an elementary school, you're going to have the same equity from an educational
classroom um standpoint from that perspective. But investing in that transformational spaces again really focusing on from prek all the way through CTE critical security infrastructure are key part components of this um talking about program enhancement inclusiveness. So the more
students you have right now you have some elementarymentaries with 240 250 students it's very difficult to offer programs um from that perspective building new facilities uh does actually preserve general fund dollars um for enhanced programming enhanced staffing
um from that perspective and creates some academic efficiencies. It also allows parents and teachers and administrators more time uh for consistency of staff over a 9-year period versus multiple switches. I'm helping build that strong culture in community and again we're maintaining
those neighborhood community schools that you currently have from that perspective from an operational standpoint. Again, we talked about the separate wings for elementary and middle school levels. Right now with this proposal, you're kind of realigning your footprint and and with your enrollment um which again because they are larger
sites is going to improve the traffic flow um for a lot of these sites and also improve parking as well as playgrounds and other amenities on sites for those purposes. and ultimately what can you do with some of those other facilities we talked about prek center potentially um robotics administration
from that perspective. So I'm going to go through these fairly quickly. Uh there are seven of them. Right now we're focused on kind of that first phase critical priority. Uh so this be Lori Becker. Uh so again Becker has about 228 students that would come into Lori. Um that gives you an enrollment of roughly
1160 students. Uh this facility as I mentioned sized for about 1,350 students. Um the proposed cost roughly 120 million. Then ultimately Becker would be used for swing space um as you start to look at renovating some of the other nearby existing elementary schools
and long-term could be adult. Um so with this scenario you got two separate playgrounds. One for elementary, one for middle school. Um on the other side where L is currently existing would be the proposed athletics but more importantly you're enhancing the site and parking lots and traffic flow on this site with a separate bus loop and
parent drop off for Salina. this would actually be an addition. Uh so again, Sina Elementary School uh is existing and it was built uh kind of in the last series of bonds. Um so at the end of the day when you combine those two students, there's about 900 students um from that
perspective. Um and then at the end of the day, you're also taking a look at um again preserving some of the existing athletics that are down in the south end of the district. That's the gymnasium, locker rooms, etc. that could be next to the proposed athletics. And then ultimately an additional proposed playground. I'd love nothing more to see
some of those enhanced green walls that we saw from those students presentation earlier as part of this um perspective. And again, being a 100,000 square foot addition, the proposed addition cost is roughly 75 million. This is not just for the building, but it's also for the building, the site, water treatment, um
for groundwater treatments, parking, athletics, etc. So, it's an all-in program cost. So, so that would propose a multi-story addition that would replace the intermediate or would be an addition and we're keeping just the gym and
>> Yeah. So, actually on the site plan that on your screen right now where it says existing athletics, that's where the 1920 one building is along with the two additions. You kind of see it below the green proposed athletics. So, we actually build that kind of where the um track is in the soccer field. We're
preserving the two playgrounds that were just done, which is important. Um, but that would be in a multi-story addition that would be attached to the new Salena Elementary. I say new, it's newer, >> and then the building would be >> the existing building would be raised. It' be demolished >> be a field, >> correct? >> And I think some of those images we saw
were great in terms of soccer fields and and green walls. Um, from that perspective, more importantly with this one, you also get new mechanical systems that have better hepailtering systems, um, more soundproof walls with the newer construction codes that are so it' be a
great uh, great addition for that uh, southeast neighborhood. Then O Smith, Nolan Duval, uh, again, the two existing facilities are already on site. They're kind of underneath the parking and the proposed athletics. So again, this facility would be in the southeast corner of the facility again
with two playgrounds in both the upper and elementary and lower middle schools. Uh enhanced parking uh both on and off the site and then obviously large area for proposed athletics. Um and again Duval in this situation does stay as an elementary that is K3 from that perspective and again still allows for
potential growth um throughout the next 25 to 50 years. As I mentioned, uh, secured vestial receptions on the upper right hand side, you kind of see what that means where you come into a secured entry. The receptionist can see you. There's a airphone. They can talk about, you know,
what's your purpose of visiting, you get buzzed into the secured office. Again, if you pass a variety of different, uh, check-ins. Uh, then they release you into the actual school itself. Um, you can see some of the CT improvements. We've got the line of p playground pilot and then obviously toilet restrooms,
athletics. So, trusty buzz. S, >> can you just go back one slide? Sure. Just al also like to highlight that this would uh this facility would accommodate the special ed students from how making sure that the the facilities are
adequate space-wise hallways, uh bathrooms, um bigger classrooms because you're going to have more adults in there, all of that. >> Uh more importantly, also showering facilities, laundry facilities, things of that nature for special ed students needs. Um, and again, this is great
because they're integrated within the K8 model itself for have a separate wing of a building. So, that's a great point. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> So, again, districtwide improvements. These represent roughly 80 million of the first critical priorities. Um, and again, currently these are being paid for out of the general fund from that
perspective. Transition to high priorities. So, this is the Woodworth site. Uh, again, um, part of the building was built in 2014, about 35,000 square feet. So, we're maintaining that. That's the gymnasiums and the art classrooms. So, uh, this facility is about 130,000 square foot
addition. Um, so again, we'd be able to build that on the existing athletic fields while school is still in session, but also more importantly increase parking drop off in this scenario and allowing a larger space for proposed athletics once the project is completed. From a Henry Ford repurpose standpoint,
again, there could be a potential for a fieldhouse or a central administration office. Also, I just want to note real quick that um in this scenario, the Miller educa uh elementary students uh actually get redistricted to Stout um from that perspective. So, kind of taking a look geographically um you just would have
too large of a facility. You'd be well over 1300 students um if those feeder patterns from Stout um was were to take place from Miller. So, >> currently they're split between both middle schools. So, we wanted to keep it a neighborhood feel by having them all go to one feeder school. Y thank you
and >> and Woodworth >> Woodworth. >> This is Howard Lindberg. So this is the Howard site. Um roughly 9 acres. So again um taking a look at about 1,000 students. Um so this facility is only 140,000 square feet but still has the
growth capacity for 1,200. Um, and at the end of the day, again, you'd build a facility while the other facilities in use, tear the facility down, reconvert that space to proposed uh athletics, but more importantly, enhanced parking drop off. Um, from that perspective, then Lindberg, as we mentioned, would become
a potential GSRP, early childhood center in that scenario. And then also high priorities. I thought it was just an exist uh to highlight the existing elementary schools. So, these are current elementary schools, some built in the 1920s, some built in the 60s. Um again you kind of see the dollar
amounts 38 million 20 million 23 million 20 million so a lot of heavy capital investments. >> Uh could we excuse me motion to >> I'll I'll motion to extend the meeting by another 15 minutes. >> Second. >> Need a second. >> Trusty Mos >> yes. >> Trusty Bazy. >> Yes.
>> Trusty Zaher. Yes. Trusty Deio. >> Yes. >> Trusty Pelich. >> Yes. >> Trusty Silva. >> Yes. >> President J. >> Yes. And as I mentioned, uh this about $50 million continuation of those uh bullets that you see from that perspective modern priority. Uh again, this would be
in that 10 to 15 year. This is on the Bryant site. So again, um the HEG students and the Bryant students uh taking a look at a combined facility about 160,000 square feet. And again, HEG would be used for future consideration. Again, you're talking 15 years down the road in the moderate
priority level from that perspective. And then lastly, um, McCulla Ununice is actually an existing school. So in this scenario, uh, the Oakman students, uh, there's approximately 262 currently could come into McCulla Ununice. They wouldn't necessarily have to wait, um, from that perspective. So again, leave
it up to the board of education administration team to take a look at when that move is possible. Um, but again, Oakman could be used for swing space. Um, it's a very small site, but at the end of the day, uh, could be used for, um, swing space and future considerations. from that perspective.
As I mentioned, Henry Ford site uh currently um the building could be demoed and then about 130,000 square foot fieldhouse. Again, this will be able to house graduation. Um this is just a sample of our clients here. It's about 125 30,000 square foot has indoor
walking track um fields. It could be used for basketball, baseball, volleyball. So, it's a multi-purpose sport um from that perspective. So again, just an option that does fit within the 1.51 billion from that perspective. >> Would that also consider like a soccer
dome? >> Well, we actually looked at so St. John's, if you're familiar with 275, um the soccer dome there, the problem is it's inflated. >> So those fans have to run continuously. >> Yes. >> Which is a huge electrical draw >> also in Canton. >> Yeah. Correct. And so with this one, um this would be a clear span uh
pre-fabricated structure. >> Uhhuh. Um, so again, you'd have masonry walls up to the sides and then obviously the caned can levered steel from that perspective. Um, but you'd have LED lighting in it, speaker systems. You could put stages in there. We'd envision bleachers on both sides that you could host a variety of different competitive
events as well as graduation. So, >> but you could have soccer or no? >> Oh, yeah. We have soccer. >> It's like anything I, you know, I always dread by the forward field and if you kick a ball high enough, you probably hit the >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, that's a great question, though. So
>> that's because the city is in need of such a facility. >> Absolutely. >> That is indoor for our kids. I mean, we have eight months of winter pretty much. >> We actually did a uh I think a presentation um kind of like what are field houses looking like? So total soccer up in Pontiac is a great example
of six backto-back indoor soccerers. Uh the dome Plymouth is another great example. >> You're seeing more school districts have this type of fieldhouse because it can be used year round. It can be used for community and district use. >> Correct. um from that perspective. So, >> I I did want to ask on um some of the
newer schools such as Becker and your Ford. I know we're going to repurpose them. If you could talk a little bit about those. >> Sure. Yeah. So, Becker's a great example. So, um you know, that would be one that you'd use for swing space. So, if I go back to the map,
sorry about that. Come on. There we go. One more. Um so in the upper right you have Becker uh next to Lowry K8. So what happens is those students would get relocated as part of that model um creating 1100 student body which actually Lowry used to be 5 years ago
when I first started doing some work um from perspective but that could be used for swing space for either McDonald or Miller or I'm sorry Maples Elementary when you're doing renovations. So those students aren't necessarily um again it's an option um but that's be the short-term swing space and ultimately um
you know could be used for adult education. So right now you have about 16 156 1600 student uh adult education students. So this is about 35,000 foot facility that could be adapted to help support that program relative to Henry Ford. Um it's an older facility. Um but
at the end of the day again it could be used for a a vacant site for a fieldhouse or central office relocation because again this facility um is kind of that last priority as well. Um so again that's one of those pivot moments I think as a district when you take a look at the major four phases to say
okay what does Henry Ford become? What does Becker become? And I think that really speaks to this process right here where you have that community design and input. And it's really our job as program managers to look ahead of that curve and say, "Okay, here's the next 24 months of decision- making from a
planning perspective." So, you can plan well ahead and not be reactive from that perspective. So, >> thank you. >> So, I just have two last slides. Um, I think Trusty Baz, you brought up a great point. Some of it's kind of a refresher. Um, you know, what does this bond represent or what could it represent for
Dear Public Schools? So again, this is really investing in both new facilities but also renovating your existing facilities um from that perspective to really create spaces that the public want. So part of the buy room and fiscal is they would support a capital program that really enhances the learning
environment and in this scenario all the facilities get enhanced educational environments for that perspective. It's not just one level of grades, it's really prek all the way through CT and even to early college. um you're able to address critical infrastructural needs. Uh so again, as Mr. Wall mentioned,
you're taking5 to7 million dollars of general fund dollars out of the general fund to pay for those. So again, this this opportunity that Dearborn has is really to help address those over a long-term sustainable funding mechanism. I think the 20-year plan, so again, you think of what was 20 years ago. Um cell
phones weren't really that big. I mean, iPhones weren't even existence. AI is just coming through. that flexibility in planning, but you have that consistent funding to allow you to make some of these uh great investments. We talk about key components in the district goals. So, keeping that neighborhood feel, um keeping the historical
components of of these buildings. Most importantly, what we also heard is improved traffic flow, parking, um furniture, uh local participation from that perspective. Also, in the Byron Fisk report, it talked about districts would support the lowest cost opportunity. I mean, in this scenario,
you know, 26.3 mills is what the city of Dearborn Homeowners currently pay between the city and the school. So, being able to maintain that as that cso or that combined sewer flow drops and we're able to pick that up from uh the the millillage perspective. Most importantly, it helps generate 1.51
billion to do some great work over three million square feet for Dearborn public schools and its students and teachers. So, kind of next steps, um we talked a little bit Oh, go ahead. >> Question. Sorry. the 26.3 you said it's for both the schools and the city. Do you know the
breakdown how much schools how many males come to the schools and how many go to the city? >> Yeah, actually um I'm going to defer to Mr. Wall real quick. Um so I know you have 1.22 now. That's what it is. So you have a current debt millage from your previous bonds.
It's 1.22 mills. Uh you also have the operating 2.18 and then ultimately um in this scenario you're looking about 3.14 mil to capture that declining combined. So that's the delta is the 3.14
>> so put you in that 7 6.77 mil range >> which is kind of comparable to other districts what they're putting right now. >> Yeah. We have a great map that shows all Western Wayne County school districts some as high as 10 11 mills. Wow. >> Um, some are four or five mills, especially ones that have gone out
recently. Um, but again, most of your districts, I think one of the things we showed the board earlier was Detroit schools, they've invested 1.2 billion over the last 10 to 15 years. Leavonia's invested 4 500 million. Plymouth Canton's 500 or 600 million. And again, the district
passed the bond and uh, you know, was able to do some work. Obviously, funds helped, but you're getting to a critical mass standpoint where you really don't have the dollars to really do some new investments. um plus some long-term investment strategies. So I think trust to your point this allows that 26.3 mill
to kind of stay steady for the city of Dearborn homeowners but most importantly provides that funding mechanism to do some great work over the next 15 to 20 years. >> So kind of next steps uh again as your program manager again our job is to inform help the board make informed
decisions. Um so again we talked a little bit about earlier the roles responsibilities timeline project pacing. So again, um I think we have a follow-up meeting with the city of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights here just to kind of give them a update kind of where the the district is at along with the board and then in June we come back
and kind of really focus on here's the remaining high school projects, the other elementaryaries, the Michael Barry centers and things to really in totality and then if so desired um in one of your June board meetings, you'd place the ballot uh on the November um proposal and then really through July October is
really that BA ballot information committee. So here are the project sheets, here's the timing for it, here's kind of more as the specifics versus some generalization of pictures. >> Um, so with that, I'll trust uh turn it back to President Aljami for the board for any additional questions. >> Is there any other questions from the
trustees? Cuz >> just real quick because um I know it came up in a meeting that we had um with some of us outside of a board meeting and just because this idea has been brought up a few more times. If you could just briefly talk about you gave us in one of
uh the meetings we had with you a comparison of the cost to renovate the existing high schools, retrofit some other buildings that might be out there into high schools and build new high schools from the ground up. >> Correct.
>> Can you just talk about those three options again? Which ones came in as the most cost effective and what was generally like the difference between them? >> Absolutely. >> Costwise. Yeah. So, absolutely. Right now what you have in the three uh existing high school campuses as mentioned about $90 million and about 70 forson and about 75 million for Dearborn
Edel that's about $250 per foot of renovation spaces. Um we were fortunate enough to be the program manager for the school of finance research foundation's statewide assessment and you usually classify about $100 a foot is just infrastructure. So when you start
talking about $250 that's $150 extra to do some of those academic improvements and transitional spaces. If you were to purchase an existing facility, so Ford has an empty 400,000 foot building, it's about $350 a
foot to renovate that to a K12 because or I'm sorry, to a high school because it's designed as an office assembly, if that makes sense. So now you have fire separation, egress corridors, toilet rooms. Those those code requirements are a lot different than an existing office building. To build something brand new, um you're in about like $600 to $700
range um from that perspective. So we're over we're seeing um about 20 different programs right now across the state. We're building 18 new schools and that's about the price range they're coming in at. So when you take a look at let's say we're duplicating a Fordson um at you know $390,000 square feet let's say um
you know it's almost $200 million just for one high school. And so that's where ultimately you look at it where's the best investment dollars with keeping that current mill rate at 26.3. And it's really looking at that cade opportunity. Um, but still, you know, investing in the schools. Like I said, when you start
spending 75 to $100 million at a school, it's it's it's going to be different um from an interior perspective. So, I don't want people to think this is just an infrastructure, you know, putting a boiler, we're calling it good here. This is truly um keeping the exterior structures um obviously with Fortson and
the historical perspective, but you know, really doing some wow uh good at at the existing high schools. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Trusty M. >> Uh just a comment. Uh obviously you you just mentioned the point about
under the hood things. Uh obviously this bond would cover replacing old uh age infrastructure that we currently have and replace it with kind of bestin-class something that will serve us for the next two generations to come.
So um while we will do a lot of buildings as as proposed um and touch a lot of areas, there will be even more greater work especially with the renovations uh on the HVAC and making things
efficient um that will pay us back of being efficient buildings. >> That's a great point. Right. I mean, if you take a look at your 3 million square feet and you were to allocate an operational cost, you know, when you have an existing steam boiler system, >> just the maintenance alone to clear out the the tubes and the like that takes
time and money. And if you have a high efficiency f boilers, which are like the size of half this room versus those huge track like just those operational savings, I'm not have to maintain it are great. Um, actually your elevators um while they still meet every yearly code, someone you can't even buy parts for. Um
so again just you think of the infrastructural needs um it's in the tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars and that will be part of that overall improvement with this bond should be successful in November >> I don't see any other questions
um >> so I think we're good >> all right thank you >> thank you >> thank All right. So, next item. >> I'll make a motion to extend the meeting by another 15 minutes. >> Second. >> Mos. >> Yes. >> Bezy, >> yes.
>> Zar, yes. Droio, >> yes. >> Pelich, >> yes. >> So, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Next item is action items. Are there any agenda items on this agenda? which board members or the interim superintendent wish to discuss and vote on separately. If there are, we exclude these from the
motion below. I'm looking for somebody to give me a single motion to approve all the action items on this agenda on this agenda with the exception of any items which will be excluded from this motion by board member request. So, I'm looking for someone to make a motion
that action items you want to remove one. Sorry. Oh, sorry. >> Which one? Trusty Pil 17, please. >> 17. So, I'm looking for someone. It's 18 altogether, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm looking for someone to move that action items numbered one through
18 be approved as recommended in this agenda with the exception of number 17. >> Um, >> did someone move it? >> No, you have to move it. >> I'll move it. >> Okay. >> Support. >> Support that.
>> Right. Roll call. >> Before roll call. >> Sorry. Sorry, there's a discussion. >> I I do have a discussion point uh on one item. Trusty Maz, do you have a discussion? >> Yes, and I've asked these questions uh before to the administration earlier
today and I I did receive the answers. So, thank you. Superintendent Sir, >> was that all you had? I thought I forgot something. >> Um >> is it all good? There was a question as far as um
uh the how long we've had this uh >> this vendor for >> Sorry, which number are you on? >> Uh so I'm talking about number nine. This is for >> orders and purchases. This is very much increasing the budget for ever driven
>> for one more year and to increase the budget by $350,000 resulting in a new estimated total 1,500,000. Correct. >> To provide sedan cap transportation. >> That's the same question that I have.
>> Okay. >> The increase. >> I have Yeah, the question was obviously about the increase. I've heard about the summer discovery program, more special ed uh needed and for the homeless
transportation under Mckenny Vento act. >> Um so the increase was substantial. Was there more of ask of of transportations or is it only the summer time that took us? So that 350,000
increase is an is a result of three things. We're short on our money for to finish this year. So we didn't anticipate the cost to be this high for this year. So it's covering the balance for this year. Then you add um the
summer program and then the other is to help with offsetting for next year. >> Yeah, >> Mark can elaborate. Uh, good evening. Um, after we responded with you, we thought of one other thing that Mrs. Book, our transportation
supervisor, come on up here so they can see you. You don't get to see her too often. She does a lot of work. >> Oh, yeah. >> Uh, early in the morning. Um, when we did this contract with Everdriven, we had a separate company that did the McKenna Vento. So, that portion of this type of transportation wasn't included
in this budget. So that's one of the reasons why Miss Book reminded me that why this is more of a significant one because we combine those services with this company. >> Do you know how much that amount was >> what was budgeted for it with the other company was 50,000.
>> Okay. And um I asked also a question about the cameras and >> Yep. There aren't any. >> We have cameras on our buses, >> right? There aren't any on our on the this cab service. >> Yeah. So this I mean dashboard cameras
are pretty cheap. They're not that expensive to buy. Um so is that something that we can ask the company to >> Is that a common feature? >> They just started adding them last year. >> Okay. >> So it is something we could work with
them on if we're interested in going that route. >> I think it would be worthwhile. We have our most vulnerable students sometimes alone >> and um it is crucial. I mean we have them on our buses. I I believe that we
should have them on the sedans. >> Okay. >> I I do have a question on um is it set the budget the initial amount was 975 and it's going to five. Did I get that correct? >> I'm trying to see where the 350,000 came
from. So, we were just talking about addition of the summer program. >> No, but I mean >> remaining of this year, right? >> Yeah. The increased said 350,000, but it seemed like the increase is more than 350,000. >> No, >> no, >> no. It's 350,000 increase.
>> Huh? >> It's a 350,000 increase. >> Correct. But I'm in my notes it said 970,00075,000 was the original amount. >> I don't have the agenda, I'm sorry, in front of me. I can find that out in a quick second, but I believe we had an
original contract and then we came to the board and raised it a little bit to a little over a million. And so then this is a second increase we're asking for. If I remember correctly, just for clarification, this says on Monday, June 23rd, 2025, the board approved request to increase the budget by 175, bringing
the new total to 1.15 million. Okay. >> For this school year, now you're asking for another 350. >> So that answers that. >> Yeah. And then we asked Also like we're while we're going for third party if we have our own buses obviously I I would
assume that we're at capacity for with our buses and that it would not make sense to transport to use one bus to take you know individuals from one place and then go to another. Probably a student
would be on the bus for like an hour and a half if we do that route. Correct. Um and also where we also use this services for. So we one of the reasons why we use this company is because there's very few that offer the service of a vehicle with a lift on it
for wheelchairs. So we do have some scenarios where our bus can't get down the street and this service is needed for our wheelchair students where um we can still pick up at the curb. >> Yes, sir. >> Trusty. Um, when we do ask about the the
cameras, I want to make sure we also ask about access. Make sure that we have access in the event that we do need to >> access that footage and not just that they're recording it and then we could request that. I think easy access to that is going to be important just like what we have with our buses now. >> Absolutely. Yes.
>> Any other questions? >> How early do you have to be at work tomorrow, Lisa? >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Shifts. >> Okay. Go go go go go home. >> So there if there's no other questions, I think we could roll call. >> So just to just to um reiterate this
motion is that action items number 1 through 18 be approved as recommended in this >> I'm as recommended in this agenda with the exception of number 17. >> I'll take a roll call for that. One
second, please. Uh, roll call vote. Trusty Bazzy, yes. Trusty Dejo, >> yes. >> Trusty Mos, yes. >> Trusty Pelichoff, yes. Trusty So, >> yes. >> Trusty Zaher, yes. President Jahi, >> yes. >> Okay, moving on to number 17.
Item number 17 is titled board request to review personnel files. Um the recommended action is that the board somebody moves that the board direct the administration to provide to the board for review personal files of three staff members whose identity is
known by the board. >> So moved. >> I'll second that. >> Um discussion trusty pep. >> Okay. Um, a I don't have a reason why these files
have been requested to be reviewed. And after having conversation several years ago when we had another trustee who was pulling employee personnel files, I talked with Brad Bonassic, our legal counsel for MASB, who cautioned that you
never approve uh um an individual trustees request to review without having a reason for why they would like to um go over personnel files. Um it sets a bad precedent. It gives rise
to wondering whether somebody could be fishing for um material out of individual personnel and abusing our role as board members. So I have no idea why these uh files were requested and so
for that matter I'm going to be voting no. So, so for me in the past I was highly opposed to it and the only reason I changed my mind is I kept hearing trustees inferring on
certain files that there is more to it and I'm to the point where I really want to know is what they're saying true or is it uh sending the wrong perception or the wrong information on individuals.
you know, when trustee when the previous trustee asked for I I was you know >> one of these files is somebody who's no longer employed here and hasn't been employed here for years. >> Bear with me. When we were I'm trying really hard not to give away names. >> Yes, I am too.
>> I am trying uh I did I was okay with two of them. One I wasn't okay with. uh but when colleagues you know when we discuss individuals they say there's things in there but we can't say and so I'm intrigued by what
is in there like I don't want to um hold things against anybody because people talk and say there is things there but I can't say it that's the only reason I change my mind is in fairness to the people,
you know, if there is something there, there's something there. But if there's nothing there, I just don't want people to keep bringing that up that there is something, but they can't tell me. So, uh, trustees there,
>> sorry, but that kind of sounds like the definition of a fishing expedition. So, I mean, if to me, you know, I'll I'll I'll let Trusty Silva um tell me if I'm wrong on this. You know, in the law when we talk about
a fishing expedition, we talk about, you know, somebody wanting to uh question or depose somebody without, you know, that's done in like a sort of speculative or broad or unfocused way. You know, questions have to be. So, I
mean, You know, I think we could all um trust each other's um reason. If reasons were clearly articulated and they were specific, I'm sure we'd all trust each other. But I think saying that, you know, well, I I
heard there's something might be in there, so I just want to make sure it's not in there. That doesn't to me, that's not a um a specific enough reason uh to want to get into somebody's personnel file. So that's just my point of view. >> So, so if I could reply,
it it's really hard to discuss this in an open meeting without saying too much. And for me, when other trustees infer that there is something in in people's files, that's a wrongful accusation, you know,
and and to me, it's it's it's a way to see if there is any truth to it. uh when when trustee Barry asked for the same thing, I said no, I I was totally against it. But I just don't want people to continue and
hinder people's uh possible growth by inferring that there's something in their file. It's really more for me uh to support the p the people than to hinder them because I really want um to
shut down any rumors that you know or speculations. Now one of the person in there I don't think they should be there. I don't but I can't specifically say but the speculation and trustees are they've been gone on too long and and it
hinders people's um that particular individual growth or possible >> the you know um how do I say it opportunities. >> Can can we let um testim respond if he
has an opportunity? Yeah, I I mean I I obviously it is me who asked for those three individuals files and each one has its own reason. Uh one of the reasons that you already inferred to as far as there's speculation about what has
happened in the past and I want to put that to rest. That's why it was one. The other is uh some complaints from families and I believe as a a board member if I receive that complaint um we
all receive that complaints by the way um if you review your emails and we have to look into those allegations of that um guardian want to be very careful of not revealing names of that person of what they said
and uh I believe they have fo foyad before and got records and for a board member I've now seen the full foyad so I I need to see the records for myself and then the last one it was just it's just due diligence um and I'll I'll keep it
at that and I hope if you had questions you would call me you have my phone number >> and ask me why I'm doing this request if I may >> nothing should be put on an agenda until you have talked to us prior to to know
whether you have our support or not. It's it shouldn't be on an agenda and then you expect us to to your obligation was to come to us first before putting it on the agenda. >> We put it in board briefs last week and
>> it came in board briefs on Thursday when it was also on the agenda already. >> I asked for it to be placed on the agenda on Thursday. Correct. And it was put in Brewer. and you had plenty of opportunity to reach out to us ahead of
time to um alert us to what you had planned on um potentially so that you knew whether you had >> support did call me and inquire about that and I gave him all the rundown >> but it's not our oblig it was your obligation because you wanted to have it
on the agenda already >> correct >> so it should have been your obligation to have reached out to us prior to it being put on the agenda to know whether there was support for Correct. >> I I think it's a two-way street. I mean, communication is a two-way street.
>> If we have questions, yes, trustee, it was a maybe you have a point in there, >> but also like for me, I asked I proactively >> it was already on the agenda, >> but I asked I said, why would you put these, you know, people in there? And the
>> he should have come come to us and said why he wanted to add this to the agenda. Like for me, I thought it was important enough to to get clarification from him and I asked and that's why I said >> well I'm asking now >> two of them are legitimate. one is not
and I I would not support that one person but the two if there is a situation where it's detrimental to our kids at least for one of them why would you and I want to see >> I don't have any idea what you're
talking about >> it's it's it's a two-way street we you know sometimes it's it's hard to um like for me it was important enough to before the vote to ask him >> he should have come to us if he had an issue and and reached out first.
>> We should also trust each other as far as what >> I'm saying. We need to motion for 15 more minutes. >> A motion to extend the meeting for another 15 minutes. >> Second. >> Mos, >> yes. >> Bezy, >> yes. >> Zar, yes. Droio, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Ji, >> yes.
>> Okay. >> I don't know where we were. I think we were >> Well, as for Trust President Jam, I I believe I I made the motion for the files. I don't know if we can I I guess I can alter the motion, but I cannot do that while we don't know who those
individuals are. So, the motion is on the table and um I don't know if anybody else has other questions if they want to ask. >> Are we ready to call the question? It's up to the chair to call for a roll call if he determines that the debate is
over. >> Okay. So again, sorry, just so that we are clear and the record is clear, a yes vote. So there's a motion that the board direct the administration to provide to the board for review the personnel files of three staff members whose identity is
known by the board. So a yes vote would be directing the uh administration to give us those files. >> No, it's not giving us those files. Just to correct the record. >> Sorry. To provide them for review. Pro. >> Yeah. And we would have to come to the
HR office and sit down with an HR professional and review those files obviously with their presence. And we have only 30 days to do that. That's if this motion passes. >> Correct. Thank you for the clarification. That's correct. you you'd have to go there. So give us access to
review the files in their presence as trustee Moses says. Sorry about that. Okay. So a yes vote would be um directing the administration to provide us that access. >> Trusty Bazy >> no. >> Trusty Drosio >> no. >> Trusty Mos >> Trusty Petoff
>> no. >> Trusty Sub >> no. >> Trusty Zaher. No. President Jah. >> Yes. >> Okay. So that's 25. The motion is defeated. All right, next item. >> Uh, I have to read all the Sorry. So,
the summary of the agenda action items is number one, approval of warrants per board report 25-134. Number two, approval of an award to Michigan Virtual. Number three, approval of an award to Teachers Curriculum Institute LLC per board report 25-135.
Number four, approval of an award to Lab Aids per board report 25-136. Number five, approval of an award to Great Minds PBC per board report 25-137. Number six, approval of an award to Amplify
CKLA per board report 25-138. Number seven, approval of an award to Quaver Ed Incorporated per board report 25-139. Number eight, approval of an award to Akami Akami Technologies. Number nine, approval of an award to Everdriven. Number 10, approval of an award to JMD
Building Restoration per board report 25-140. Numbers 11 through 14, approval of non-instructional and instructional personnel items for P12. Number 15, approval of financial statement. Number 16, approval of the 2026 2027 Wayne
Reesa budget per board report 25-146. and number 18, approval of donations. The next item uh on the agenda is board of education business starting with acknowledgement of
correspondence. I think the correspondence over the last month um has been regarding the the superintendent um process and you know other issues that came to the district and we've been replying to them
and as I said before we are limited to what we could say in certain situation. I don't have anything else besides those unless anybody else has something. Next is board member committee and organization reports.
>> Go ahead. >> Um we had a policy committee meeting earlier this evening um and we brought forth u a slew of proposals um three of which are new proposals. one regarding AI, one regarding a cell phone policy,
update to um in tandem with the the state law that has changed. Um an update to our microobility vehicle policy and then an update to our parliamentary authority policy. Um and then additionally there is um a resolution on
the table um brought forth by trustee Bazzy regarding the Rowan Act which I think I will defer to him to if he wants to speak a little further on that. >> Go ahead please. So, this is a resolution uh the text of which has not changed that I shared with the board a couple months ago in support of House
Bill 4517 and 4518 together known as the Rowan Act that would update the Amber Alert system uh to go beyond uh um just the requirement of a child that is um suspected to have abduction. It would
expand it to mean a child that is in danger. wireless alert can be sent to phones uh through uh uh police authorities uh when needed. Uh would also um allow for adults up to age 26 if they have been identified as special
needs. Uh so that would update the Amber Alert system. And then also Senate Bill 456 would update the wireless uh alert system to allow for any adult that is in in danger and police authorities uh find it uh uh useful to be able to issue a
wireless alert to phones uh deemed uh appropriate. Um again this is the same text that was shared a couple months ago. I know typically this this text would be shared at this point. We would wait till the next board meeting and then approved. But given that the text has not changed and it's the same, do request if the board uh approves that we
could approve that tonight and then have this transmitted to the House, the Senate, and the governor uh in our support for approval of these bills. >> Okay. So, do we need a motion? We need a motion. >> Yeah. So, you can just move that we adopt that resolution that we've all
read and then that needs a second and we can discuss if we want and then it will be passed. So, I move uh that we support a resolution in support of Michigan House Bill 4517 and 4518 together known as the Rowan Act and Senate Bill 456. >> I'll support.
>> All right. Uh any discussions? If no discussion, then roll call. >> Trusty Bzy, >> yes. >> Trusty Droio, >> yes. >> Trusty Mos, >> yes. >> Trusty Pelichkov, >> yes. >> Trusty Subah, >> yes. >> Trusty Zahar, yes. President Jim, >> yes.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Deserves the applause. >> Um I did want to jump back to my um update really quick. Sorry. Um those those policies that were discussed, they were shared. Um we gave our feedback in
the policy committee to um to administrative team to to make some updates, but these will come forth for discussion next month. Um, a few of them are are new and lengthy and might, you know, um, need all of our eyes on it. So, please take your time to review them
and and share your thoughts and comments on there and be prepared to discuss that next month. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead, Trust. >> Sorry, I know it's late and I just said thank you and it was very monotone, but I just want to give a little more. Thank you to this board for supporting this resolution and supporting our children
and our vulnerable children and adults. Um, I think I hope that this uh these laws will or these bills will be passed into law sooner than later so that we can make sure that we take care of our children and our vulnerable adults. Uh,
be it in a school, uh, be it out in the community. Um, we have the technology. There is no significant cost to making this happen. We just need to have the will to pass these bills and make them law. So again, thank you so much for the support. Um, and I will u be happy to
stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you guys when these become law and we made a difference. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh, next >> next item is board member and superintendent commentary. >> Any trustees are
>> so um first of all um I'd like to uh congratulate Mr. SY again on getting appointed as our superintendent last week. Um I think that one of your
most pressing tasks in the beginning will be replacing the crazy amount of talent that we're losing um due to retirements of people who have dedicated their professional lives to us. So I just want to take a minute to say thank
you again to Tom Wall and David Musenin and congratulations is did Mason leave? I would have left too. So Mason congratulations to me Ali Bazzy who was uh been our HR started out as a teacher with us and now has been our HR director
for a while been with us for what how almost >> long time. Yeah. um and moving on to become the deputy superintendent at the state with our former superintendent, Mr. Mleco. So that's to my count
um five pretty important positions that you need to replace. Mr. Wall, >> Mr. Mustin male bezi you >> Joanne Harris >> Joan sorry Joanne Harris and frankly the
job that you already got hired for which is replacing this person over here um our uh Limse who has done a great job. Um and so I just wanted to say that for the record. Last week, I believe it was
Friday. Was Friday the Amelia's prom? Thursday or Friday? >> Thursday. >> Thursday. Thursday night, I I was so lucky to go to this event called Amelia's Prom. I don't know if any of you have been to it before. Of course, I'm sure all of you. >> Last night of the year.
>> Yes. Um, it's a it's a I I tried to I was So, it's run it's it's organized by a wonderful woman who works for us named Eman Nora out of Forzen. And I tried to convince her that this was a school event so we could take credit for it, but she was like, "No, you know, it's kind of but not really." But anyway,
it's something that is done in our district by people in our district, a prom for our kids with special needs. And it was such uh uplifting night uh for me. And so to everyone who put that together, um I just want to say thank
you, you know, uh you know, we're only as good as as um as we are when we are taking care of those who need the most taken care of, if that sounds right. So um I just thought it was amazing and it's the
first time I saw it with my own eyes. So uh I also shout out to Mr. Sy and Miss Shore for the uh amazing amount of dance moves I saw them. >> Listen, that's not true. >> Putting it that night. >> I don't know how to dance. I don't know
how to dance. But those kids forced you on the dance floor. >> Not all which could be repeated or appropriate for people of your stature in the community. >> No regrets. >> But you did a great job. >> Thank you. >> So, thank you. Thank you for that. Um
yeah, I I also I also just want to say that um I've known uh Trusted Ambrosio for a really long time and uh since before we served on this board together um through just regular meetings,
watching his work, hanging out with people that we know and I've always known him to be a and we have not always agreed on uh many things, but always known him to be a honest man of integrity. And I and I took uh
liberties in our break uh not liberties, but I took the opportunity of our break to go back and watch because I thought I understood what he said a week ago at our meeting. And I and I wanted to go back and watch and
um you know he he definitely said that um he didn't agree with the findings of the teachers and but he said I don't want to say they are false. So he didn't say they were false. I didn't I didn't believe in them. He even acknowledged that some people don't want to put their
names forward out there and he called that unfair. So the notion that um he was saying that things were fabricated or something like that is just it wasn't what I understood at the time and it's
not what I understand now. Um and so uh I just wanted to say that on the record and I wanted to wait till the end of the meeting when um when there weren't that many students here and that kind of thing so that it didn't look like we were bickering. Um, but I I just I
understood what he was saying at the time and I just confirmed that for myself and uh and I just wanted to say on the record that it didn't come across to me that he was accusing anybody of something like fabrication or anything like that, but that just he had a
problem with it. And that's what we all have the right to say and the right to do. Um I also want to say briefly and I I I'll say this part without >> me to extend again. >> I'm sorry. Extend again. >> Oh sure. Motion to extend the meeting for 15 minutes.
>> Second. >> So moveoff. >> Uh Mos >> yes. >> Bezi. >> Yes. >> Zar. Yes. Damio. >> Yes. >> Pelich. >> Yes. >> Subba. >> Yes. >> Jah. >> Yes. Um, the last thing I want to say, and I'll say this without um, saying any names, but I just wanted
to want to get us all on the same page if we could. So, last week we had um something that came up with us about and it and and the and there was a question about whether or
not to get our lawyer, Mr. Bllelock, working on something. I think everyone knows what I'm talking about if you remember the emails that we're sending back. And I and I just and I and I communicated to the board at that time that I feel like before we um would put Mr. Bllelock
and subsequently get a bill for lots of hours that we should talk about it um and talk about whether or not we actually want to do that. uh in this particular instance and I don't want to I mean it's been brought up publicly at a meeting but I just don't I don't want to um bring up the specifics of it again
now but it's my point of view um at least personally that we should not be engaging Mr. Bllock uh in hours of work on this item that was brought up. Um, I don't know if it'll be enough that we can each kind of quickly say whether or
not we want to do it and then he could be directed to do it if a majority of us do want him to start spending hours and getting built for this or if it's clear uh that we do not want him to uh go down that road. Um, I don't want to say too
much about the specifics. I don't know if I should or shouldn't. I mean, it's been brought up, but >> I'm not sure if everybody read my board brief, but I did give um >> Mr. Block, >> Mr. Blocklock's opinion on that >> in the on the question at hand
>> if he should be if he should be retained or not >> by an individual or a board. >> So, if if I don't know if you read that or not. >> I didn't catch that. I didn't read. So, what was his opinion? >> So, if I could respond. >> That's not confidential. >> Sorry. Sure. I I did talk to him today
because I I lost um some trust in the communication between the chair and the legal during the the the search process. And I talked to him today and I said, "Did I do the right thing by forwarding
it to you without really saying anything and and saying, you know, our legal should be the one that responds to this?" and he said district is responsible for the trustees. No one from the district should be should not be unrepresented.
So what was done uh it's appropriate to refer to legal when another legal entity uh questions a board member. So, in talking to him and we could bring him uh next week and and I would recommend having him come every meeting because
right now it's it's a you know we bring in OMA robber rules and a lot of things and and I love the way we have HFC where we have legal there to give us uh feedback but in talking to him today he
said what was done was right and when there's a legal issue that is directed to a board member, it should be referred to our lawyer because they need to be represented and they are a part of the
district and they need to be defended. So, we're following process, nothing out of the ordinary. And I would ask, you know, with all due respect, let's not be the district lawyer. Um, trustees are in some cases or reply all. There there is
situation where we could call the lawyer and ask him, but right now uh the chair has the right to have direct contact with the our legal uh representation. >> That's not what I'm objecting to >> or not. That's not what I'm talking about. you're you're talking about the
email that we we uh copied the lawyer um to basically and it's hard to kind of uh say it because I don't want to say too much to say someone inquired uh uh a lawyer for someone else um replied in
question to what one of our trustees did or questioned and instead of us replying to it we referred him to our lawyer. So are we saying just give me give me a
are we saying from a district uh Lamese and Trusty Bazzy that we cannot comm community we cannot ha have the lawyer um be the one that replies to another legal entity when a trustee is being questioned.
No, I'm not I'm not saying that. >> I'm not following that. But in response to can legal provide support for one trustee, the answer is yes. >> Because that trustee is part of a board.
>> Correct. >> Yes. >> So in doing that, what we did was legitimate uh because we don't want to reply to another um entities's legal team because we're not equipped for it
and trust you as go ahead. >> Yeah, what you're saying is definitely correct from the trainings that I have at MASB they said you know whenever you're there is another attorney that is contacting the board that's where the board member steps out and lets the
attorneys handle things. So if we're being asked of questions from an attorney of a union, then our attorney should be empowered to respond. Now you're saying that we have to give
direction to the attorney. So if if that's a a legal memo, I believe our attorney is the best person to respond to that memo. >> That's that's not what I'm getting at. >> Okay, then please clarify. >> Let me clarify what I'm getting at. I'm
I'm not getting at whether or not a um a trustee can call up Mr. Bllock, ask for legal advice on a specific issue. That's totally okay. I'm not I'm not um >> that's not what happened. >> I know. I know what I'm saying, but I
just want to be clear that that's not what I'm talking about. I'm saying that if a if a if a if a trustee has starts a what could turn what turned into what could turn into a legal dispute between
the board because it would be between the board and another entity that we should all first say that we would like to enter that legal dispute. That's what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about asking him for advice or or directing a
letter towards him. I mean, whatever. I'm not talking about that. And it's a different beast than what we have at the college because at the college we have a general counsel and that we're not paying them extra to show up to the meeting. That's part of their salary and their job. Here, you know, um, every time somebody call, he's not on a
retainer. He's not on uh, anything like that. If you call up Mr. Bllelock, he charges you by the hour every six minutes. like good lawyers do. So, um it costs us money every time we do it. So, and this would and this particular dispute would
be something that might take hours and hours of his time. So, I'm talking about do we need to discuss whether or not we want to even pursue such a dispute before not referring a letter from another lawyer to him. Okay, that's
fine. But we we don't want to give him the impression that okay, you respond to her, she responds to you. Now there's this whole thing going on which could cost thousands and thousands of dollars which we might not even want to get into as board. Is that does that make sense what I'm saying to everybody?
>> Well, I I think trustees are >> that's what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about um >> so so as a chair my role is to make sure that each of each trustee has the legal protection when another entity legal entity comes
in. And uh this is where you know the superintendent steps in and mitigate you know for it not to become um costly like you say. But if you or anybody else is questioned by another legal entity,
you know, my role is to respond to and but also to to utilize the legal um our legal support to make sure you're protected and everyone's protected. um we cannot reply to another lawyer when
they question us about something. We're not looking to make a big case out of it, but we need some advice how to handle a situation. It's not that we're looking to make a big case out of it and and we're looking to make sure that he
gives us the legal advice and the protection is if for everyone here and say this is what I think you should do and if it's to make it go away meaning you know not pursue any further then that would be his legal advice. We're
not looking for him to go to court and and and uh fight this battle, but it's it's it's really important that each one of us have here have the legal um representation. Is you know, Adam Leak said, he said, it's it's within your right as a trustee to have legal
representation. And legal representation does not mean going to court and making a big case out of it. It could be as simple as um I read this and this is my advice to the board to handle that in the least amount of time or to uh
whether it's to apologize or you know do a letter. It's it's just to make it to give us the legal representation and the legal advice. So I I don't know if you want us to when we have something like that not to go to legals.
>> No, that's not what I'm saying. we initiated this dispute or one of our trustees initiated. >> It doesn't really matter if we hold on. It does when things happen because as we speak here, I could speak about something right now like we're talking
about the files and somebody could come in and you know sue us. Are you saying that we individually have to protect oursel in in situation that relates to the district? >> No.
>> Okay. So I understand what are you proposing. >> Yeah, I I don't I don't get it. I think it's it's >> okay. It's okay. I'll try to do it again with in 30 seconds. >> If we or one of us initiues a in initiates a
dispute or grievance with a not a grievance, I don't want to say that word. A dispute with a union or how let's say a union on how they conduct themselves and it stays between us and the union. Okay. Fine. I mean, I still think all of us should decide whether or not we want to engage in that uh dispute
with the union, but um but especially now and they engage a lawyer, which happened in this case, and they come back to us and then we engage our lawyer, which is now going to become costly, and we initiated this thing, then we should but what if a majority of
us don't want to initiate this thing? That's what I'm That's what I'm >> So, so just for the record, you know, the the discussion is not related to me. I am performing Hold on a second. I am performing a role of a chair and I just want to be for me the individual if you
make a um if you ask a question regarding a staff member or and this is what the situation is regarding a staff member or something and they come back to you with a lawyer then we have that right each individual
have the right for us to seek advice from our legal team. I'm still confused what what you're trying to limit because one day >> I may have a a compromise or >> uh we can utilize MASV attorney because
they they they don't charge us for legal advice. >> Um so we can forward them the attorney the letter that we received and we asked them for their advice. Is that what you're asking is to go through MASP and not to go through
>> So that doesn't uh charge the district any money but it gives us a legal opinion from somebody who represents a lot of districts or gives advice to a lot of districts on these kind of situations. >> Trusty M. It's more than a legal opinion at times. It's to protect the trustees.
Um and and everyone here should always put themselves in that situation. Today it's one person, tomorrow it's another person. We cannot, you know, come in here into these meetings and bring in our own attorneys. >> Trusty Petov.
>> Okay. Um, I think what I'm hearing from trustees are is um where does the accountability fall when one trustee does something on his own independently, but it may be
viewed when you engage a lawyer for the full board as if we are all accountable for one trust's behavior. And where where does the responsibility
lie in an individual trustees um accountability? I think what we really need to end up doing and and and should the full board um assume the um price of that asking
for advice is one thing but then moving forward to defend one person who was not acting on behalf of the board but in their own individual um pursuit of a of an issue and and may or may not have um
created a a dispute. We as a board, I I believe should have some kind of um MASB training that lays out again to and reminds everybody about um
board behavior as a whole. Um and how we should conduct ourselves in certain circumstances that will not end us in a in a place where a line has been crossed and it's time to either I can be quiet now if we want to. >> Sure. I'll make a motion to extend the
meeting by another 15 minutes. >> Second. >> Uh, Trusty Mos. >> Yes. >> Trustee Bazy. Trusty Zaher. Yes. Trusty Drojo. Yes. >> Trusty Pichov. Subar. >> Yes. >> Jahi. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I agree. Trusty Plechkov because once the lawyer gets involved, he's representing all of us, >> right?
>> And that's that's the issue here, right? If if if a if Mr. Bllelock starts communicating with someone else's from with a union's lawyer, he's not communicating in the name of one trustee. is communicating for all of us and >> and yet we have not assumed the responsibility of the
>> act we would like to take on this this this thing that's what I'm talking about >> and I think we should so you know in other words we if five of four or five of us don't want to >> do that then we shouldn't put Mr. block on it. Now, that's different than just
referring, you know, uh asking him for advice on one thing. And I don't think actually MASB would be able to give legal advice because it's a specific, you know, MASB gives advice on like, okay, was this a violation of the OMA? Something really generic. this is like specific to us, which they would
probably then just tell you go refer to your own lawyer, which um again, I mean, >> they would say refer to your own lawyer >> if you if as a board if the board wants to take on something like >> you could make a motion to not engage Mr. Bllock.
>> Uh okay, I could, but I mean we could do it through motion. >> But I think trustees are and this is not a disrespect. you're acting like you're becoming the P12 um lawyer in some cases and and Trustee Petrov, you're exaggerating when you say behavior as if
somebody did something despicable. Um >> I didn't say this. I I don't know how what word to use for an action that was taken by a trustee. >> Yeah, but when we say their behavior is somebody's acting out of line. >> I didn't say that. I
>> insinuated that. It's coming across that way. My thing is people don't know the situation that happened. Somebody questioned, could I say some of it? >> It was brought up in a meeting publicly last night. >> Somebody questioned the email that was sent during work hours. >> Yes.
>> And that's the thing that we're exaggerating and they took it upon themselves to bring the union into it. Um because in the question also did the the members um was it did the members was it a part of it the members uh
>> well that's not a legal >> endorsement >> the the legal the legal issue was did this person act basically improperly by doing something during work hours. Whether or not they pulled their members is a political question not a not >> no no but but my point is this has
happened before. where there's a precedence where an employee was reprimanded for doing email during work hours and trustee Maz please stop me if I'm stepping in on your he asked the question that's not a behavior issue that's a question all they have to
answer and prove and I >> and it could have been this was it an oversight and I'm sorry and we move on we're already moving on >> but I don't know why they obviously brought an attorney and sending you a letter which is I think our attorney should respond to the letter. And if I
trust if I acted um or overstepped my boundaries as a trustee of asking an individual uh uh employee if they were on their time or not. I I truly apologize for that. Maybe we should go through a motion and ask for that if
they we want that to be in their personal file. I I don't want to pursue that further. So, um, the case is probably moot and, uh, I was just hoping that our attorney would just respond to them and tell them exactly how my
feelings are as far as how do I feel about the situation. This is not going to happen again. And if we need to inquire about employees time, I think it is proper that we do uh, we do a motion to >> By the way, I think you inquiring about somebody doing something on their time
inquiry. >> Yeah, that's proper. not accusing them of doing anything. >> No, an inquiry like that is totally proper, I think, from a trustee. I'm saying once once they engage an attorney, first of all, just because they engage an attorney doesn't mean we have to go engage Mr. Block. That's number one, because then it's being engaged on behalf of the board. That's
all I'm saying. And once he's doing when he's doing something, he's doing it on behalf of the board. >> So, >> and we might not want to pursue that as a board. What what are we supposed to do if a trustee is is there's legal entities that question them?
And that's not a behavior issue. I I think we're exaggerating because there's personal agenda. Um what are we supposed to do? Just say, "Okay, you're on your own. Go get uh call Sam." >> No. And you're misinterpreting. I'm talking about a gener a generic I didn't
even want to identify trustee Mos in this. What I'm saying is >> so so what do you want us to do? Who do we call? >> I'm not saying anything about doing anything. You're not you're not hearing uh what I'm saying. I'm saying that whenever that we need to have some uh
some um training in how to approach areas of responsibility, accountability, board um and I know you don't want me to use the word behavior board um >> roles. >> Yes.
So that so that we all understand where where our our ability is to um as a trustee when we're either acting on our own or acting on behalf of the faux board in
our representation >> and I'm and I had nothing I wasn't even directing it at Trusty Mosup. I was saying it was a generic question of how do we identify? >> I think for me when people say conduct
or behavior it makes it seem like there was misconduct and there's something >> I'm sorry you hear it that way. >> Yeah. And and and for me that's why we presented I presented what actually happened. It's very minor in the scheme of thing and if the other side decides
to take it to the legal side that's on them. But as the chair, my role is to make sure everyone here is not left on their own and we seek legal advice to present it to us. And this is where the
superintendent comes in and works with the, you know, Adam and maybe there's uh mitigation that could help resolve the issue without going into a costly endeavor. Uh but we cannot just say we received the legal document and not
reply to it. I mean, that's just the gist of it. We get a legal document for any one of you. My role is to make sure that we get the proper legal advice. Go ahead, trust me. >> I'm hearing two things. One, doesn't matter what the scenario is, we received
something as a board from a lawyer. And Cheryl Jahi is basically saying, we received something from a lawyer that I think I want our lawyer to look at before we do anything with it. doesn't matter what the situation is, something that warrants that. Then there's the actual situation and I think that's the
things that we've been talking about. That's what that's what I hear unless I'm hearing something different. >> Yeah, I I think you said it uh right in a situation when we receive legal um you know, I'm not a lawyer. I mean, I'm not going to rely on shed GBT for that. And
as a lawyer, as is somebody that's not in legal, we we hired uh a legal firm to give us advice. And it's not like everything that they they handle or touch is going to become uh a case or
proceeding or uh you know, this is where we have a superintendent, we have other people that we'll work together with them, but we want the legal advice first. >> Why? Sorry. >> Go ahead. >> If if I may. Yeah. So we
in this case we received a letter from the um the lawyer of the union and that made specific demands. This made has made a specific demand to respond to a whole litany of like legal inquiries
within 10 days. I I'm saying it is an option to tell our lawyer do nothing like we don't want to pursue this. That's what I'm that's what I'm talking about instead of just telling the lawyer hey can you respond to this because we maybe we don't want
him to respond to it. >> That's what I'm that is that make does that make sense? >> Give us legal advice instead of taking action. >> Right. Self could be he would come back and say I we should do nothing because this doesn't really matter. And this goes back to our fiduciary duty of racking up a legal bill, which I totally
agree with. Um, and it's something I've been I've been um trying to work on for a while here to to kind of circumvent that. But um yeah, that's the that's the whole I both points are correct. So I don't understand why we're going in circles. >> I'm not understand. >> Well, I mean, if you guys keep engaging
this way, this is part of the circle issue. Um, if you both agree, let you know, let's all just move on. I think we're okay. the the substantive there is substantive question legally about the the conduct for a lack of better word um that was that took place and that that's
really all it is. It's not my opinion. It's not your opinion, your opinion. There's a legal issue at hand about it. That's it is what it is. So trustees. So do you think it's proper when we receive legal documents that name our trustees
that we should either sit on it or uh allow our lawyer to give us advice on it? >> Sure. >> Yeah. Advice. But I think we're we're not understanding the word advice could be, you know, hey, can you let us know if this is worth responding to? What are
the implications of not responding? what is the likelihood of of you know risk versus hey can you answer this within 10 days which is going to move up to the top of your list which is going to cost us you know x amount of money there there's that factor there and that's a decision that we should make not just
pass it off to the lawyer that's all it is it's very you know it varies >> I don't think we we set the answer we we wanted him to look at it >> sure >> um >> and that that's maybe helps his question >> in fairness to any one of us that's not a lawyer when somebody sends something
like Yeah, it's it's uh if I tell the lawyer I don't want you to answer it, that means I gave him legal advice and I am not in a position bear with me to give him legal advice. My role in him and I copied the interim superintendent
is to say this is the document that we received and we want him to tell us what we should do. >> Uh but I I would not read the document and say, you know, they said respond within 10 days. don't respond. That means
>> I'm putting a trustee or the board at risk. >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> So, uh what are you looking for? Trustees are because like I got to get up tomorrow early morning. Um and a lot of us do too. What are you looking to do?
>> Well, I I would like us to decide whether or not we would like to um pursue this matter as a board. My my opinion would be no. >> I guess it's as simple as that. >> I agree. We don't want to pursue it. And
trustee Mazip, I mean it's he doesn't want to pursue it. >> Okay. So then the attorney get a response. That's a thing. >> Yeah. >> He doesn't have to respond to anything. >> So trustee, I'm sorry. >> Yes. >> Lamese, could you talk to them? And our
goal is not to to pursue it, but we also want to protect our trustees. I mean, is is that fair? >> Yeah, we haven't been uh sued or anything, so there's nothing. >> No, the the letter was actually just CCD to us, sent to us, but it was only
directed at and the and the 10 days notice was given to trustee Mosa, not to the full board. >> Right. >> So, the full board was not engaged in it. They sent it to make us aware. >> Aware, right? And so when we when we um
again directing Mr. Bllelock to take care of it and when he says look I'm in receipt of this letter and I'll connect with that other lawyer. I don't know what that means. I would like it to mean I would like him not to connect with that other because this just for us not to pursue this. That's my point of view and I'm just saying before he goes and
connects with them and starts going back and forth with them we should decide whether that's something we want to pursue as a board. So, is your goal for me to have ask that union to retract the the legal letter? >> They don't even have to do that. We
could >> I'm I'm not Yeah, I'm I'm trying to figure out my role in all this because I think part of the problem is that >> the >> I wasn't part of it in the beginning. >> Sure. I guess I guess it could be if we decide right now basically to tell we
could ask if we wanted to or we could do it ourselves whether it's Mr. Bllelock or us to tell um the lawyer of the union that we're not pursuing this as a personnel matter as a board. >> That's that's fine. But um in truth
could do that. I think of a situation that the the lawyer presses hard and asks something of Mr. of any board trustees, this is where they come in and have to support us. But right now the intention is uh we're not pursuing
anything further and we don't want it to go any further. >> So you have the option if you get a legal I'm trying to understand if you get a served a letter you have the option to just ignore it. >> No I >> I'm wondering I really don't know. I've never >> the letter says but sure.
>> Okay. You can just Okay. Sure. Well, well, let's let's kind of clarify that if the letter is requesting um something of a trustee, an action um then we it has to be addressed because we don't want you know this you
practice law deliberately. Uh >> I'll expend I'll make a motion to extend the meeting by another 15 minutes. >> Second. >> Uh Mosep, >> yes. >> Bazzy, >> yes. >> Zar, yes. Drosio, >> yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Jimmy, >> yes. >> Okay.
>> So, so we would not ignore anything that needs an action from us, >> but if there's any way that we could mitigate >> Sure. >> and and and make it to a point where we don't have to go any further, that would be >> I'll work on that.
>> Okay. Um, does that because I don't want to keep going back and forth because >> No, as long as long as it's clear that the that the we should be telling Mr. Bllelock, please don't bill any hours towards this issue. I guess that's the point. >> That's not going to be
if if we ask somebody to look at something, we cannot tell him he cannot bill anything if he's giving us advice. I mean, you're you're asking for uh proono. >> No, no, no. We could say to him, don't work on this issue because we're not pursuing this issue. >> Well, he we have to make sure that the
other union the with the help of Lamese that they're not pursuing anything further, >> right? I mean, >> except from the nature of this thing, if we tell them, look, we're not pursuing this matter, then they're going to drop it. >> I mean, if if it goes away, then everybody's happy.
Well, >> if he if if there is a consensus to not go any further with this from both sides, that would be the preferred approach. >> Mitigation would probably want we would
want to encourage communication so that there's both sides are are communicating and move forward in a positive way. Correct. That's what we would want. I would assume. >> I mean, communication is always good. In this case, it's really
>> I'm just talking about engaging the lawyer. >> I'm talking about >> But I know, but I'm being tasked to mitigate between two entities. >> Sure. >> And I I want to make sure that I'm honoring their request and also, you know, I I'm I'm their >> What would I I'm I'm their supervisor.
Okay. I am their supervisor. Okay. So, am I speaking on my behalf or on the board's behalf? I need clarity because my decision doesn't necessarily match your decision and how you would >> I guess let me ask it like this. How many of us are interested in pursuing
this personnel matter of whether or not you know these actions happen during uh during work hours? How many of us are interested in pursuing that? >> I finally get it what you're pursuing. You're pursuing that no personal matters is uh goes forward, right? Like maybe I
it took me a long time. Is that what you're looking for? That >> Well, I'm saying whether whether or not we want to pursue a personnel matter against somebody should be and if a lawyer's getting involved. >> Yeah. >> Like answer the question because it
could be. So trust does not want this to go any further as far as specifically on this personnel um you know like from a personnel standpoint from a staffing point from from the board. And I heard Trusty Mazip say he he doesn't want it
to go any further. >> Okay. >> So, we're on the same page. So, >> okay. >> Um, in saying that, I I think we're good with that. >> What's the next item? >> Request for information or future agenda items.
>> I guess I I believe next uh meeting we will have more presentation as far as the bond proposal. >> So, are we going to have more group? >> This is our Okay. So what happens now? This was our final proposal to you. From
now until the next board meeting, the team is going to be seeking input from different community members. Um specifically um uh Dearborn and Dearborn Heights mayor, city council. Those are our first steps as there are partners in this
proposal to an extent. and we have a list that goes from that that includes uh union reps, um chamber of commerce, PTA. So, we're that's our task from now until the next board meeting. Your task at the J June board meeting is to
specifically tell us what parts of that proposal you want and which ones you do not. >> Okay. And then >> we need a final >> Sure. >> decision at the June board meeting. And David, you're not going to be here for June. I'm putting you on the spot. Yeah, you are.
>> You're coming. >> All right. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, David. >> Okay. >> So, what is what is the date that Oh, sorry. What What is the date that the language needs to pre-approve by in order to get onto the ballot in November? Does anybody know the answer to that question?
>> You can the date is in July, but your last board meeting is in June. >> So, I don't think you want to call special meeting, >> of course. So, we don't want to go past >> I don't think you want to call a special meeting to just approve ballot language.
I don't think that would be fair to the public. I think that really that June meeting, the end of June, we should have ballot language to you prior to that meeting so that you are comfortable with the language that is
going to be on the November ballot. >> So we would be voting on the ballot proposal >> because we need to get that ballot language to the clerk by July or to the state by well not the clerk by July. So again, it you don't want to cut it any
closer than than June. >> Okay. So our schedule says unless says that we >> and the ballot language will only be the dollar figure. It won't be the plan. Sure. Right. >> So our P this our schedule says that our next P12 meeting is June 22nd. >> Correct.
>> Okay. So at this June 22nd meeting which you just promised to attend. Um >> my wife is >> I know I just saw you're going to Mina Island. You will come back from Ma. No. enjoy your but at this June 22nd meeting we should expect to see >> so at this June 22nd meeting we should
be expect to be approving >> or see ballot language to approve >> yes we and we should have that to you way prior to that meeting so do it on that day >> right >> okay >> yes that should be your goal >> I understand
>> all this this is not a request for information but it might be commentary or request for information >> trustes Aar um kind of spoke on Trusty Drosio's or his understanding of Trusty Dumbrosu's comments and I would hope
that Trusty Drosio speaks for himself and tells us or clarifies if he wants to. >> I don't need to clarify anything that's >> if you can speak to the mic. Okay, we can't hear >> at this point. I don't need to clarify anything.
Okay. You need to worry about taking care of your own house. that that that is very unfortunate to say as a board member. It's like you're being disrespectful. I'm just inquiring to speak up for yourself and clarify things. >> Oh, you should see the email that he
sent me. It was it was so disrespectful, but >> I I have a meeting with Miss Martin and that's between Miss Martin and myself. Okay. >> All right. >> Yeah. In fact, at I'll say at the end of the May 4th meeting, I saw Trusty Drojo and Miss Martin having conversation at the end of that meeting.
deserves the union deserves >> righties because you're >> go ahead >> future meeting dates Monday May 18th 2026 HFC policy meeting 6 p.m. at the administrative services and conference center in the cabinet conference room Monday May 18th 2026 HFC board of
trustees meeting 7 p.m. at the administrative services and conference center and the Rosenol board. Monday, June 15th, 2026. So, just to clarify, our June meetings are flipped like we have the HFC meeting before the Okay, good. Just want to make sure it's all right. Monday, June 15th, 2026, HFC board of trustees meeting 7 p.m. at the
administrative services and conference center in the Rosnell boardroom. And Monday, June 22nd, 2026, which Mustin will not be at, but it happens to be my birthday. P12 board of education meeting 7 PM at the administrative service center in the Frankie boardroom and
Mustinin will be missing my >> that means this is David's and Tom's last meeting >> this is >> thank you so much to the both of you >> thanks everyone >> all right that's it no >> other business meetings adjourned Part: 2
Heat. Heat. Good evening everyone and welcome to the Dearborn public school uh regular board meeting. It's May 11 and it's 7:02. Let's call the meeting to order. >> Uh, roll call. Trusty Bazzy >> here.
>> Trusty Drosio >> here. >> Trusty Mos >> present. >> Trusty Pichkov >> here. >> Trusty So >> here. >> Trusty Zaher here. President Al Ji >> here. Next item. >> Next item is the pledge of allegiance to the flag with Dr. Adnan Mugni, principal of McDonald Elementary, introducing
students that will lead the pledge of allegiance. I got a three wonderful kids from McDonald Elementary School. We have Gazal Busi fifth grade, Muhammad Aab second grade and Adamizi fourth grade. So they will lead us in the pledge.
>> I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. Thank you. Hi there. >> Good job. >> Does that job? >> I'm at Good job. You want to give it to >> All right. Next item, please.
>> Next item is superintendent update. >> Okay. Good evening, everybody. >> Good evening. >> Uh we'll start with retirements short list this month. Ali Abdullah 24 and three4ers of a of years of service.
Troy Aean, 29 years of service. Danielle Curry, 26 years of service. Christine Furkyote, 37 years of service. Darlene Hamill, 30 and 34s years of service.
Hilda, 31 years of service. Vivian Johnson, 9 and 23 years of service. Leslie Rosel, 22 years of service. Gail Saznitsa, 26 and 23 years of service.
And Phyllis Williams, 16 and 12 years of service. Thank you all for your time with Dearborn Schools. Okay, again, a long list. Uh the 2627 board meeting um schedule was emailed to you the board on May 5th.
You should all have receipt of that. Uh you will be voting on that at the June meeting. This past week was teacher appreciation week and yesterday was Mother's Day. Our teachers deserve to be recognized and celebrated every day for their tireless
work. I'd like to thank all of our teachers for as a path towards academic success. They nurture, love, and take care of their students selflessly. So, thank you to all of our amazing teachers. May 1st was school principal day and May
12th was school nurse appreciation day. So, thank you to all of our principles, administrators, and nurses that serve our students uh in Dearbornne schools. May is mental health awareness month and it is a time to raise awareness of and
reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health conditions as well as highlighting the ways how mental illness can affect all of us. I'd like to thank our staff who support their own colleagues as well as students and families. So, thank you to all of our staff who who make sure they prioritize
mental health with uh everybody that they serve. Uh board, we have a lot of events coming up. You all have invites to spring school programs, honors nights, Memorial Day events, and graduations. You'll see me more than you ever wanted to this
month coming up, but it's all exciting and good. Uh we have a last Monday this board recommended Micah Saley to serve as the next superintendent pending negotiations.
Congratulations to Micah Saley. And I think that's all I have. Next item, please. The next item is recognition and acknowledgement starting with commendations.
Commendations will be read by Ford High School students Ameliana Cabrera and Maline McKenzie. Commendations to DT cohort 28 facilitators including Mara Anthony Medila Bazzy district elementary
school instructure instructional coaches for facilitating six days of intensive professional learning dedicated to the science of reading and the co-enance of excessive I'm sorry executive literacy instruction
through their skillful facilitation They have built the capacity of elementary school classrooms teachers and had a positive impact on tier 1 and two instruction. Commendations to high principal Aaron
McGingville, title one teacher Natalie Deler, and ELD specialist Naen Mlid for their presentation at the Wayne County Multilingual Collaborative Meeting. Their presentation, how to get a staff and students excited, motivated for the WEDA assessment, highlighted their buildingwide WEDA Warriors initiative.
Through their leadership, they have successfully shifted the perception of the WEDA assessment into a positive and attainable goal for both staff and students. Commendations I mean to the elementary district instructional coaches Miriam
Barericat and Antinet McMahon along with early childhood specialists Angie Deerezik and Michelle Rosson. These staff represented the district and early learning co coalition coalition at the
LAC mom resource fair. By participating in this event, they connected local families with virtual and early literacy resources and guidance. Their dedication to community engagement strengthens the partnership between our schools and the
families we serve. Commendations to the Dearborn High film students who took home seven regional student production awards from the National Academy of Television's Arts and Sciences. The students had a record-breaking 23 nominations. Award winners include America's sweetheart,
best short form fiction, best photographer, best writer, best talent, Zanam Sad as producer, Jesse Good and Amani Alfatwe as writers, Jesse Good as producers, and Aljahishi as talent.
Man-made. Best long form fiction, Evelyn and Muhammad Aun as producers. Landslide. Best music video and best editing. Amina Tomi as producer, Jesse Good as editor, and Zanabad for lighting. This year's film can be viewed during the annual WDHS film fest on May
15th at Dearborn High School. Commendations to the Edel Ford students who performed well at the annual German day com compet competition at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor in April. 30 students participated and 18 were a part of first place groups in one
or more of six categories, commercials, skits, community outreach, karaoke videos, and video games. First place winners include Gabriel Bochamp, MNA Burke Calter, Lucas Dovos, Gabriel Doran, Amina Harper, Laya Hart,
Matt Herman, Ta Ho, Drake Morris, Leo Trimarina, Xander Peterson, Diego Rhymer, Judah Roth, Jackson Shocki, Henry Vina, Ammyra Ward, Kaden W, and Miles Whitaker. Commendations to the Zelford High School senior Zahara
Abdullah. She is being recognized by the United Nations Association of the USA and interview with the community service impact award. Abdullah received the ambassador award for performing more than 100 hours of community service. Accommodations to the board key club for
organizing events to recognize PAR professionals. In April, students planned a week of events to recognize PAR pros at Fordon High School, Edel Ford, Stout Middle School, and Nalin Elementary. The recognition accumulated in a paraprofessional appreciation
dinner on April 25th where students recognized several staff including several staff celebrating both personal impact and collective dedication. April 1st was paraprofessional appreciation day. Commendations to Fortson High Assistant
principal Khaled Abdullah for serving on a panel discussion at the national cell phone study conference in April. The event was organized by the University of Michigan's youth policy lab. Commendations to the women's empowerment club which hosted seminar focused on
inspiring and empowering young women through conversation, leadership and shared experiences. Organizer invite organizers invited guest speakers to share their experience including inter interm superintendent Lamei Sau. The
students also did a volunteer project at the seminar and the seminar was organized by students Yasmin Sed, Sophia Sansen, and Malak Alamini. The club adviser is Keith Ridzik. Commendations to the boys varsity
basketball teams from Dearborn High and Forsim for supporting the Blue Hands United basketball game on April 213rd at Dearborn High. The student athletes helped support special needs players for an evening of basketball and fun. Commendations to the Edel Ford High
School green club which is building a new hey pollinator >> pollinator garden with native plants garden with the hope of attracting bees and butterflies. Thank you to the community members. Donna Kolac,
Antinet Lar Lar Pepco, Craig Gorul, >> Gorkullet, Wild Ones of Wayne County, and the Dearborn Garden Club for their guidance and support at Zel's Thornilly Club. Commendations to the following Edelford
High seniors who are graduating as members of La Pimea Familia chapter of Laosio Anaria Espanika a nationally recognized Spanish honor society. Those students include Ola Ajami, Amanda Avitia, Aisha MSA, Abraham Maher, Mina
Ofman, Cynthia Sed and Sophia Thomas Carillo. These students completed four years of Spanish studies with high honors and a community service with Edel Ford Spanish Club. Accommodations to Edel Ford student Zanab Ahmed for being
a top 10 finalist and winning three medals in the Entrepreneurship California category at DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta on April 28th. More than 29,000 students
competed from all over the country. And finally, commendations to the Dearborn High School Jazz Band, which hosted the evening of jazz concert at the Zelford High School. The free event included performances by jazz bands from Dearborn High, Esleford High, Bryant
Middle, and STEM middle schools. Thank you. >> Next item, please. >> The next item is PTA reflection winners. >> Trusty, did you want to say something? President Jah, if I add a commendation. >> Go ahead, please.
>> Commendation to uh Fortson's MSA club for organizing alumni versus students uh basketball game uh that benefited uh Zaman International and uh the game went very well. Uh yours
truly played on the alumni team. We did lose to the students team safely. Did a pretty good job. Uh, however, the gap was like about 14 points at some times in the game. I wasn't playing. Uh, I actually got out when they were tied.
So, um, and then I came in at the second half. But we we managed to come back and they won only by two points. So, >> they can rub it in until next year. >> But, thank you to them for organizing such an great event. And uh also thanks
to their advisor, Miss Naserina Le. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So I do want to thank the students for allowing us to come back. >> Good. >> Okay. >> All right. Again, PTA reflection winners is the next >> I think. Uh you want to say something? Well, no, it was about this. It's all
good. But >> um can I >> Hi, Joanne. How are you? >> Hi, how are you? >> Uh board, this is Joan Nabha. She's on our district PTA board and she also spearheads the all-consuming reflections contest. If you know, you know. And uh
we really wanted to celebrate um her efforts and celebrate the students for all their hard work and I know that you can't do it without those partnerships in the schools. So the floor is yours. >> Thank you. Um I would like to ask the students who are here tonight from PTA
Reflections to come up. I'm not sure who's exactly here, but we will walk through it. So, um this year's 2025 2026 PTA reflections, um we it's this is a longstanding um art program through the national PTA and uh Dearborn
is every year involved in it. I think we've this is our like 52nd year of doing it. Um this year we had students win at the state level. We had five students win at the state level and every year we choose students at from the district level. So, we have district winners and we have uh the state winners
here tonight. So, I would like to give them a round of applause because their work is phenomenal. >> I'm going to have them go around and say their names. >> And which school? >> And which school? >> They can use the small mic. >> Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Let me Yes.
>> It's on. It's on. >> It's on. Okay. My name is Sarah Kwanzi. >> And which school are you with? And which grade? >> William Ford, third grade. >> My name is Amelia and I'm in Miller
Elementary and I am a second grader. I'm Jenna Hart. I'm from Bryant Middle School and I'm an eighth grader. My name is Amira Budaya. I go to William Ford Elementary School. I'm in fourth grade. >> My name is Louisa Jadullah. I'm in the
fifth grade and I'm from William Ford Elementary. >> My name is Mira Jan and I'm from William Ford fifth grade. your name and which school you're from and which grade you're in. >> My name is
And Park in first grade. >> Say her name again. >> Do it again. >> Say your name. >> My name is Ree. >> Ree. Got it. >> Bethany. >> Bethany. Okay. >> My name is Sawyer Shooker. I go to Deval
Elementary. I'm in fourth grade. >> My name is >> We can't see her. Bring Bring her up. Bring her up here. >> And my last >> See here, >> wait. Start over. Start over. Start over. >> Let can she start over? >> Yes. Can we start over and show them your beautiful face?
>> My name is Elasi. >> What school? >> What school are you from? >> William Ford. >> William Ford. Okay. Yes. Um, this year we had top winners at state and we also had in almost every
quiet category from visual arts to photography to literature to music. Um, we really had and we really had like a broad range of talent and as you can see we have a broad range of so um I encourage and we also have um
>> cert. So we'd like to call them up to get a certificate on behalf of the board and myself. >> I think I have so >> Okay. So our first winner is Sawyer Scooert. >> Our next winner is Amelia Nasrein.
Amir Abua, Sarah Kunazi, Bura Bunani. I don't think she's here tonight, but we will give it to Mr. Higgins over there. Jenna Harp Ayat Alsidi
Louisa Jadala And finally, Mera Jen with gonna get celebrated. >> Okay. >> How about a group picture with the board? >> Yes. Please come up. What's up?
Thank you. Good job. >> Miss Nepa question. >> How many students did you have participate in roughly? So, um, at the district level, we had, um, gosh, we had 33,
um, >> submissions >> submissions and then, um, we submitted all those to the state and we had five winners this year from the state. >> Amazing. >> So, >> and, uh, seems like William Ford got the lion share. So, >> yes, they do. Yes. Every year we have one particular win. Next year, they to
ask Mr. Hig. >> Yes. I encourage this is the first year actually I haven't had any high school submissions which I was sad about but I do encourage all but we do >> you know the the high schoolers do this districtwide >> sure >> um art art uh gallery so I really love
to see that but I really encourage everyone all of our PTAs to participate in um and if your student is at a school that does not have a PTA >> and uh reaches out to us >> uh and wants to participate they can be
a part of like the council PTA or like be a PTA of any school just sign up and then they can participate in that school in that um >> that is to contact the PTA council. >> It is it is a a specific PTA um >> council that oversees all >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Oh, go ahead. >> Trusty Pet. >> Yes. >> I was on the PTA council for many years. >> Yes. I know. And I know when we when you uh took on that responsibility because we always struggled for years of of getting schools to participate, they had
a PTA because it was an added burden for usually the art teacher would take on the responsibility of guiding a lot of the kids um in the process. >> And in a lot of schools, the art teacher is the one that um takes this role on. And I really appreciate the art teachers. I think we need to give them
also a round of applause because they put a lot of words into these students. If it. It's It's a It's a mighty challenge and but it's a great one and it's just another opportunity. I know our students are um can have many opportunities
throughout the school year to participate in a variety of ways, but this is just one more where they can showcase their talents and get excited >> uh about art and art projects. So, um I always am happy to see uh the PTAs when
when they and it's and it's a tough it's a tough ask it and um PTAs are already doing a lot in each of their individual buildings. So, um to have that many students and usually it is a cluster of schools that that we um can get
participation from. But thank you. I really appreciate you've been dedicated to this for quite a while now. I would say that um I know it's like PTA volunteership I guess in general isn't always easy. You know, we have a hard time with getting uh volunteers through
PTA, but I feel like um if you're just doing it for the kids, then it's easy. So, um you know, for me, that's what it's always been. And when I took on this role, that's what it was. I I love the arts, so for me it was very easy to take this on. And she's right, it is some somewhat of a lot of work, but it's
worth it. like it's just like few a few days out of the year so it's not bad. >> Thank you. >> Question. Yes. How long you been doing this? >> Um so I've been on the council since 2020. Um I was appointed because like I said, nobody wants to do it. So I didn't
know what I was getting into when I signed up for the uh council. But I've been doing PTA since uh 2012 really. And uh I took on this particular role. This is my second year. And um obviously you get paid thousands of dollars to do this.
>> A lot of money. Yes. Yes. >> I think just a shout out to Joanne because I mean we shout out the kids but a shout out to you too because >> donating this kind of time is really awesome. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. I do. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> President and before that I'd like to
acknowledge and thank Mr. KBA who used to do the PTA reflections for a very long time. as I remember um my both of my kids submitted some submissions and she was very helpful. >> Yes, Lena was definitely spearheaded this program for years.
>> Four years. Yes. I would say probably 10 years at at least I would say and then uh the council took it on. Uh I mean when I was on like we started we she was transitioning into giving it uh like you know someone else taking it over and um
so our board started to um take it over and I think it's always been a council but um yeah that's what it was. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Joanne. We are looking for volunteers to uh sit on the committee and help us um like help me I guess um
when it comes to um just collecting the artwork and submitting the artwork. So um if anyone is interested or if you know anyone who's interested um please reach out to me. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. We appreciate your >> Next item, please.
>> Okay. Next >> Oh, you want to >> you go ahead. Next item is art show winners. >> Okay. >> Thank you. What a great month. We're celebrating so many uh students and staff. This is just a feel-good meeting. I'm very excited. This is Dan.
Hold on. Marqui. Did I say it right? And you're at STEM art teacher at STEM. >> STEM and how. >> Okay. Uh thank you for being here. Dan is going to talk a little bit about the art show winners and the showcase that you and your colleagues put on this year. >> Yes. Uh good evening members of the
board. Uh my name is Dan Mcki. On behalf of the art department, we thank you so much for allowing us to be present tonight to acknowledge this year's winners from the Dearborn Art Student Art Show. At this time, if there's any winners that are in the audience, can you please come forward and stand up behind me? Um every year we as educators are blessed with these gifted
individuals that produce wonderful works of art in many different mediums, either 2D or 3D. And I encourage you, if you've not been to the Pages Gallery, go check it out. The works there are super impressive and amazing. Um this is only a few students that are winners. Um
there is two from each grade category, a 2D and 3D. And then the top winner is the superintendent award which the superintendent goes through the whole gallery and chooses one piece of artwork that stands out to her the most and is the most impressive piece to her. It'll be hung inside the superintendent's gallery. Um this year we have on
elementary uh 2D uh Ree Albbathy uh pumpkin in the night. Her teacher is Mrs. Bruce from Gear Park. Good job. From the three to five grades, Muhammad Albali, uh, cast tissue tiles, uh,
teachers, Miss Kelly from McDonald Elementary. In the middle school category, 2D, Kabia Frederick's, Dragon Imperial Power from Mr. Marquy's class of STEM. 3D is Nora El Marici Dreambird from Miss Thomas in the virtual academy
and the high school 2D Dylan Gears Owens fence company photo from Miss Patre Ford a 3D piece from Asher Kon Muku's house from Miss Arosa's Lel Ford and also this year's superintendent
award is Jaclyn Hang seventh grade from STEM. Again, if you haven't seen the show yet, please stop on by. The work is amazing. Impressive. >> It is amazing. >> As being an art teacher, I'm super happy every year to see the work produced. Oh, >> yeah. I was going to ask the location and when does it end? >> Um, it ends the uh last week in May.
>> And the location is civics center gallery performing arts. >> It's also in the gallery there and up the top stairs. There's artwork all through it. So, if you can't get in the gallery to see the actual main pieces, there's pieces all up top. We go upstairs and you can see all the great uh works there. >> Great job.
>> Amazing. >> Thank you. >> Thanks so much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you so much. >> Did they get a picture? >> They need a picture, too. Yes, >> I think they need a picture, too. Mostly. Okay. >> We have to be fair pictures. >> Come on. >> I know they're in middle school and the high school
All right, next item is teacher of the year. Sure. If if you're standing in the back, there's a whole row of empty seats in the front if you'd like to come. Uh, okay. More celebrations. We had our teacher of
the year event couple weeks ago at this point. Um, if you are here today, please approach the podium. We have Sarah Kadu, Michelle Eer, Nicole Rodriguez, David Roshmont, and Artha Snadden.
>> We have Sarah Kadu from Salina Elementary, uh, preschool to second grade. Uh, Michelle Eert, Whitmore Bulls Elementary, 3rd through 5th. Uh Nicole Rodriguez, Stout Middle School, David Roshimont, I don't think he's here. He
wasn't able to come. Dearborn High School, and then we have Artha Snadden from adult education here with us today. Congratulations. One more time. So before we go up there, I remember coming to I remember being at this event a couple weeks ago. So well put together. And what I was really
other than that we have great teachers. I'm not surprised by that. Thank you for all the work that you do. What I was really surprised by is that when their names were announced, they seemed genuinely surprised >> in a place like Dearborn where there's no secrets. I I was shocked that nobody knew who was winning ahead of time, but
um jumping out jumping out of their chairs and coming down. I mean, it was clear how excited all of our teachers were to be part of this and how proud they are of what they do every day. So, thank you again for everything you do for us. >> Thank you. Okay, here we go.
President Jeff, >> the next item, it >> y uh I just want to u mention that um Mr. Rodriguez was featured at channel 7 was it? Channel 4 um for the teacher of
the year award and she represented she represented us very well. So thank you Mr. Rodriguez. And u one other thing that I I as the awards were coming along Trusty Bazzi and I were having a side conversation as far
as a category that we may need to suggest to the chamber to add. And I I know we want to limit it, but I think it is well needed, which is the category in special ed um that we would have a teacher be nominated in that individual
category. And I believe so many students who are going to nominate obviously unfortunately some of them are non-verbal and they cannot uh their parents would have to help them nominate. So I would hope that
we that we pass that suggestion to the chamber that we would have a category starting from next year for special ed. >> Trusty Bazzy >> and and just to kind of piggy back on that to to especially for our special ed families and those students as accommodating as we can be for those students to be able to make those
nominations um I think would be excellent. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. >> Any other comments? If not, next items. Next item is acknowledgement of donations. >> Oh, it's you.
>> Oh, >> hello. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, the following donations have been offered to the school district. A donation of $10,000 has been offered to Dearborn Public Schools by Jack Demer Ford to be used to directly support student learning through in-person
experiences, the purchase of educational equipment, or specialized classroom materials not covered by the general fund. A donation of $600 has been offered to Smith Middle School by the Dearborn Exchange Club to be used to assist a student whose family had a
house fire. A donation of $1,000 has been offered to Smith Middle School by the Dearborn Goodfellows to be used to assist a family who had a houseire. And finally, a donation of 200 muddy buddy suits has
been offered to Cotter School by PNC Foundation to be used for children to play outdoors in inclement weather without soiling clothing or getting wet. >> That's pretty cool. >> Oh, to be a preschooler again. Thank you.
Next item, please. >> Next item is approval of minutes. We're looking for approval of minutes of the following Dearborn Board of Education meetings. All right, there's a lot. City relations committee meeting, April 6, 2026. Board report 25-126.
Special meeting for superintendent search, April 9th, 2026. Board report 25-127. Regular P12 meeting, April 13, 2026. Board report 25-128. Special meeting for superintendent search. April 14th, 2026. Board report
25-129. Special meeting for superintendent search. April 15th, 2026. Board report 25-130. Special meeting for superintendent. Search April 16th, 2026. Board report 25-131. Special meeting for the superintendent.
Search April 18th, 2026 board 25-132. And finally, special meeting superintendent search April 23rd, 2026, board report 25-133. I'm looking for somebody to make any necessary corrections and move approval of all of these minutes.
>> So move support. >> Second. >> So we have a a second. >> Are we missing the May 4th or is that going to be meeting? >> Next meeting. Okay. >> Okay.
>> So roll. Uh, no roll call needed. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> No objection. Motion is approved. >> Next item is union leadership commentary. >> Okay. >> This section of the board of education meeting is being added to further
enhance already strong commitment and longtime partnership between district administration and all bargaining units. Both instructional and non-instructional union members serve on a wide variety of standing and ad hoc committees that drive the work and decision-making in the Dearborn public schools. In addition, administration meets monthly with the leadership team of all unions
as well as a group meeting with union presidents. These meetings are not required, but are an extension of the collaborative partnership that has long existed in the Dearborn public schools. This section will further enhance the commitment to valuing all suggestions, views, and opinions brought forth by all staff members in the district. And it
looks like we have one uh represent represent representative tonight from the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, Miss Kathy Martin. Good evening. Um, thank you Trustee Mos and Trustee Bazzy for recommending a special ed category in the teacher of
the year. I do sit on that committee. I do not make final decisions as to who wins. I'm recused by that point, but um that's a great idea because there have been years when special ed has been nominated and people don't quite know what to do with it. So, I will definitely take that back to the
committee. Um uh but tonight I'm here because the past few weeks have been quite a ride and I'm ready to put this behind us. But before doing so, um I believe it's important to address several issues that have come up regarding the superintendent surveys and
the conversations surrounding them. First, I need to provide some background. The DFT sent out two objective surveys regarding the superintendent search process. The first survey asked members to select qualities they would like to see in a future superintendent from a provided list
while also giving them the opportunity to add qualities of their own. It also asked respondents to identify a first and a second choice among the candidates. The raw data from that survey was shared directly with the school board. After the board voted on
finalists, the data was further analyzed and that analysis was also shared with the school board. The second survey was much more straightforward. It asked respondents for their opinions on each of the finalists and then asked them to choose between the two candidates. Less
than 24 hours before the second survey closed, I began hearing from some members who were unhappy that there was no option to select neither candidate. In an effort to better understand where member sentiment truly stood, I added a neither option. After that option was
added, there were 75 additional responses. One candidate received 44 of those votes, 16 wanted neither, and 15 voted for the other candidate. That raw data was also shared with every school
board member along with an analysis to help summarize nearly 500 responses and over 600 written comments as each candidate received over 300 comments individually. For additional context, surveying our membership has been a
consistent practice throughout my time in office. We survey members on contract negotiations, the school calendar, early release schedules, and we conduct annual satisfaction surveys regarding the union, the district, and the school board. Usually in May, that's what I
present. This year, staff has been surveyed out, and I did not send one out because it's just too many. Um, depending on the topic, we usually receive between 300 and 600 responses. During the 2023 contract negotiations,
we had over 800 participants approve that contract. That should give you some perspective regarding the size and engagement of our active membership. We're never going to re achieve 100% response rate. Some members prefer to have their elected executive board speak
on their behalf. Others may not check their email regularly. Yeah, they exist. It's frustrating to me, but anyways. um and some simply do not feel strongly enough about a topic to participate in the survey. Because of the sensitive nature of the superintendent selection
process, these surveys were anonymous, though limited to one response per participant, unlike the questionnaire that the school board used. The survey regarding the finalist selection received 406 responses in less than 24 hours. These respondents were clearly
invested in the process and for such a short window of time that level of participation was significant. After the board selected the finalists, however, many members felt demoralized and disengaged from the process. I know this because members personally emailed, text, and called me to express that they
no longer wish to participate because they felt their voices didn't matter. Before discussing the second survey further, I want to address a point of confusion I heard circulating. Some questioned how one particular candidate could emerge as the top first choice
candidate while many comments strongly favored hiring an outsider. Both things can be true at the same time. Many individuals selected this internal candidate or or selected both internal candidates without
writing a response. So they went into the survey, they clicked first choice, second choice, and didn't write anything. um only 99 of the hund the 406 respondents actually provided comments. Many of those comments strongly favored an outside candidate. That discrepancy
does not invalidate either the survey results or the opinions expressed in the comments. It simply reflects that not every participant engaged in the same way. Despite frustration surrounding the finalist selection, the second survey still received 498 responses. This is
where it's important to discuss survey validity. Voluntary surveys do not function like simple mathematical equations. In survey research, a survey rate between 5% and 30% is generally considered acceptable, while anything above 30% is considered
excellent. The second survey achieved approximately 36.5% response rate. Those results cannot simply be dismissed, nor should their validity be questioned, particularly given the large margin between the two candidates. I can also assure you that the results remained
remarkably consistent throughout the process, whether there were 100, 200, 300 responses. The spread between candidates was clear very early on and remained stable throughout. If individuals chose not to participate, it does not mean their voices were
suppressed. more likely they either felt discouraged by the board's earlier decisions or simply did not feel strongly enough to respond. I'd like to remind you that the district will regular regularly present survey results with 10% or less response rate and those
results are accepted by this board. There's one final issue I'd like to address. A rumor used to discredit DFT voice is that members fear retaliation from DFT leadership for expressing differing opinions. I want to be absolutely clear. The union has no
ability to retaliate. We cannot control salaries. We don't control assignments. We don't control promotions. We don't control evaluations. Nor do we control employment status. Members are completely free and welcome to express disagreement with union leadership,
dissatisfaction with the union, differing views on district matters, or preferences regarding superintendent candidates. participation in this particular survey was entirely voluntary and anonymous. The purpose of the survey
was simple, to give educators a voice and to better understand where our membership stood on an important decision impacting our district. The results reflected the responses we received and those responses showed strong support for one candidate over the other. Healthy disagreement is part
of any democratic organization and every member has the right to their own opinion without fear or pressure. I welcome differing viewpoints and dissenting opin opinions. I was elected to represent the voice of membership and my own opinion is simply one amongst
nearly 1400. I sincerely hope this clarifies the process for anyone who may still have doubts and I hope that moving forward the voices of staff members will actually be taken seriously. I I do want to comment um in and say when you talked about the percentage of
uh acceptable numbers from a for a survey, we were doing a survey, we were uh planning to do a survey where I work at and for us to get 30% that is uh that is huge. Um so the expectation is never
100%. And we should never question the data or question uh DFT or their intention because they share a different opinion on um than we do. Um we should always respect everyone and and and uh
treat people with uh with trust. Um, I personally got the wrath of uh the what happened and you know trustees send me a very disrespectful email because I don't um I don't share the same opinion and we
have to respect each other. We have to um accept the data and and and respect everyone that provide us the data whether we agree with them or not. Right now we're in a place where we're moving forward. uh we're going to support our superintendent. We're going to be their
biggest cheerleaders. So, we're going to be behind them 100%. At the end of the day, um when people don't share our opinion, we cannot cross the lines and we cannot be disrespectful. I'm not going to go into the details, but I felt
disrespected um personally as if as the DFT members felt. And to me, we're not going to always agree. Um, I met with Mr. Ailei. We sat for an hour and a half. We came
to a consensus that we're going to work together. It was very respectful. Um, we have to move past what happened and we have to respect each other. We should not question people's intention or motive, especially when we we don't have
any facts. Thank you, Trusty Maz. Thank you, Trusty Alji. Uh, first of all, President Martin, I've known you for many years before you stepped into the role of a DFT president. You were the social worker for my son.
>> Speech pathologist. >> Speech pathologist. So, sorry. Um, but you worked with him in in so many ways and I got to work with you. Um, and I knew uh the work ethic that you present and I
appreciate that uh you're leading your fellow teachers with the utmost integrity and utmost honesty and it disturbed me that a trustee would question the raw data that we received from you. I take a
major offense to that and I I did address that with the trustee in an email. Unfortunately, I I still didn't get a response uh to my um ask that this might be a slip on
their part and I hope they would uh clarify or at least apologize to the membership and to the teachers. Uh but to you I tell you um 36% for a survey is huge in any scientific
method. they tell you even as you mentioned 10% 15% is acceptable to see a it's a sample size and um I'm I'm just appalled that and I sit at this table and there were a lot of things going on
in that meeting but to question the data and to pretty much say you were dishonest is very disrespectful not to you only and to your members to your members and to the teachers who serve our students every single today, but to this board as well, and I hope that they
would clarify and apologize. Thank you. >> All right. Can I say something? I want to be very clear that my statement today is regarding the board and it has nothing to do with the superintendent selection. I fully support Mr. and I look forward to beating him with
him and making sure that we all succeed cuz this is for the sake of our students. So my whatever I had to say today had nothing to do with the actual um superintendent to be it had to do with the issue with the board. >> Thank you.
>> Next item, please. Next item is special reports starting with Dearborn Green Schoolyards Partnership. >> Can I make a Oh, >> sorry. >> Go ahead. >> Before special reports, and I I truly apologize. Can Can we move citizen participation? I don't know if we have any cards. >> I have cards. I don't know how this next
how long this next part's going to be. >> Well, we have multiple of reports, right? >> Yeah. I mean, it's up to I'm asking the chair maybe to move up >> if we have people. Looks like about eight or nine.
>> I'm I'm fine with moving a forward just in case people want to go home and not have to pay for everything. Um we have to motion for >> I'll motion for it to move citizen participation before this was it special or a special reports agenda item.
>> Could I get a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> No objection. All right, we can move it. >> Okay. citizen participation. I have something here that says employee to address the board, but I don't have
any name under it or anything. My agenda says employee to address the board. Is that accurate? I don't have any name under it or anything. >> I don't think >> so. That's just a mistake. >> Okay. Citizens wishing to address the board on agenda and non-aggenda items for action who are signed in by 7:10
p.m. by submitting a blue card to the board secretary may speak at this time. The board may not be in a position to respond to non-aggenda items. Therefore, speakers should not anticipate an immediate response to their comments or questions. For the benefit of all concern, do not mention the names of students or school district employees.
Please keep your comments as brief as possible. There's a threeminut time limit on comments made to the board. Uh, our first card tonight is from Nicole Bush. >> Hi, good evening. I just have some
notes. Um, I have been with Dearborn Public Schools for 29 years. I love Dearborn. Um, but I did feel coming today that I did have to say something. Um, I feel like Dearborn is a wonderful place to
work. We have fantastic students. We also have fantastic teachers and Dearbornne over the years has asked teachers to adjust to new things quickly and CO was a perfect example. But since COVID, just within the last two years,
our motto has kind of been roll with the change. Lots of things are changing. Research is coming about that we have to be aware of. And we're asking teachers to learn things extremely quickly and sometimes shift personal philosophies
that they've held true for 20 years. But we're asking them to change and they are doing it. And they're doing it on the fly. And we have asked teachers to change at the elementary level on just a few things. Assessments, accepting UFly,
CKLA for the fall, um common assessments. Teachers have done that. They've learned about the science of reading on their own and they're working hard to make the changes that our students deserve. Our teachers know their value. I am begging
you to show us that you know our value too. Thank you. Our next speaker is Mala Kazab. Did >> I say your last name right? Meal. Is it Malik or Malik? >> Perfect. >> The whole thing. Wow. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Yep.
>> All righty. Um, good evening everyone. My name is Malik Azab. I appreciate the opportunity to speak during citizen participation tonight. I want to briefly note that I previously sent an email to the board regarding the situation involving Dr. Adnan Modi. I'm here
tonight to verbally restate and just clarify those concerns for the record. Throughout this process, many families have followed the situation closely and have remained engaged even when they were not able to attend earlier meetings. There is a strong level of interest in how decisions like this are
made and how they are communicated. Specifically, when a situation results in a change in professional role, especially one as significant as moving from principal to assistant principal, it naturally raises questions about the basis for that determination and how it
was reached. And in administrative decisions, clarity matters. When outcomes are not clearly connected to well-explained findings, it can create confusion for families and for staff who are trying to understand how decisions are made within the district. As someone who's been part of this district as a
student and now continues to have family within it, I'm asking for transparency in how these types of decisions are communicated to the community, not only for this situation, but for consistency moving forward. So families are not asking the board to just agree just
agree with them. They're we're asking for clear reasoning, clear standards, and clear communication when decisions with lasting impact are made. I also want to acknowledge that the community response throughout this process reflects how deeply the families care about their schools and the people who lead them just like Dr. Adnan MNI and
that engagement is something that the district should recognize and value. As you continue your work tonight and moving forward, I respectfully ask that consideration be given not only to outcomes but also to how those outcomes are explained to a public in a way that is understandable and transparent. Thank
you for your time and for allowing me to speak tonight. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Adnan. >> Good evening. >> I'm not going to spend 30 minutes like last time. I just have a few things to
say. And first of all, I'm I'm asking for an independent investigation of the way I've been treated the last six years. I gave you all the information last time when I stood in front of you for about 30 minutes and I have more information here that I'm I'm not going to read it.
But I do want to say what is built on falsehood is false. Also, justice justice is impartiality and equality for all individuals, ensuring that the powerful and the weak receive the same treatment.
Treat everybody with fairness. That's all I have to say today. I will be sending this through email to all of you. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Joe. Is it Joe Winkle? Did I say sorry?
>> No, you're right. I got you. >> Yeah. Joe Winkle. Is that right? >> Yep. >> Okay. Thanks. Good evening everyone. My name is Joe Winkl. You got it right. I'm a fifth grade teacher at Miller Elementary. Uh currently the school board and our union, the Dearborn Federation of
Teachers, is in negotiations for a wage increase and I'm here to advocate for that significant increase. Everything has increased in price lately. We're all uh victims of it. According to NBC News, the current national average gas price is $4.52 and
that's coming down from a just a couple weeks ago at five $5 a gallon. That's almost double what it was just a few months ago. Utilities are up 4% and according to Channel 7 News back in February and it took effect in March uh just this year. Groceries and medicine
have also taken a hit due to gas prices. I can assure you that wage increase is about us surviving and not and simply providing for our family members. If those facts, not just something I made up, like some of you accuse us of doing are
not enough to convince you, let's look at this from a business perspective. Dear Public Schools Office of Service, its clients, the community can choose to buy into those services or take their children elsewhere, resulting in less funding for us.
The best way to keep our clients is to offer the ser the best services that we can better than anyone else. And one of the best ways to do that is to have the best people providing that service. If you can keep the best teachers in this
district, then you can buy provide the best education. Sure, if you don't, you'll probably get some new teachers, but what quality education can you deliver with that kind of turnover? Can you handle the teacher shortage?
As I like to remind my students, actions speak louder than words. And I hope your actions will speak louder than your words. Thank you. Our next speaker is Sara Mugni. >> Good evening. Can I approach I just have my script uh my speech for you to follow
along to and reference if you need to. Thank you. >> Good evening. I want to remind the school board that your role is to respond to the needs of the people as we have entrusted you to occupy the seats you currently sit in. I have a question to the board I would like you to think
about. When you are seated on the other side of this podium, do you forget who you represent? Why do we have systems in place such as unions for employee protection, HR to be objective, and the school board for responding to the voice of the people other than simply for show? The
effectiveness of these systems should not be static and they should take feedback to move forward and improve. President Aljahi, during the June 19th, 2023 schoolboard meeting, you stood where I am standing right now and you said in regards to an apathetic board during an unprecedented HR hiring
process, "We want to be able to communicate with you. It's not fair that you don't respond to us and that you don't listen to us. We have no access to you." In reality, we don't have access to you either. We ask for transparency
and the same transparency you once requested from the board. Set the example of what this board lacked and still lacks. You were and I hope all of you continue to be pro community needs. Vice President Sobeck, in your campaign launch in 2024 for school board, someone
described you as being unlike those public officials that do not listen and heed the advice of their constituents. But I see no different. I question why blue cards are available during these meetings when you can save so much time since you don't apparently listen to what your constituents ask of you. Over
25 individuals from our community addressed you. In addition to hundreds of social media voices, countless community emails, and over 1180 petition signatures asked you to keep a beloved educator where he belongs as an elementary school principal. The system failed to aid and support him. And
despite that the people what the people wanted he was informed by seven sources that he would regardless he would face a termination a 70 vote that means his personnel was breached. This all happened a week before the vote was even to take place. He was coerced
to accept a demotion in the ultimatum he was offered. Trusty Zaher during the May 4th schoolboard meeting you said there is no corruption in our school district in response to Trusty Mos addressing this elephant in the room. Is it not corrupt when an employee
stands up here for 30 minutes addressing seven years of documented mistreatment and it is not acknowledged in the slightest manner? Laws were broken. Personnel was breached and you're standing behind the faults of a person who claims there are protected ones in
this district. Those who can commit literal crimes. a person who during the February 11, 2019 board meeting stated, "If you build relationships with enough people, when you can't share the whole story, you hope they can trust your character." Look at the actions of this
individual before you consider trust. Where does accountability start when central office administration has steamrolled the careers of others for their personal gain? I want to close on a fact I shared at the last meeting. In a 2024 DFT survey, only 17% of teachers felt supported by central office
administration. You can write the wrong by conducting an independent investigation and addressing the McDonald and greater community needs. Thank you. Our next speaker is Kathleen McCormack. >> Good evening. Um, as said, my name is Kathleen McCormack. I'm a Dearborn
resident. I'm a product of the Durban public schools and I'm a proud teacher for 30 years at Durham public schools. Currently, the district is facing a tough challenge of how to attract and keep highly
qualified teachers so we can have an excellent and above average um school community. As a steam teacher, I teach my students to think outside the box. Now I am asking the district to think
outside the box when they are negotiating for a reasonable wage increase for all teachers. Thinking outside the box is not new to our district. I personally sat at the negotiating table as the healthcare advocate who brought to us a unique
healthcare program that originally just benefited the DFT. But we weren't satisfied with that and we worked with other unions and now all the other unions are covered by our DECHP as you can see in our audience we're wearing the t-shirts program
and that's what I think you have signed on to the board to do to also support us and all employees in the district. So if you work together um to offer significant health savings in the past and to expand our program to
free health, fitness and financial programs all done by the DFT and expanded to everyone in the district. My challenge to you as representative of the district is to ask the unions to
think about how can we maintain highly qualified teachers in our district and ne negotiate a fair wage that will allow them to have a good standard of living and attract as
the gentleman before me said um people to stay in our district because of its reputation. Thank you so much. >> Our next speaker is Katie Burello. Good evening. I am proud to serve as an educator in
our district and I stand before you today to speak about the value and worth of educators. When educators feel respected, protected, and valued, our schools become stronger.
When teachers are stressed, overextended, demoralized, or financially strained, students feel that many, if not most of our members are concerned about the wage negotiations
happening now. So here we are, educated professionals, people entrusted with the intellectual and emotional development of children, standing at a podium, publicly asking
for compensation that amounts to a fair wage increase. We know our value. We know the hours that we work beyond the school day. We know the emotional labor this profession demands. We know the
sacrifices educators make quietly. And we know that retaining excellent teachers requires policies and compensation that demonstrate actual appreciation.
People do not stay in challenging professions forever on passion alone. They stay when they feel respected. They stay when they feel heard. They stay when they believe their district sees them as human beings
rather than line items in a budget. Dearborn has incredible educators. The question is whether this district will continue to value them in a way that keeps them here. Because strong schools are not built by
programs alone. They are built by people and unions like the Dearborn Federation of Teachers have spent decades fighting not only for educators but for the integrity, stability, and humanity of public education itself.
I ask this board tonight to recognize that advocating for educators is not opposition to the district. It is advocacy for the district. We are building our future together and
the strength of that future begins in our classrooms. By investing in educators, you invest in every student. Thank you. All right, the next, sorry, the next card is a yellow card with a statement
here that I've been asked to read. I'll make sure it doesn't go more than three minutes. This is from Sarah Weebi. Am I saying that right for people who know if I'm saying that right or wrong? Huh? >> Weeble. >> Weeble. >> Weeble. Thank you. This is from Sarah Weeble. Uh, good evening, members of the
board of education. My name is Sarah Weeble and I'm speaking tonight as both an educator and someone who sees firsthand the incredible work happening in our classrooms every single day. I understand that budgets are complicated and difficult decisions have to be made. I know there are financial realities that districts might cons must consider,
but I also believe it is important to recognize when a proposed increase does not reflect the value, sacrifice, and expectations placed on teachers. A 1% pay increase may sound reasonable on paper, but in reality does not keep pace with the rising cost of living, inflation, increased health care cost, or the growing demands being placed on
educators. For many teachers, a 1% increase amounts to only a few extra dollars per paycheck after taxes. Meanwhile, the responsibilities continue to grow. Today's teachers are not simply delivering lessons from a textbook. They are managing increasing behavioral needs, supporting students with mental health struggle struggles, adapting
instruction for diverse learners, handling extensive documentation and compliance requirements, communicating constantly with families, and often spending their own money on classroom supplies and student needs. Special education teachers, interventionists, classroom teachers, and support staff in particular are carrying enormous
responsibilities. Many educators work long after contract hours end, creating papers, writing lesson plans, prepare preparing materials, attending meetings, answering emails, and worrying about students long after they leave the building. And despite all of this, they continue to show up every day because they care deeply about children. Teacher
burnout and staff shortages are real across this country. District everywhere are struggling to recruit and retain qualified educators. Compensation matters because respect matters. When teachers feel undervalued, it impacts morale, retention, and ultimately student success. This is not about greed. Teachers do not enter this
profession expecting to become wealthy. Most chose this career because it genuinely help loving ch love helping children learn and grow. But passage should not be used as a reason to undercompensate professionals who are carrying one of the most important responsibilities in our community. Our students deserve teachers who feel supported, respected, and valued.
Families deserve stability in schools and educators deserve compensation that reflects the reality of the work they do every day. I ask the board to truly consider what message a 1% increase sends to the people who dedicate their lives to educating and caring for our children. I encourage you to continue working toward a contract that better
reflects the commitment, professionalism, and daily sacrifices of your staff. Thank you for your time and for listening tonight. I should also read into the record, she asked that the statement be read out loud because she was unable to attend due to a medical emergency.
All right, our last blue card is from Muna Mashra. Hi, I'm Wa Mash. I'm a parent, community member, and a staff member. I'm going to keep it short and sweet. I'm not um going to be as eloquent as some of my
fellow DFT members. Um inflation, as we all know, uh the average is 3.3% this year, although we feel like it's a lot more. Um the governor's proposed the budget has a 2.5% per pupil funding
increase along with a 6% increase for at risk and ELLL students, which our district benefits from greatly. Um, so, you know, we're asking for fair compensation similar to what we've been receiving. Um, that takes the funding
increases into account. Um, a 1% increase doesn't move the mark. Um, it's quite frankly, it's disrespectful to the teachers that you have. um to say that we're that a district like ours um is
not able to afford anything more than that to present a budget in which um we know that the governor's proposed budgets the budgets that pass are very very close to the proposals that she's making. So what we're asking for is to be fair um in your consideration for the
increases that we're asking not just for DFT but for all unions. Um thank you. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL THE BLUE CARDS, MR. PRESIDENT. >> Any comments? >> Are we in the Are we in the board followup now?
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It's a I'll follow up category. Yeah. >> Then I I do have followup. >> Yeah. Do you mind if I could respond first to something? Um, you know, usually I don't respond to to comments because uh it it it tend to
lead to further discussions, but I I want to share something with everyone in in the community. I think I've answered over the last month, you know, close to 100 if not more emails. I I make it a point and I copy all my tr fellow
trustees to reply. Now sometimes you might get a reply and it doesn't match what you're looking for. But there's certain limitation on what we can reply on. If it's HR related uh um um inquiries, we cannot respond to that
publicly. So we make sure that we are limited to what we can say as far as being accessible. I think they posted my number online and people got a hold of it and they're calling me as I was driving here. people
were calling me parents. So for me, I made sure that I'm accessible and my colleagues would tell you the the number of emails that I responded to. The last email I responded to today is 5:35 was
regarding Dr. Adnan. So I I would hate to be um accused of not replying. Maybe I'm not providing the the right information or I'm not elaborating uh because of limitation on internal
process but I do reply and I make sure to be accessible. Thank you >> trusty M. >> Thank you. Uh Trash I would like to also add to that that for myself personally I
always make myself available to anyone who calls me or emails me. I respond to every email that I get. Obviously, I'm not a perfect person, so I won't respond to probably all emails, but if people send me another email to remind me, I'll
be very sure to respond to them. Um, as far as my cell phone, probably half of Dearbornne has it. Anyway, I don't mind that. I make time to respond and I direct whomever calls to the right
department if they have an issue um and tell them about the process and the chain of command if they want to go through that. Definitely we do have laws that prevent us from disclosing or from talking to somebody about personnel files. We we
cannot do that. That is a violation of their own rights. So, and I do understand a lot of people were very passionate um about Dr. Mugney, but unfortunately I cannot disclose what his personnel files might be that I was
previewed to as a board member. Um however there I want to also clarify that um I believe it is Miss Moi who gave us the speech and she said that I responded to trustes are about addressing this elephant in the room and
my fellow trustees can correct me. I was I talking about the markup of our board being overwhelmingly represented by men. Is that the elephant in the room that I was talking about? >> No, I don't think that that's what she's referring to. But when I was talking
about that though, I made that clear, right? >> I don't know what meeting with that was at that May 4th, the last May 4th meeting. Obviously, we can go back to her and ask her, but I think it was talking about that case or I don't know.
So um but the the the most important thing that I also want to address is um I know some speaker says that this board has been dismissive and unfortunately I do agree
with that. Um I I try myself not to be but unfortunately it comes off that way. uh especially when we first had the initial round um of selecting semi- finalists when DFT was very clear about who do
they prefer as first choice and second choice. Um, I want to also address last meeting and it pains me to say that I was embarrassed of some of the decorum of
the attendees during our deliberation. I heard huffing and puffing every time I spoke and yes and yes and yes loud voices when they agree with a certain point said by uh trustees whether it's
myself or others but these administrators should be a model for our students and that the quorum was unacceptable and was disrespectful especially that we did have guests from outside our district who addressed us
eloquently and respectfully and with grace listen to our commentary. I I'm appalled to say the least and I hope they would do better and they reflect on what they what they did. I
don't mind sh cheering for your best candidate and celebrating them. That is fine. But whenever we speak here, I expect the same respect that I give to people when they address us.
Uh there was also something that I also want to address from citizen participation. We do we did have students who addressed us very passionately about what they think about the superintendent selection. I think that is amazing that in Dearbornne we have our students very invested and that
is the students voice in telling us who they believe our next leader would be. There was a point where they two students came and spoke about the all females academy that the external
candidate uh kind of dropped as as an idea to consider not something that he would do if this board doesn't support it if he became superintendent. And I want to clarify some things. While I respectfully disagree with the notion
that all female academy would harm Dearbornne, I totally think the opposite. These students who leave our districts just because they feel uncomfortable going to a co-ed education, especially
for the girls, they go and take classes at those accelerated programs. They graduate within four months and they get to a college and they cannot continue and many of them drop out because they have to take so many remedial courses
because let's face it, they had substandard education. And it pains me that their parents are holding them home and enrolling them in these kind of substandard programs. And if this district is really really
serious about addressing enrollment and miring parents where they are an all girls academy hopefully with the bond money might be a great idea to explore. I'm not saying we adopt it tonight, but I'm saying it's something to consider
that will give full and uh equity or equitable access to all students who want to enroll in Dearborn schools. This is a school is not going to just be
all Muslim girls. I would bet you conservative Christians would send their daughters to this school because they would feel more safe to send their precious daughters to a school that is being all girls academy. And this is by
the way it is lawful in the state of Michigan 2006. I looked this up, research it, talk to attorneys and there is an example. Detroit public schools has one. They have an all girls academy and it started with 62 students in 2006
and currently has more than 460 students enrolled in that school. That means Detroit got it. They saw the need of having such a school for girls, all girls taught by girls staff or by female
staff. that makes it more comfortable to provide them same education and same caliber and same rigorous curriculum that our students would receive in our traditional high schools. So I would ask
my colleagues to really reflect on that and uh as trustee said now we're after this decision has been made we have a superintendent that I do back now 100% and I did meet with our next uh superintendent not to talk about
contract negotiations we agreed not to talk about that because I haven't surveyed you all on that but we actually talked about rehash things that we needed to talk personto And um obviously that conversation
uh will stay private between us as far as what we discussed but it was great. Uh obviously during the whole process we weren't able to converse with each one outside those this meeting for transparency cases. So if I had
follow-up questions for Mr. I could have asked but I think it would be unfair to the other candidate not to ask them. So that's why we couldn't really have a one-on-one conversation. And Mr. Sylvei advised us against reaching out to individual candidates and ask them
follow-up questions because that would be something that the entire board would not be privy to. So I respected that. But we had that conversation and Mr. did promise change as he did in his interview. And I whole wholeheartedly
believe what he told me and I'm expecting to that and as trusted Zar said that he will hold him accountable I will also be on the other side of cheering him on and supporting him when he does the right things for our district and one thing Mr. If I can say
you have to talk to our teachers immediately obviously maybe after the contract is signed and sit down with them because that conversation need to be had need to be made I guess and you talk to
them about their feelings because when they when they were surveyed and 70% preferred the other candidate there is a huge issue that needs to be discussed and rehashed. as we did. So, um I I just
wanted to and I'm sorry for going a lot, but I I wanted to make sure that to tell those teachers who addressed us today that we heard you as far as negotiations. Obviously, we cannot do that at this table. Uh negotiations has own bargaining units and they have we
have our own representatives that we cannot engage at this pro at this stage. But I would say safely because I've been a very vocal and supporter of our staff and teachers of course that they need to be compensated well.
um prime former prime minister of Germany she raised the teachers and this is a national issue of course uh she raised the teachers salary by 40% in one year and you can check this out and when
the legislature opposed to that she said that the teachers are the reason why you sit in those seats so you have to pay them as as good as you pay the engineer as good as you pay the doctor and And I believe this nation and unfortunately is
failing our teachers with the pay because starting with $56,000 these days as a salary, you'll have to get another job in order to afford one household of income. And I hope that we look at that from
that lens. I know our ad our salary is 86 or our budget has 86% close to that number. Mr. Wall can correct me going to salaries and benefits. But we really have to distinguish does that salaries
for people who touch our students directly every single day at the classroom level or does it go elsewhere? When I say elsewhere, I say above the principal, right? So we really really have to look at that. uh we do have
obviously infrastructure issues that we're putting money towards but how can we stretch that dollar and how can we compensate teachers with things that are not even monetary the fitness idea of providing them you know maybe working out with the city to offer I saw this
even back in 2022 when we doing contract negotiations partnerships where they have access to the Ford Performing Arts Center gym uh at a a very discounted rate or even at a free rate. So I would I would encourage the bargaining team to
look at all of these options and I will be listening obviously carefully as far as how these negotiations go down and I would hope to see a respectful increase of salary to all all our teachers and
staff. Thank you. >> Any other comments? All right. Next items, please. >> Okay, we're back to special reports. First one, Dearborn Green Schoolyards Partnership for Salina students with
Miss Sue Stanley, Miss Iman Ali, and Dr. Jill Choco >> and some special guests from Salina. So to board, we've um asked the these three amazing uh leaders to once again present to you. For some of you, it'll
be building background. For others, it'll be an update on how things have been going. So please um the floor is yours and please introduce your students. >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon, President Amy, trustees and interimm
superintendants sewer. My name is Lusha and I and I've been at Salina since preschool. While I'm a lifelong wild cat, joined or outdoor wilderness leaders or owl club. Our club is students go out explore the wilderness
and inform students and staff how to keep our environment clean by we went to a metrop park walk so we can see biosphere of Michigan and impact a lot so we could see how we can clean our environment and make schoolyards better.
And one thing is that we see students littering and they don't care because like they think it's fine but like to uh to people they really care cuz harm like animals are being instinct like especially turtles see sea life is
getting injured very bad cuz like uh turtles are getting trapped inside bags and one thing is the fuel you see like fuel is rising cuz They they use oil, but instead they could use plastics cuz
plastic is if you burn it, it could turn into steam. The steam can turn into fuel and prices can be lowered. >> You could use that. >> Miss Ahmed, can you can she use the other microphone over there? >> We want to see her face. >> No, she can stand. No, she can stand at it. >> She can stand at it so she could be
seen. So she can stand. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. Great. >> Hold the paper. Yeah. Perfect. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jenna Shab and I am a sixth grade student at Salena Intermediate, home to many wonderful wild cats, including myself. I used to be a shy
student, but over the years, I found my voice. Today, I'm proud to stand here as a member of the outdoor wilderness leaders or owl club and share my experience. Our environment used to be clean, but over the years people began to prioritize profit over our health.
And in some ways that may seem understandable, but as a member of our club, we believe we can make it better. Again, having a clean environment is important because it protects our health, supports animals, and keeps our community safe for everyone. When our community is not taken care of, it can
lead to problems like pollution and flooding, which affect the way we live. We live every day. That is why it's important for us, especially students, to take action now. Even small efforts like learning more, spreading awareness, and making better choices can help create a cleaner and
healthier future. As a member of Owl Club, I've had the opportunity to take part in activities that help our environment and our school community. One thing I've done is encourage other students to compost. I helped spread awareness about how composting reduces
waste and turns food scraps into something helpful for the earth. Through this experience, I learned that even even simple actions can make a real difference when many people do them together. It also encouraged me to speak up more and help others understand that
protecting their environment starts with small everyday choices. I I would like to sincerely thank all the funders and supporters who made Owl Club possible. Because of your support, Salena is a place where environmentalism can truly thrive and where students like
me are given the opportunity to learn, grow, and take action. Your investment in our school and our ideas show that you believe in the future of our community. And it motivates us to continue working hard and to keep finding ways to make a pos a posit positive difference. Because of your
support, we are not just students learning about change. We are students creating it. We will continue to grow, take action, and protect the environment for the future. We are reminded that today is a day where we should clean up and help the earth in many ways.
Miss Stanley, principal of Salina Elementary, will share the vision of and dream of our green schoolyards in Dearborn with you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Beautiful art. Thank you. Okay. So, so many of you know our
foundation and know our history of the Green School of Arts. So, we're not going to go over all of that. And so, for any of the new board members, we truly invite you to come out. And I can talk your ear off about how our journey began and our passion for this project.
And it really sums up in our beliefs that we want every child, no matter where they live, to experience the same kind of nature that you can have anywhere. regardless of where you live. The picture before showed our beautiful neighborhood. And for those of you that
don't live in the neighborhood, some might look and go, "Oh my gosh, what you're living right by a factory." And we are. But like a teacher said, it is the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. And so our goal was to how to make that
community look as beautiful as it is. and to provide our children and the community and the grandchildren with a beautiful area where we can um have cleaner air and better water and forestlike atmosphere. So, thank you for
that. So, we know that partnerships are essential. We can't do this by ourselves. These are all the wonderful people that have helped us. But I have to give a really big shout out to our district because so many of you, you
come to meetings every other week. You stand there. Tom Wall, Mark Andrews, Matt Osinski, Lauren Mbero, David Mustidan, Katie, Eric, Jacob, Lamese, Joanne, and an you have been with us
this whole way and this is a lot of extra work for you and you show up at our meetings and you smile and you listen and you offer any support we have. So, big thank you to you for all of your support. So, it started with that 2020 grant and it grew and it grew
and it grew and um we keep talking about the benefits of those green schoolyards. It's not just about climate change. It's just about I keep saying it again and again, it is about bringing childhood back outdoors for our kids so that they can play and that they can have fun. And
we're building environmental stewards. They understand we've got a prairie in the back from the Toledo Zoo that they are um that we are growing and they are learning about the root systems and about watershed about just so many things. So this is giving us all a great
benefit. So we know about health and well-being and just look at that picture of those kids up there. You know, I'm going to knock on wood when I say this, but let me tell you, discipline problems out on that playground have gone down. so far
because they're not all smooshed on a red and blue piece of plastic with one slide going down. This is beautiful, safe, risky play. The kids are gaining confidence, they're having fun, and there's just so many choices. And um you
will see that when you look at the upper L playground and the lower ed playground as well. So, um, it improves academic outcomes because we know about brain research and how it helps stimulate the brain and the kids just love being out there. Talk
about problem solving and so they benefit from time out outdoors. They have recess twice a day. They love to play outside. They love to solve their problems. They love to be with their peers.
And so, um, these are our outdoor learning spaces. Like I said, we've got a living science lab in the back. The kids love it. Um, we've got outdoor learning classrooms. We've got rain gardens. And we have all those things that make it so much more fun than
sitting in the classroom with the children. This is our campus before. This is the kindergarten one. And this is what it looks like now. And you can see by the smiles on their faces. This was really a lot of fun,
too. One of our parents of our teacher made a mud kitchen for the kids. And that has just been a really big, really big hit. So, this was our opening of our kindergarten playground. And you know, to think that now we are opening up two more playgrounds. We have finished phase
one. We have finished it. There's still landscaping to do, but we're so proud of that. And this is Miss Iman Ali, who's going to talk about phase two. Thank you. I couldn't have asked for such a better team and partner along the
way. So many hours, so many meetings um have helped me turn this into like our dream. I mean, it turned it started as a seed. you might >> can you speak to the other >> Michael >> seems to be a problem with that
>> it's okay so it started as a seed back in 2020 when this this whole vision started and it was led by one of our teachers um Miss Amira Sadi she came to us from Zel Ford and wanted to you know despite kids being home and on those screens it's how do we get kids to be
less on screens and more outdoors so it started out with a visit to Waldorf do you remember that visit a while back and um W M Waldorf is a private school in Detroit and they had I think 13 outdoor classrooms. We're like we don't want 13, let's just do one. And you know by you
know the the grant that we received um and just so many people who believed in our vision and supported us along the way from the district to community members, neighborhood association, we were able to really bring this to life. Um, so if you were to drive around the south end into Salina and view our
campuses, you'll see that so much has been done and it's really a contribution to so many and hopefully with the leadership of Dr. Joel Choco who's been with us along the way has been such a strong backbone um um backbone to everything that we've accomplished
supported by Lamese and there's more to come and we want to kind of be the pilot for the rest of the district and all the schools in um the Durham public schools and hopefully be a model for the state of Michigan as well. So I do want to talk about the Earth
Exposition that happened um during Earth Day. It was the afternoon of April 22nd in honor of Earth. We had what we I I'm going to call it the first annual because it's something that's definitely going to be repeated. Um so many partners came together to the weather
was perfect. Um I want to give a shout out to our trustees who were part of it. Um Trusty Pat, Trusty Adel, and Trust Trusty Mary who attended and supported the children and um were there listening and supporting our partners as well. I
do want to kind of shout out the partners as well during this presentation and recognize them for being there. CMS Energy Foundation, Home Depot, Eagle, the University of Michigan, Wayne State, uh, To Zoo, Just Air, Friends of the Rouge, Ford Motor
Company, the City of Dearborn, Department of Public Works, Sterling Heights Nature Center, LHC, Relief Michigan, the students of course at SL Intermediate, the City of Dearborn Community Relations, City Beautiful, Cleveland Cliffs, Hiron Clinton, Metro
Parks, Darham Public Library, um, They have come together to make this day extra special for um the children, for our school, and for the community. So, what's next? We're really excited with phase three, the recreation field.
Um, soccer is really huge in our in our community and the city. And we are in the process of planning and funding a soccer field, a mini soccer field that's going to be located in the southwest corner of the the school and expanding
the garden and learning areas, creating shelters and spaces for the kids to take part um on a daily basis in the school and also in the community. And here are some pictures of what it would look like. So, thank you. Thanks to all who
supported and Lamese, you promised a play date as soon as the the reveal of phase two is um you know comes comes alive hopefully in the next few weeks. So, stay tuned everyone. But thank you. Now, I'm going to um give it to give the
floor to Dr. Dr. Joe Choco who's going to discuss phase four and the sound and climate wall. Thank you. Good evening. Phase four again started as a seed and uh there's a lot of interest in developing this
concept of an ecological sound and climate wall. You've all uh been down to the Salina area. You know that there's a lot of noise. There are a lot of air emissions. And so this living wall is designed to protect the area from some
of these uh pollutants and also provide something of beauty that supports the environment. Here is a concept uh photograph of what the wall could look like from inside the field. you have a diagram um on the packet that
was left for you that kind of summarizes the ecological benefits in terms of uh thousands of gallons of storm water that's mitigated um and the the ecological benefits not just for blocking sound. We're hoping for at least a 10 decel reduction in some of
the trucks and certainly the railroad noise. uh there's a lot less industry noise because of the um decrease in steel production at the factory, but there's still a lot of noise out there that impacts instruction. And so if we want kids to be outside, we also want to
provide a a supportive environment for that. Here are some more of the features of what an ecological soundwall looks like. These are extremely uh prevalent overseas in Europe. uh they are just starting to catch on here and uh we have
a lot of partners who are interested in helping us with this. So this is a larger shot of the um smaller handout that you have uh in your packet and uh this is something that as we write for grants because as you heard from uh the previous speakers that the um green
schoolyards has been funded by donations and grants. no district money has gone into the development of this area because clearly uh there are a lot of other needs in the district in terms of infrastructure. So grants and donations from many of the partners that you saw
on the slides, the state of Michigan school aid fund as well as Eagle also provided sizable grants. And so we are writing for grants for this uh phase 4. Uh right now the coalition is an openetworked group of all of the
organizations that were listed as partners and we get together virtually several times a year, network, pass along grant opportunities, that sort of thing. So uh to to sum it up again, the joy of being outdoors, we all know that if we've had a stressful day that sometimes taking a walk and getting
outside uh you know can be something that's very calming. We also know that's a benefit for our students. We started out in Salina, but we are certainly um open to expanding across the district as there is interest and opportunity. So, I
would like to once again thank our students, Lai and Jenna. Can we hear a round of applause for them and their families who were very patiently waiting uh while they had their opportunity to speak and also our building leaders uh principal Stanley
and Princ principal Ali who have been tireless in their pursuit of green schoolyards. So, thank you. >> Oh, I have >> we have questions. >> We're not gonna let you out tonight. Trusty Maz and then trusty Zar. >> I think you raise your hand. >> No, go ahead.
>> Well, I I wanted to thank all of you. I the community is is definitely dear to my heart and this is amazing. Uh Dr. Chel, can you remind us the figure the amount of funds that you have raised and
collectively raised or for this project? So, we um have collected almost $3 million in cash grants and about $300,000 more in what we call inind donations. And these are organizations who have donated supplies, materials,
labor, watering trucks, all of these things that that have um that have been needed in order to to help these environments survive. >> Um Miss Alusha um no, Mr. Alushah and Miss Shah, amazing, amazing job. You did
very well. Well, you addressed us well, you educated us. So, thank you for that and thank you for being a model for your classmates. Um, I want to say thank um the wall is an amazing idea and I had
the honor of visiting Stout um not Stout Stout is my son's school visiting Salina Elementary and and Miss Stanley and I I I had a presentation at her office. We went out and checked out also the
amazing work that you've done over the past two years or now three years or has it been six years? >> Six years 2020 started. Yeah. So this project has been ongoing and obviously raising this much money outside our
district is is phenomenal and we definitely need to take this to other district to other schools because I I feel so terrible that some of our schools um I'll name one uh Maples Elementary unfortunately doesn't have a lot of green space and I had parents
reach out and be like why you know it's landlocked unfortunately and there is not much place for our kids to play uh at Maples and I would hope that other schools would look at your model and learn and say how can we do it and Dr.
Chopel, you've been a blessing. You served us well um as executive director of student achievement and now you're serving us even on a greater level of of benefiting Salina students and the entire community over there that is benefiting from that.
>> She's she's become an expert actually in green school. So I'm so proud of that. >> And this is what I'm talking about that this our district needs to be a model for the nation and you are making us one. Definitely. And I want to say as far as the wall, I'm very excited to learn more about it. I would hope that
we'd also hold the factories across the street accountable and maybe they need to build a wall on their side. So there would be two walls, right? So that would even minimize the noise and that would even uh inhibit the emissions that are
coming from their factories and also of course invest more in technologies that inhibit these emissions and hopefully you know at one point we would have zero emissions and the south would brea would breathe and people there would would finally receive environmental justice.
So I commend you. I am with you um to support you. I hope this board is also with you in supporting this kind of project. Uh and I I saw the smiles on students faces. Oh my god, you cannot buy that with money. So thank you truly.
>> Thanks President. >> Oh yes. >> So my questions are not for the adults. Uh Lu come to the microphone sir. >> How old are you again? >> 12. >> What grade are you in? >> Seventh. What's your favorite thing to do in these green spaces?
>> Uh, green spaces is just explore and see how like things grow and things like like animals can just like use it. >> Okay. Do you have any idea what you want to be when you grow up? >> Engineer.
>> Good. Janette, is that your name? >> Jenna. Sorry. Uh, >> can someone turn on Oh, that's fine, too. Yeah, that's fine. How old are you again? >> 12. What grade? >> Six. >> Okay. Um, do you know what you want to be when you grow up? >> Uh, there's a lot of things.
>> I want to hear all of them. >> Give me like three of them. >> Uh, a communication specialist. >> Good. >> An engineer. >> You're already doing that. >> You're already an expert. >> An engineer or a teacher? >> Okay, good. And then do you promise to be the supervisor on all future green
space projects in the city of Dearbornne and our schools? >> Inshallah. >> Okay, thank you. Uh, one more question from my end. Um, growing up in the South End, uh, seeing the green space, I wish we had them when I was a kid. The joke used to be when we
were growing up in the South End, we could never get lost cuz we just follow the smoke home. So, um, I know it's a it's a it's one of those things that there are so many things that the Southland need from an environmental um,
viewpoint and This is a a great start. I mean, I know we have to hold, as trustee Mazip said, hold the different corporation accountable, but this is an amazing start. Seeing the green space, seeing what's being done really help,
you know, our kids with clean air and and I do appreciate I do appreciate what the three of you are doing at the Salina. Um, it's very dear to me. Uh but also the kids seeing them speaking up. Jenna, you have the same
name as my granddaughter. Uh and it's the Wishah family. I know who they are. And uh we're so proud of all of you and it's good to bring kids over and have them speak. It teach them leadership. It teach them to be upfront. So we do appreciate it. Thank you all to all of
you and keep up the great job. >> Thank you. Next item is a 2627 budget with Mr. Thomas Wall. Just want to also congratulate those ladies. They brought first brought that idea gosh 10 years ago and they had
these big plans and we had to say hold on a second. You got to break it down. You got to figure out how to work. and they worked hard for years before they actually saw some money coming in. So, I give them a lot of credit. They stuck with their ideas, went through the tribulations, and now they have a wonderful place over there. So,
congratulations. Uh, talking about the budget, uh, this is our public hearing. So, after I kind of go through this presentation, we'll take a few minutes or wherever we need to make sure if there anyone wants to speak about it publicly, they can. Um, we talk about relationships, too, cuz a
budget of this magnitude, there's a lot of variables involved. Um, we talk about money all the time when we're meeting weekly in administration about this item or that item, and they're all related. So, this year's budget process started back in January. Uh, that's when they
first come out with the revenues they're expecting for next year. As you can see, there's a lot of steps along the way. I won't bore you with that detail, but we're on the second to last step. So, we're almost through our process, but this is the state process. As you can see, their process won't complete at the
earliest at the end of June. So, obviously, we're having a lot of estimates in here, a lot of possibilities. And so as we continue this process, we'll eventually adopt a budget as best we know it, knowing that in a month or two, it's going to change potentially radically, but hopefully
still be able to flexibility in the budget to adapt to it. And feel free to ask questions. Again, I always put this one up there as a visualization of all our different funds. U when you look at the district, we have over a 100,000 different account
numbers. And obviously we cannot obviously get into that level of detail at this level but just know there's a lot of detail there. Um whenever you ask for a special report or anything like that we start taking aspects of the budget and put it together for conversation.
So on our assumptions so the first one here obviously there's three main categories. There's state aid, student count and compensation. That makes the three biggest items. So, I know it's really small in the top, but there was a way to make it bigger and still fit on the screen, but we'll just
talk about it. Uh, all three legislative branches, the governor's, House, and Senate, have said $250 per pupil increase. A new item that's coming into play this year is they're looking at looking for what different bands are to
provide support for schools for the EL population and at risk students. And they've also decided to some rationale to move some of these grants. Our at risk fund is about 30 million and our uh
section 41 is about 4 million. They're taking that money and putting it into our foundation allowance. Typically in the past they have not been part of our foundation. They're a categorical grant and there are very specific requirements of how to spend that money. And those are things that we have to deal with
because you can't just move money around all over the place. If you have money in a grant, you just can't move money there. That's called well the supplement versus the plant. They have to be extra, you know, u benefits above and beyond what we do for normal education. So since they're going to roll that in the
foundation allowance, you would think there'd be no restrictions. Well, we don't know that yet, but I'm assuming they're not going to take $34 million for Dearbornne and it could be and we're one of the larger districts and just say how use it however you want. So now there's going to be a little, you know,
new way of how to account for this money and do all that. So we don't know what that means yet, but Dearborn is banned five. So that means we're between the 73 to 85% of atrisisk students in the district. So that's where that they say they're going to give us more money now for those type of students. So we are
seeing an increase in that. Uh there's other smaller parts but so those are the new money that's coming in through state as we know it today. Now this Friday is the second revenue consensus. There's one in January, there's one here May coming up where they'll agree on what
the final numbers are for revenue. So they'll take the three plans with the new revenue standards and have what we call a consensus committee to kind of work out what the final numbers are or where they think they can use that money. Uh depending on the situation of the state, that could happen as early as
late June. Um under the Snyder, you know, when he was governor, he had it done in June by the end of June. That was his plan. But as you know, last year we got it in October, five months after our school year started. So there's a lot of dynamics going that that we have
really no control on. Obviously we lobby our legislators to do the best they can and actually expedite it, but just know that when we adopt a budget, it's on estimates and we'll have to, you know, finalize those numbers as we as they come due.
>> So Mr. You're saying that the categorical grants now would be rolled into >> the two grants, the section 41 and the at risk, which is 30 million for us, is going to roll into our foundation allowance. >> Okay. >> Which will be, you know, several 7 $800.
But again, how we use that, I'm not sure yet. I'm assuming they're not going to just give us free reign. >> Yeah. >> But they don't haven't released what that means yet. So districts that barely have ELLL population and at risk students they don't get as
much funds as >> correct depending on their band. If they're band one they have very little or under 35% 35 to 36% all the way up to a band six which would be 85% or higher. So that's where they're trying to
address the money from the state for those districts that have a higher percentage to address those needs. >> Thanks. >> Just just a quick question. Yes. Like what's the total uh amount that we give for EL students? I know maybe >> we're actually someone a board member
requested that specific information. We're going to put that together. I think we're going to have it in I think by >> May 21st I think. >> Yes. And we'll provide that to all board members. But we're working on that right now.
>> More question. >> Oh, trust. >> Um, >> is this whole thing? You've got the governor's plan, correct? >> Has 250, but we know we have a house plan and we have a Senate plan always and that's where all the conflict comes
from. Who gets top billing so to speak is everything underneath also with the banding and the three. Yes. Um what you typically find is not everybody agrees at that at this current stage because everyone agrees they can't argue about
it or or barter with it. So what you'll find is two of the three branches usually agree on something but a third one will throw another option out just so they have bargaining power what they can agree to and not agree to >> at the end. Correct. So one of the questions have you heard about why they
decided to change the >> the Michigan funding in is been in place since 1993 94 time frame and a lot of them saying at that time that was a good formula but now what they've seen is
with different you know districts have different needs for example transportation in the upper and upper peninsula >> is a more is a bigger priority >> a bigger cost so having one cost per student across the entire district doesn't meet people's needs. So, what
they're trying to do is through categoricals or through this band type approach is to kind of split the money that's available in different areas that best meet what those districts need. >> So, there might be more classifications within these bands about usage.
>> Correct. But it could be a little more forgiving as to, you know, h how it's directed because they're trying to solve a problem of the different the variations in district needs. Is that correct? Yes, pretty much.
>> And they're trying to make sure that the the higher the band, the more money you're going to get to address that need. That would be more above and beyond what a normal student would cost to educate. >> Okay, >> great question. Thank you. So, looking at the next one, this is our
student count. Um, on the left side, you'll see the state projections. Uh, they're looking at roughly about a 10,000 student decrease every single year. So, that just means that the student population is shrinking. Um, so
we look on the right hand side right now, we're at the top right at 19,349. That's an increase from last year. So Dearborn historically has always been better on their student counts than other districts. Uh the three or four years before that we were starting to
reduce, but now we see it switching the other way. And on the bottom the forecast is another 278 students for next year. These are FTEEs. That's what we use for compensation. So we're looking at another growth next year for our student growth, which is good to see. As you see, the state is losing
kids. And we are a closed district. We don't accept kids from other districts into Dearborn unless they meet one of our criteria. Our early college program, our um um if you're >> special, >> if you're not well, special ed always with center programs, but if you're
employed here, you're also allowed to bring your child here. >> That's something that we have looked at in the past. If we want to look at additional revenue, we can be specific schools of choice. I'm sure um Abe Mure has talked about that in the past where you can say where you have some lower
grade numbers that you can actually select a certain number of students to come in. But that's a further discussion at some other time. But you do have some options there. Now, unfortunately, even though we're going to get 278 kids, they don't come in banks of 25. So, they could be two
kids here, three kids there, which cause what we call hotspots. You know, that you might need to add a teacher, but you don't necessarily have the funding in that school. particularly to afford a full teacher. So those are the things that we deal with. I don't deal with but the teachers do a great job deal.
All right. Looking on our staffing cost. Um as you can see the staffing cost in crier district is about 1.8 million. So when you look at that a 1% raise is roughly about one $1,800,000. Um we have three scenarios. We have the
most likely worst case and best case. So that's going to fall between a 1% and 3% raise in budgeting across the district. So you can see there's different models there. So depending on which you look at where our student count is and how staffing works and what our state aid
is, it's not as simple as you can just throw out a percentage increase when you know you got to have a lot of things that have to come into place. So, I just want to make sure you understand how these are the three items. Your state aid, student count, and your staffing costs are the three primary things that
really impact the general fund. Now, unfortunately for us, as you're probably well aware also, we also have to the infrastructure issue in Dearborn. Since the state does does not give us any money for infrastructure, that has to come from our general fund. So, that's you know, right now we're putting aside
millions of dollars for our infrastructure needs because we have to. You got to have the the the environment for teachers to be able to teach and learn without worrying about a leaky roof or a cold room or hot room. And as the older the infrastructure gets, the harder that is to manage. Now, we have a
great maintenance team that kind of deals with that very well, but it's still that persistent problem is going to keep growing for us as we go forward. >> I have a question. >> Yes. Going back to the where you break
down the the different uh salary level um the exempt in uh the aa is it possible to add central office as a separate line item? >> Yes. Yes, it can.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. Because right now the exempts are could be your um whole variety of things that don't fall into the traditional unions. to call your admin secretaries, your exempt administrators. Um some supervisors are in there. Um some of our
community professionals are in that area. So there's a wide variety in that area. >> Yeah, it would be nice. I know we asked and me and uh uh Mikey, we talked about that and I think the numbers that I thought it was versus what he thought is
and I cannot confirm nor could he like it was just more >> right. But it's easy to break that down. for the total gas. >> Mine was mine was speculation. >> And again, yes, that's just broad categories, but you could break it down very easily. >> Yeah, I I would love to see that as an item because it would dispel, you know,
you know, the question that continuously comes up. >> Okay. Um, this is our most likely scenario. On the top, you'll see our history of our fund balance. Um, starting in 2013, we're as low as 4.55%.
that's not very healthy and if that was the case you'd be a going concern at the state of Michigan having constant meetings at the lancing to talk about what you're doing to correct that. Um right now at the end of this year we're projecting roughly about a 12.16%.
Uh you'll see the three blue arrows. The one on the left is looking at the student counts. The one on the right is looking at staff salary increases. And again we don't have to just come up with new money for salary increases this year. We also have what we call steps that are built into the contracts. That
money also has to be accountable with any new money. Uh with the step increases, you do have the offset of retirements. So as someone retires at the highest level, maybe at M's max, you're going to bring in someone around, you know, bachelor step one, bachelor
step three. So there's a a money that you kind of offset the step increases. It doesn't necessarily do it totally, but it helps offset that. And what percentage you said of t of of assumed u >> assume a 1% in the most likely scenario 1% because again we don't have all the
data. Um we can't say potentially 3% and then worry about how we're going to fill that up backwards. >> Sure. >> So that's that's in there. And then you have some other things but we're looking at obviously a break even point of 244,000 and a 12.23% end of year balance. Again this is just
an estimate. There's a lot of variables that we don't know yet. So, that's kind of where we're looking at for the most likely scenario. >> And for those who don't know, the recommended um percentage of the fund or the balance fund has to be what isn't it
15%. >> Uh minimum of five per state law. >> Yeah. State otherwise you have to do a lot of reporting >> by MAS or >> anywhere between five and 20%. Mhm. >> What you'll see is a lot of districts are much higher than that right now
because of the ESRE funds and they're working on how to spend that money, but we use most of our ESR funds because of our need and we spent 52 million of that for, you know, infrastructure needs at many buildings. If you had 52 million to that, we'd be at 24%. But we decided to
use that for infrastructures to best fit Dearborn's needs. Uh this screen you're looking at the staffing model. As I stated earlier, they don't come in nice chunks of 25 at any given school. So, right now, we're looking at under the most likely scenario adding nine positions to the
district. That's uh divided out between the elementary, middle school, and high school and a few um um support positions. Um looking at the bottom, this is always a big number. Um the retirement cost, as you're well aware
of, we pay money for every dollar for retirement through the state of Michigan. So that's money we have to set aside. Um it's going down this year, so that helps us a little bit. Uh a lot of our union contracts are tied to a number in retirement. They're actually going to
get another8% increase in their salary from last year uh for money take home because of the rolling back of the mysteries we've had since 2017 18 when Brian was here now dealing with our shortfall back at that
time. >> What was it last year? >> Uh last year it was um 29.91. I should just read on my screen. So the increase >> the8%. That's one. >> That's this year, >> right? So last year is 1.33.
>> Okay. >> So it was 1.3 or 1.33 is it was taken away from their contract. Now it's down to a point 55. So it's a 8% difference. >> All right. The mill rates. So as part of any public hearing, we got to talk about
millage rates. So here's our history of our millillage rates. You'll see that the gray line is our operating millage which is 18 mills. Uh for us to get our full foundation allowance per student, we have to levy that against nonhomestead property. The orange is our
whole harmless millillage. As you can see, it was much larger in previous years. Uh we lost some students so and they changed the law where they rolled some of that back on us. Uh so now you see it's a much smaller portion. um we're looking at next year of uh 2.033
from our current year of 2.181. So it's obviously going down because of that. In addition, our debt millage is going down. We were at 1.22 last year. Now we're going down to 0.9080 as we pay off those bonds. And we pay off bonds with interest rates a little lower. So that's declining. So we're
actually looking from 21.401 down to 20.9410. Uh there is no headley effect this year. Headley effect is if our tax rate increases more than the rate of inflation. Uh a lot of districts are getting impacted by that but in Dearborn
is not. Now you can say how does that happen and you can still have a higher taxable value. Um that is because when people move the property gets uncapped at the current market value when they buy the house. That's why our mil our taxable base is going up, but it's not a
headly impact because of the value of the house. So, just be aware of that. So, that's just a picture of the city of Dearbornne. Um, again, we have two taxing jurisdictions, Dearborn and a portion of Dearborn Heights. We do one for each one. Uh, these are estimates
right now. Obviously, we don't have all the information from Wayne County. They gave us just the very top number of 4.8 million is our new tax or 4.8 8 billion is our new tax base that we levy taxes on for our millages.
>> And for that millillage, it's expiring in 2032. There was >> because we just renewed it last year. Uh 2034 for us. >> No, not the operating millage, the depth mill for the one that was approved. >> So if the if it goes higher than 2%, it
might even go down a little lower. That's what we've seen. It was about a 4.2% increase year. >> Yeah. We forecasted two when they did the projections. So that's why it went down further this year than expected. Our operation milites will expire in 2034 because we just renewed those.
>> And then the college one expires in 2031. >> We did eight years. >> Yep. So this is Dearborn Heights. The only difference between the two is one that um the city of Dearbornne does all their levies on the summer levy and Dearborn
Heights splits it between summer and winter. So that's how that's why you see a slight difference there. On this one I haven't added yet. I'm trying to wait for the county approval. Um Dearborn Heights did have a clerical error and didn't levy the hold harmless. So we'll
see another line on here once we kind of figure that out for next year. Are they going to get that straightened out? >> I hope so. >> Because it this has been what twice now that >> twice in three years. Yes. >> Yeah. >> It gets complicated because a lot of the
things that go on with taxes, but we're going to work on it. Keep working on it. Yes. >> All right. So, looking at the budget model here, just looking at the numbers, just kind of reiterating where our funding levels were for our student counts. You can see we're estimating
about 250 in all scenarios because they all kind of agree to that number. When you look at the best case scenario, that's where you have a 3% but you'll see that we expect that if you know we get additional money or the different
compaction. So we can look at that they're all going to balance. So next year no matter what we do um if we have less student counts we have less staff. And so if we have more students, we got to have more staff. So just let you know, we do go all the models. We don't kind of go over them, but just that they
are there. Um looking at next year, depending on the model under the worst case scenar. Site fund. Um if you look at that and say, "All right, if certain things event take place next November, we wouldn't have to necessarily do that full
amount." And you know, I I've already told the unions that can we give you more raises? Yes. But where's it come from? If we address the infrastructure issue, there's 7.4 million there. Probably not all of it, but there's a good portion of that can go back into the general fund for other purposes.
>> How much are we say that there might not be a bond next year or it doesn't pass? >> Uh that's the worst case scenario. So we actually go we would have to take money out of our transfer for building and site to actually >> expect that number to be >> roughly about 3 million to the transfer
to the building and site fund. >> So just know there's like I said there's a lot of variables. We make our best decisions under all three scenarios. Uh the grant funds um just to kind of touch briefly on that just so you know here are all the grants by category. Um,
if you see that current list, if you click on that, you can look at all the grants to hear light. There's links to that to show you what the funding purpose is for. And if you have questions, we can delve down into that at a later date. But looking at things coming to an end,
the Eagle Filter First grant, as you're well aware of, we put a lot of the water bottle stations in all the schools. Uh, September 30th, which is the fis state fiscal year end. were June 30th, but the state is September 30th. You'll see a
lot of the categorical rats grants are going away for a lot of these items that we've had in the past. But again, most of these are extra ones. They don't affect our operational program. So unless we have staff in there, we don't have to worry about them coming back.
Uh new granite, we're looking at 12E. So the state, if you remember the last three or four years, they've done some statewide surveys on infrastructure needs. They put a little bit of money there and they're making it on um as
needed basis, competitive grants. So we've applied for that. We have to pick our certain programs. So there's some money possibly for that if we get approved. There's 35mm for literacy, 35A for letters, science of reading. So there's some grants out there that are
new this year that we're applying for. What to look forward obviously we have the revenue consensus this Friday which will confirm what the revenues are for the state for next year and the subsequent year so they can do future planning. Uh we have to adopt the budget by June 30th even though the state has
to do it also by July 1st for state aid. I don't they rarely ever make that but we don't oversee them so we can't hold them accountable but we have to have it by June 30th. So at the June 22nd or 20th, I can't remember that date that we'll have our next board meeting that
the actual resolution for the adoption will be on there. Uh we always move forward the most likely scenario as the one and obviously we're still concerned about federal changes and where that might go. Uh title one funding is going to be approved for next year. I don't
know if we have the actual dollar values yet, but that's also out there. So we know that that program will continue. My greatest fear though is the change in grants could really impact us. When we had the ESSER funds, we hired a lot of
mental health and support position for that. Those rolled into the categoricals like 31A into at risk. So if they start playing with those grants, we could have a serious budget fall of what to do with that staff and how that would have to go back from the general fund if we want to
keep that same level. we're okay for next year, but I'm concerned about 2728. That might be a whole another conversation depending on how the elections go. >> Any questions? >> But but I think when we refer to the ESSER fund, that was kind of an anomaly.
It happened because of CO and we didn't expect it to last. It was frustrating. >> But the state realized the student impacts at that time. So they had a lot of categorical out there to deal with mental health that we utilized to maintain that staff going forward. >> Corre correct. But my point is it was
something that happened because of the pandemic, but it wasn't something that was a part of our normal budget. >> Correct. >> So whether it's here in other district, uh it was thought of as a one-time thing. >> Correct. >> Just want to make sure we're on the same
page on that. Any question looking around? Um >> so this year, we're at the last we just have our budget hearing today. So again, the last one is June 22nd is our next meeting to address So normally at this time either we can pause the regular
board meeting and open up the public hearing if anyone wants to come to the podium and talk about it. Um however you want if you want to ask questions first and go how whichever way you want to move forward. >> Let's ask questions first. You mentioned 270
kids increase correct this year. is if this year the the current year uh what >> for 26 27 next school year, >> how do we determine that we're going to get 270 kids when we're losing students and uh and we're
trying to push open district because to to mitigate the loss of students. That's a little confusing because that was something I was going to talk about today. But when you said we're increasing and and in looking at um you know our board brief, it said the open
district could come back recent decline enrollment issues and while bringing students that have families history within the district. So I'm trying to see we're saying we're getting students but we're advocating for maybe a limited
uh open district. Yeah, Dearbornne has a very rich program in handling with students and support systems. Um, we've always been closed, so most people don't have that opportunity to come here for our programs. Um, just because, you know, if you look back four or five
years ago, we were at 21,000 kids and we didn't have room in our schools. Now that we're at 195 underneath the new scenario, there are some pockets of areas we could look at. Is it necessary? No. Uh the projections come from the student services office. Uh they they
look at the birth rates. They look at what enrollments are happening up to this point. They're looking at the state levels and where they're seeing what new housing develops. So they do a pretty good job. I've been here for 11 years and they've been pretty good except for
the third year where we had 800 kids come across, you know, the waters to for new students, first time in the United States. Outside of that, they've been pretty close. Last year, they were within one student of the projection. So, they do a good job. The the only issue I have with that is is the what's
being presented to us is contradicting in one um in one option which is open in the district is we're saying we're losing kids and that that would be a way to um uh you
know handle declining or combat declining students and another we're saying we're gaining 270 kids. So, I guess the question, and you don't have to answer right now, what is it? Um, it's it's a it's it's it's one of those
things where for me, and um the the open district, and maybe this is not the time, but I'll speak, I'm I'm opposed to it. Um >> there's a lot of different philosophies that we could debate. Right now, our student high school enrollment is lower,
even though it's actually than it was many, many years ago. um our elementary middle schools are staying strong. So again, you would an analyze that to see where it makes sense if it makes sense because there's a lot of philosophies that you want to bring them in in the early grades so they learn our educational system and go up
through it. So there's a lot of different debates about that and I'm probably not the best person to I can tell you the financial impact but I can't necessarily say >> yeah and I I think this is you know Mr. is here and Miss Suru is here is um we
really need to focus um and understand why we're losing students whether it's at the high school level where before we even entertain um having um an open district and and and when people say
they're going to do a pilot limited to legacy and so on a pilot is it's really hard to change once you start something Mhm. >> It opens the door for more things. So, >> Mr. Sy, I would I would love for the new
>> if we to do >> if if we stop this thing with the open district and and figure out the root cause of why we're losing kids and what we could do for our kids. And this is the wrong time to speak about open
district is we're doing the bond. I mean, remember the voters are going to look at it like, okay, who are we doing this for? So, I would strongly stay this is not the time to bring it up and focus on it. And also, when we say we're c
combating uh losing kids, but we're saying we're gaining kids, that just contradicting what I'm hearing. Trust me, P. >> Okay. I I think there's uh two things happening here with those conversations. one. Um, as Mr. Wah pointed out, we had
a district at one time that that was handling almost 21,000 students and we've lost uh uh uh about 600 students or so from that. we will have see a return of
younger students more than likely coming up through the elementary um level from I'm assuming census data of some sort or another the other so we will be gaining in that category but as Mr. Wall is pointing
out, we do have areas where we could still manage other students coming into the district that those new students that were gaining would not necessarily fill the upper um school levels. That
being said, you were being faced with a question from the state about whether we're going to choose an option of being an open district or not. And that then opened the conversation, which I I agree we should not have tonight as part of
the budget conversation necessarily, but those numbers w would be more targeted to those pockets of um schooling that we could afford to fill in with other students um if we so chose. So I think
the two things are are not the same things. the we're adding students because of what is going to be um from our community coming into the district grade level.
The other concept of opening is because we still have areas where we could accept new students if we so chose to um open the doors for that. The other thing I did want to point out when the conversation was had about the female academy that I didn't want to do because
we had students I wanted to get in and being able to um do their presentation with salina green student not be here any longer is is that we have a virtual school and if there are students who are
uncomfortable for whatever reasons being in the uh public high schools they have that option. The fact that they're choosing to go to Penn Foster, I don't believe, is because they don't have an opportunity to feel someplace where they can get their education from the
Dearborn public schools safely because we do can provide that for them with our virtual school. So, there's another issue with students that we are losing and that's not a conversation to be had tonight either, but I just wanted to point that out. Yeah, for me I was going
to um I was going to bring up the the open district. It wasn't a part of the budget, but yeah, you you gave me a segue and I just want to say I am opposed to it. We need to focus on improving the educational system for the kids that we have, the 19,000 kids, and
we could get more kids back. As far as the the virtual school, it doesn't give you the school experience. It's uh it's really um it's it's uh different than having this school experience. Question. >> Yeah. I first of all uh President
Aljahi, I do agree with you that the uh the we have to study the core issue of losing students, right? Why are they leaving? And we did that multiple times. And we found out that they have an alternative path of getting a high
school diploma within months. And now with AI, you could get it probably in two weeks. You could finish all of the modules like flying through it. No, like no tomorrow. There's no teacher, right? There's no just you have to finish
modules and you're done. I actually was um at the gym and conversing with a former Fortzson student who said I only did nine months at Fortson and left. What's the reason? He said I'm I'm not an A student like to be in the honors
program. Um I'm an average student, probably a B and C's. Uh but I I I felt like at the high school level um the culture uh of the school surroundings was not comfortable for me. And this is a male. I'm not talking
about a female. And it was kind of eye opening for me to ask that student more questions as far as why did they did they did they seek help? Did they go to the administration? He was like first of all the dress code for example is not
being adhered by the students and sometimes staff unfortunately. So that is things that we really need to look at from a holistic point of view of why our kids are leaving high schools and going to these shortcut programs. And as far
as virtual schooling I I do agree. I mean while that is an option for our kids who shy away from the high school experience and and being present and we adopted that after seeing the need after
co um but it it does not replace the real experience of a high school. So, I hope that we we dwell more as far as why the reasonings as far as opening the district and getting students to enroll in our
schools uh from outside where they don't pay taxes to uh to be part of our uh traditional high schools and traditional schools. I think that would be a disservice to our residents who are paying taxes
and we are asking them in November Um and um we definitely have to cure the actual problem, not try to fix the symptoms that that are happening with the issue. >> And I did I did want to respond to that
trustee Maz there was no uh deep analysis or um on on the enrollment trends. We spoke on as trustees and we made comments on you know >> Mr. for sure came and told us how many students I don't know if this was like a year ago or two years ago
>> but he broke it down as far as >> how many students went to Penn Foster and how many students went to other schools. >> What year was that? >> I I believe it was a presentation by Mr. Mure. I I recall that vividly and I was probably over there. So might have been the year before you got on the board.
Okay. >> So it would probably be better to go back to that because that was a lot of data that was collected. things change >> and things have changed. Yeah. But I would say that there was a lot of data that was collected on the same problem. >> I hear you. I hear you. But I'm looking
at uh Mike and and I would ask, you know, two years ago, if it did happen two years ago, things changed so much. So I would ask for revisiting that and doing the analysis and understanding because at the end of the day our first
responsibility is the res to the residents to the uh and and we have to focus on the residents that will pass the bond that will um that are paying the the the 18% you know millage. It's It's really >> 18% only businesses.
>> 18% 18 mills is only businesses. >> Businesses, but it's still business within the city. >> Residents pay. >> Yeah. The homestead. >> Yeah. >> So, so my point is the residents should be our focus and we're not here to make money or to get because at the end of
the day, if we add students, it's really just to pay, you know, it's going to come out the wrong way. It's more, you know, additional salaries. And so I would I would ask that let's let's uh eliminate that ideas and and if if if we
say if there are um trustees that support that then I would ask the the voters to make their case known in November. >> All right. So now we got to pause and see if there's any comments from the community. So, any comments from uh from
the public >> or questions? >> Or questions. I don't see people running. >> Can you step forward, Mrs. Masher? >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> The question was whether the
presentation will be posted online. It will. >> So, one last comment for me. I just want to thank the board for their faith in what I was doing for the last 11 years. We've come a long way from a 5% fund balance to much higher. I think the transparency is also out there. Uh we
have that meritorious budget award for eight years with a 300page document explaining all the variables in great detail. Want to thank the administration because this probably last time I'll be up at the podium. Um their faith. I think hopefully I I teach as I go. So, I think they have a better understanding
of how it works and and how just one simple decision can really turn the budget around if you don't pay attention. So, thank you for all my support for all these years. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Yeah. Quickly, Mr. Wall, thank you so
much for your service. We truly appreciate the years of service. I remember you coming to this this district to be become a board member and then the the board members luckily found um your expertise uh in other districts
and they said why don't you come here since you live in our city and um you have been amazing uh executive director for business affairs um you handled so many uh storms that
came your way and I I truly I truly appreciate you. We going to definitely miss you and we'll miss your expertise and I hope that you will be available if we need you. But thank you and enjoy your retirement. >> Next item.
>> Next item is facilities master plan. >> Can we take a break? >> I would love five minutes break. >> Perfect. >> Seven. >> A motion to take a 7 minute recess. >> Very good. >> I second. >> All in favor? >> I I motion's approved. 9:45 p.m. is when
we return.