001Yeah. Well, I'm from Philly and he's from Philly. >> Philly. >> My family is from Pennsylvania. >> Where? Where? >> He's gonna he's going to make a distinction. >> Well, Pennsylvania is big enough. >> David, we're ready. >> Oh, sorry. >> We are. >> Okay. Perfect. Okay, good evening everyone. Welcome to the Dearborn Board of Education special meeting for the P12 Thursday, September 4th, 2025. It is 60:01. I call this meeting to order. Roll call, please. >> Trustee Ali >> here. >> Trusty Dejo >> here. >> Trusty Pitchkov >> here. >> Trusty Zaher here. President Mos >> here. Thank you. I'll be leading everyone with the pledge of of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,
002with liberty and justice for all. No, no talking from the >> So we next item is um discussion board vacancy applicant interviews. This is round two if you will for interviewing for the two vacancies. Uh we've had uh multiple people interview on Tuesday and we're looking forward to the interviews today. Uh the same questions um have been shared with all of the candidates. and they were as follows. Why are you interested in serving on the board of trustees at this time? And what specific skills or qualifications do you do you you believe you would bring to this board? What do you see the roles and responsibilities of a school board member? And question number three was, identify a recent board decision that you felt strongly about and describe how would you balance community concerns, student
003needs, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine your vote on the issue. And today we will begin with Miss Amira Abu Hammud. And Mr. Abu Hammud, you have five minutes to answer the five questions. I'll just give you fair warning at the four and a half minute mark. >> Perfect. >> Floor is yours. >> Hello everyone. My name is Zamir Abahmud and I'm currently an undergraduate student at the University of Detroit Mercy. I am interested in serving on the Dearborn public schools board of education because I believe education is the foundation for every student's success. And I'd like to give back to the community that has provided me with several opportunities to be where I am today. As a lifelong Dearborn resident and a as a lifelong Dearborn
004resident and class of 24 graduate of Dearborn public schools, I have seen both the opportunities and the challenges that students can face today. Coming from a younger generation, I believe that I can bring a fresh and different perspective and help bridge connections between students, families, and staff. My experience in college with balancing academics, leadership roles, community service as well as managing my own business and participating in research has also given me insight into what prepares students for life beyond the school. For me, being a school board member means being a trustee for the community and always putting students first. This means putting their learning for first, their safety, and their opportunities. I grew up in Dearborn public schools my whole life and I have experienced firsthand how the board's decisions not just affects students but
005whole families. This is what motivates me. Making sure that the future students have the same if not better opportunities than what I was provided with when I was in school. Parents, students and staff need to feel heard and I want to be that listener and advocate for all of them. At the same time, I know that the board's decisions is not u managing um the day-to-day basis. That's obviously for the administration, but it's to provide an oversight and a clear vision that reflects Dearborn Public Schools values and prepares our students for success far after graduation. One recent decision or policy that I felt strong about was the board's letter of understanding with the Dearborn Federation of Teachers regarding boundary line exemptions and evaluations. I believe that this was a positive step because it provided and
006supported our staff while still keeping student success at the center, which is obviously what everybody wants. Allowing teachers to have their children attend schools closer to where they work makes life more convenient for them and helps strengthens their community and helps strengthens their connections to the school community. When teachers feel supported, they can give their all back to the students. And as the third largest school district in Michigan, our decisions truly set the tone for thousands of families. With this issue, it was important to balance the community concerns about enrollment and making sure there's space for everyone. Um the state and federal laws on closed boundaries and what the staff need in order to have the students succeed. Personally, I believe that investing in teachers directly invests in students and that's why I supported decisions
007like this that provide fairness and convenience for staff while still protecting opportunities for every child in Dearbornne. So, thank you for having me. >> You still have two minutes if you'd like to share anything else. Um, overall I just really think that Dearborn public schools needs a younger advocate on the board to provide a closer um, connection with the Dearborn public schools and as somebody that graduated recently, I think that I would be a fit candidate for this position. >> Thank you for your time, Miss >> Next is Mr. Am Mishmashan. Mr. Mr. M. Mich, you have 5 minutes to answer the questions that were already provided to you. I'll just give you a fair warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. >> Okay. Floor is yours whenever you're ready. >> Peace and
008blessing be upon you all. Today I am here not in the imam outfit but not only as an imam. I am here as a neighbor, as a community leader, and as somebody ready to serve all dearborn children. Our young generation is struggling and facing depression, suicidal thoughts, bullying, and loneliness. I have seen these cases. I have been trained to respond and I have earned their trust. Our youth understand me and most important I understand them. We also see more children with autism and across all the spectrum of neurodeiversity. their their road to graduation and college becoming harder and harder. I want to make sure our schools provide the right support so every child has a fair chance to explore their full potential. That is my mission. listening, mentorship and a real support for students and
009families because when families know we are backing them, children grow and succeed. I also bring leadership as a nonprofit director, educator and community leader. Managing budget, building partnership and uniting people. Student first, families supported and trusted. The role of a trustee is to set vision, make policy, adopt budget and budgets, hire and evaluate superintendent and build community trust. Always remember why we do this. The answer is the students. To me that mean three responsibilities. First to protect their well-beings. Safe schools, mental health, mentorship. Second, advanced learning, literacy, graduation, career readiness. Uh third, build trust with families, staff, specifically teachers and community. And in that trust, we must also honor our teachers. Our job is not to micromanage them, but to make sure they are supported, respected, and equipped with the tools they need on the
010202526 budget decisions. I would wait it all through five priorities. First, community. Families want safety. Smaller classes, clear communication. Second, students, mental health, counselors, preventing crisis. The third law comply with the state and federal requirements. Fourth, staff especially teacher who deserve fair pay, training and resources. Fifth, values, fairness, dignity, support and every dollar should serve the students. Before I close, I want to share something personal. I have a child who graduate from Zelford and he's in Henry Ford College right now and I'm very proud of him and I have younger children that they will be in the school system soon. Our community need us to lead them not just as a trustees but as people who really care and guide their own children. Thank you so much. >> Thank you Mr. M. Appreciate your time.
011>> Next applicant is Miss Linda Sharada. Welcome, Mr. You have five minutes to answer the questions that were already provided to you. I'll just give you a fair warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. >> Okay. >> Floor is yours whenever you're ready. >> Thank you. >> Hello. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. First and foremost, I am deeply committed to putting students first. I am a product of Durban schools, a graduate of the University of Michigan, and a proud parent with children in our district with one graduating this year from the collegiate program. As a mom, I understand that the hopes, challenges, and concerns that parents face, and I know how parent how important it is to keep students at the very center of every decisions that we
012make. Throughout my career, I've been an advocate not just for students, but for parents and staff as well. I truly believe that supporting all three groups is what makes a school community thrive. I've spent over 25 years in education, earning a master's degree, and having had the privilege of working with students and educators across every stage of learning from preschool through 12th grade. I've taught in both elementary and middle school classrooms, so I know firsthand the challenges that teachers and students face every day. Later, in addition to also being an instructional coach, I served as an administrator for over 10 years and now I work as an educational consultant with HMH and NWA. We partner with schools in Dearbornne, across Michigan, across the nation, and internationally. Most of my work focuses on analyzing data improving
013instruction and helping schools implement best practices. Here in Dearbornne, I've had the privilege of also serving on the district strategic planning committee last year as a parent. As an administrator, I've also worked closely with many school boards in my school actually where we balanced budgets and made important infrastructure decisions. As a consultant, I've collaborated with many superintendent, administrators, and staff across the country and all over the world to make decisions that truly drive student success. I've also led school accreditation processes for over 15 years, ensuring that schools meet and adhere to high standards. I co-own also the Oasis Institute for Outreach and Education in Dearbornne where we focus on outreach and initiatives that strengthen our youth in our community through learning. And outside of Dearborn, outside of education, I'm also a real estate agent with
014KW Legacy and Dearbornne. That work has also sharpened my skills in strategic planning, financial oversight, negotiation, and community engagement. So together my education and professional experience has given me a unique perspective to connect with many different people, plan effectively and manage resources responsibly. Dearborn school's motto, inspire, educate, and celebrate really truly reflects what I value most. We inspire students by believing in their potential. We educate by providing the resources and the support they need to thrive. and we celebrate their growth and accomplishments as a community. That's the vision that I would carry forward as a board member. The role of the board is to set a clear vision, establish those thoughtful policies, balance budgets, oversee resources responsibly, and then support and hold and hold the superintendent accountable. But most importantly, every decision has to put
015students first. A strong board balances student needs, staff perspectives, community voices, and legal requirements while also staying focused on equitable and highquality education for all students. The board faces many tough decisions. Things like boundary changes, the recent removal of two books from libraries, hiring a new superintendent, selecting the next president for Henry Ford College, and also ensuring the success of in infrastructure bonds. All of these decisions will shape the future of our schools and community and require careful planning, transparency, and collaboration. I believe in listening to staff and parents, supporting every student, collaborating with board members, and relying on data and community input. Guided by my honesty, my empathy, my values, my equity, and transparency. When voting, I will make decisions that respect families while also keeping our schools inclusive and student focused. >> 30
016seconds. >> As a Dearborn graduate, as a Dearborn graduate and a mom and a leader and someone who spent decades supporting students in my educational career. I understand how much every decision affects children and families. I am working I'm going to work very closely with board members and parents to ensure that every child feels safe and inspired and has the resources to succeed for to help and strengthen our schools and our community. Thank you. >> Thank you m for your time. Thank you for >> next applicant is Miss Angela. Is that for us? Sure. Okay, perfect. Matter, um, you've been provided the questions, the five questions. You have five minutes to answer them. I'll just give you a a warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. >> Floor is yours whenever you're ready.
017>> Right. Good evening, board members. 12 years ago, a doctor said one word that changed everything. Autism. In that moment when my son was diagnosed, I had two choices. Accept the limitations or shatter them. I chose to shatter them. I walked away from a successful career and pursued a new mission, fighting for children. I earned my place in Western Michigan University's top ranked graduate program in behavior analysis, even though on paper I didn't qualify. Because when your child's future is on the line, the impossible becomes your starting point. Since then, I've been appointed by the governor to serve on the Michigan Board for Behavior Analysts. I am the chair for the Wayne County Parent Advisory Committee. I completed my fellowship with the Michigan Leadership Education and Neural Development and Related Disabilities Training Program. I served
018on the state's special education advisory committee in Lancing. Families and schools across the state now call me to conduct independent evaluations, ensuring their child's unique needs are addressed. And I helped launch Dearborn Public Schools special ed PTA. But more than just titles, I bring something deeper. I'm a mother of three beautiful children in this district. I live the reality of our schools every single day. Dearborn Public Schools serves 20,000 children, including 2,000 in special ed. I collaborate with teachers, administrators, and families constantly, and I know what's at stake. To me, a schoolboard member is a steward of trust. It's not about politics or titles. It's about transparency, accountability, and above all, student success. It means balancing community voices and federal and state requirements and staff needs while never losing sight of who we serve, our
019students first. And we can't forget our teachers. They are on the front lines every single day giving their all with limited resources. Supporting our teachers means supporting our students because when our teachers thrive, our students thrive. One decision I felt strongly about was the $240 million bricks bond proposal in 2029. It was designed to fund repairs, renovations, safety upgrades, and address all the needs of our school buildings, many of them with aging infrastructures. The bond was defeated by just 470 votes. That showed me that the community wasn't against better schools. They just wanted long-term solutions they can clearly see and believe in. That's why transparency matters. Just recently, Dearborn held a study session and brought in a consultant to prepare for the next bond. I was one of those people interviewed during that process. I
020was one voice, but there are many. Dearborn wants transparency and families want long-term solutions they can trust. When families are engaged early, when priorities are explained clearly, and when people understand exactly how their investments translate into safer, stronger schools for decades to come, they will stand behind it. As a board member, that's the leadership I bring. A collaborative, transparent approach focused on building real solutions. Let's be honest. Every candidate here tonight wants a seat. But my kids taught me something powerful. Every barrier broken for one child clears the path for every child. I was born and raised in Dearbornne. I'm a dear I am a product of Dearborn public schools. These schools shaped me. Now, as a mother, an advocate, and as a clinical director for an autism company, I fight every single day to
021make sure our children don't just have opportunities, they have extraordinary ones. There may be 37 candidate other candidates. But there is only one candidate who's already spent 12 years proving that when you put children first, miracles happen. One candidate who doesn't just promise the change, who is the change. 12 years ago, they told me my son would never succeed. They were wrong. Tonight, you can choose the status quo or you can choose the advocate who will fight every for every child in this district and put students first because Dearborn's children deserve nothing less. I am that mother. I am that advocate. I am that fighter. I am that board member. Thank you. >> Thank you for your time and thank you for applying. So, next candidate is Mr. Adib and Vadani. So, you have five
022minutes to answer the five questions that were already provided to you. >> Uh, I'll just give you a fair warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. >> Floor is yours whenever you're ready. >> Okay. My pleasure. >> Okay. Thank you guys for your consultation and uh my name is Adib Badani. I am glad to be here and considerate for this application. uh for the first question. Okay. They say why you interested in serving uh the board as a father of five kids currently uh attend uh Durban public school. I have deeply personal and interesting in the future of this district of our district. I am taking a role because I am belief in school deserve leadership and both community road and future focus especially during the time of transition and board leadership uh
023district administration. Personally, I am pursuing an advanced degree in cyber security and digital forensic with a strong foundation in a legal enolation and evidence and handling and the structural documentation. I have developed an ability to translction an encompass technical and legal concept into clear accessibility and guide and skills and initially policy in review and oversee. For the second question, a school board member is stored on a public trust and the guidance of educational equality. The role is involve sitting district and college policy approved and project and concept hiring and evolution leadership ensuring complence and the state federal and state and federal laws. Trustee must be ad trustee must be advocate uh student and achievement uh in both. uh to the third question. Uh our recent decision I felt strongly and about the sport decision is
024potentially an infrastructure bond and destruction. uh while community members raising concern about tax applications and I believe the issue is touchable and the manageable are responsible for government. Like I said here I have uh couple roles and couple advisement I should be uh advised um okay to determine my vote I will be balanced community concern public engagement and transparency student need by assisting and how faculty impact learning and safety legal standards by ensuring compl complaints with bound laws staff inbound and consultant educator uh on uh operational barriities and my personal values with these priorities long-term investment and equity in education at the end. Thank you for considering me for this application and I hope and welcome me to serve the community and do the best. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you Mr. about then
025for your time and thank you for applying. >> Next applicant is Mr. Mark Treasuryak. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Hello. Good evening. >> Good evening. You have five minutes to answer the three questions that were provided to you. >> Okay. And these are the three questions here, correct? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, um I'll just give you a fair warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. >> All right. Great. Thank you so much. >> Floor is yours. >> All right. Um, first and foremost, I'd like to thank everybody for being here. Um, there's some familiar faces I remember from November. Um, as well as some familiar faces in the crowd. Um, the long list of people applying for this is a testament to how people um, feel about the
026district and the schools and the commitment that, uh, you know, the community has. So, first, thank you for that. Um, secondly, um, I would like to think that I'm uniquely qualified for this position. Um based upon my experience um I have a long history of being an educator uh at all levels. Um, I've taught for the last 26 years, um, primarily in a middle school setting, but I've also taught high school and I've also taught, um, at the university level in the college of education um, and the college of technology where I've taught classes all the way from 100 level all the way up to like capstone style classes. Um, I think that, um, coupled with my personal experiences with working at Dearbornne schools for a little bit and then working in other districts, um,
027I think I can kind of have a pretty good grasp of the view of things from a different perspective. Um, with that being said, one of the main reasons or, you know, specific skills that I think I have is subjective, being able to look at things subjectively and being able to listen to people's concerns and help them address them appropriately. Um I really feel that um every person should have a voice in their child's education and the education is you know the primary factor in um someone's success in life. Um Dearborn schools does a great job um of providing a lot of opportunities. Um, in some cases I think they're a little underutilized, but um, you know, I'm here to try to make those more available to more people. Um, some of the roles and
028responsibilities that I see as a school board member, again, kind of like what I spoke about before, but furthermore, is to kind of identify some problems and identify areas that could use um, some fixing or some improvement. Some of the things that I've noticed and are of concern to me is some of the decline in performance that we have um currently seen um we have a 95% graduation rate in this district which is phenomenal. However, we have less than a 50% literacy rate which is very disturbing to me. Um I think improving the academic product with some of the experience that I have will be a good thing. um improving literacy um improving academics is definitely something that needs to be addressed and most of all we need to foster a relationship of mutual trust
029and benefit centered um on communication and transparency in this community. Um, I really think that, um, we're at a critical point right now in this district, um, with the search for a new superintendent and a president of, uh, the college, as well as, um, you know, an upcoming potential bond issue, really, every single thing that's done and every single thing that's said and everything that's not done and not said could all impact the ability of that bond. And that's why I'm here. Um, one of the other things is identify a recent board decision that you felt um, strongly about. I didn't think it was fair to pick one uh, decision and talk about that. Um, rather I figured I would go with um, the idea that you guys have facts and there's two sides to
030every story. and I would hope that you would act like I would act and operate in the best interest of the school district as a whole. That's where I stand as um you know as a potential candidate for this position. Um I have to put some personal beliefs aside sometimes and do what's best for the educational product that we're trying to >> uh promote here in the district. So lastly, um you know, we're in a point where we need to do some modernization of this district and you know, it's great to see some new faces, but we need to, you know, have some people here involved that um really have a good handle on what we're doing and um improving the product as a whole. >> So, thank you, Mr. >> Thank you for your
031time, guys. >> Thank you. Thank you for applying. Next candidate is Mr. Nasar So. Welcome Mr. Sub. You have five minutes to answer the three questions that were already provided to you. I'll just give you a warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. Floor is yours whenever you're ready. >> All right. Thank you so much. Um uh just a quick introduction. My name is Nasri So. Um a brief background. Um I'm a product and a graduate of the Dearborn Public School District. Um, I earned my bachelor's in business administration from the University of Michigan Dearbornne and then went on to earn my JD MBA from Wayne State University. Um, I'm currently a practicing attorney. Um, I work in economic development for the city of Detroit. Um, and through that I do a lot
032of um, grant programming and so I help allocate um, grant funding and other resources to build different programs across the city. Um and so a lot of that involves um program oversight and building program guideline creation um compliance and ethics overview um and then budget um tracking and monitoring as well. Um through that role I also sit on several public authority boards um and so I'm very familiar with um parliamentary procedure um decision-m process um and consensus making process as well. Um outside of that, I've spent the last 10 plus years um in the community working with students and families across the district um through educational programs. Um I've done a lot of tutoring, mentorship, and career and college readiness programs. Um and that kind of pushed me and motivated me to um seek a
033more formal role in education in the community. Um and so this past fall, I just ran for a seat on this board. Um unfortunately, and clearly, I did not make it. Um but it was a fulfilling process nonetheless. Um, I was able to knock over 10,000 doors in my campaign. Um, I earned over 6,500 votes. Um, and I spoke to thousands of constituents in the district. Um, where I heard success stories and then also issues and concerns from community members as well. Um, after that election was over, um, I continued my role in education and a different path. Um, I completed my first semester as an adjunct professor um, at Henry Ford College um, where I taught two classes this winter semester. Um, and now I'm here, you know, with this opportunity in front of
034me. Um, and my goals are to make, you know, a safe and inclusive school district. Um, help provide accessible and equitable resources to all and ensure student success. Um, so as a potential board member, um, you know, there are a few major roles and responsibilities, and I think those are to set the budget and set policy whenever necessary. um hire and evaluate the superintendent and the president of Henry Ford um which we know are decisions that are coming up as well. Um and then be an advocate for all the stakeholders. So our parents, our community members, our staff and then most importantly our students. Um students first should come at the forefront of every decision. Um and I think there are different ways to be a good board member. Um but I think you know
035in the in the process of monitoring the district performance, monitoring the budget um and all the decision-m you have to do um due diligence and transparency um are so important um important to communicate, important to collaborate um especially when working amongst the board and then when working with different stakeholders and parties in the district. Um and then I'm a big advocate of you know using rearch research and data and other resources to help drive decision-m. Um, and that leads me to the example, um, an example that I want to discuss, um, that this board issued, um, in early 2025, um, when they issued out a contract to Quinn Evans for, um, infrastructure evaluation services. Um, and I, it's something that stood out to me at the time and still does now for several reasons. Um,
036outside of the substantive, I'm a big advocate for infrastructure. Um but most importantly I you know I commend the board and everybody that was involved because um a lot of you know due diligence was done reaching out to the community members getting stakeholder input research um the procurement process was done formally um and I think this helped the transparency and helped build credibility um and I think it's so important to also invest and be able to back up that investment of time money and resources um into such a big project like this um but you know to share care what the outcome is and what the goals are with everybody especially when everybody has contributed to those goals. Um so I think that was really important to me um for those different reasons. I think
037um the decision in itself is going to help build our community differently. Um our community members who spend their tax dollars and who send their kids here are knowing where that money is going. Um and they also can ensure that their students are going to school um in a safe place. we can ensure that our staff is teaching in a safe place and that'll help retention and help comfortability. Um, and on top of that, you know, these are my personal values again, um, to be proactive, not reactive, to use the data, use resources that we have and if we don't have the expertise to find it, um, and to help, you know, drive these decisions. Um, and with that, let's see, I'm running out of time here. Um but you know it would be an
038honor to work alongside this board and the administration and staff um and to serve our community. So thank you so much for this opportunity. >> Thank you Mr. S for your time and thank you for applying. Next candidate is Miss Sama Kib. >> You >> welcome Miss Kib. You have five minutes to answer the three questions that were already provided to you. I'll just give you a warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. Laura is yours whenever you're >> let her know she can start. >> Oh, you can start. >> Oh, I can. There's no timer. >> Uh, the timer's on the screen. >> Start when you start. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. >> Okay. Hi, I'm Sam. Um, as a proud product of Dearborn public schools, McDonald School, UNUNICE, Forson, Gorractors, and
039Henry Ford's collegiate programs, I was able to accelerate my education and gain a head start. While many of my peers were still preparing for the next step, I was already laying the foundation of skills that would drive my future success. Just as importantly, I stayed rooted in my community, volunteering at local schools, helping families navigate challenges, and supporting programs that create safe, enriching spaces for children. My continued involvement in local initiatives has allowed me to stay connected to the needs of the students and families firsthand. Dearborn influenced who I am and I feel a strong responsibility to give back by ensuring every student has the same opportunities to thrive that I was fortunate enough to have. As the chief executive officer of a multid-disciplinary healthcare agency serving both children and adults, I have experience making
040executive decisions that balance complex priorities, manage multi-million dollar budgets, lead diverse teams, and uphold strict accountability standards by ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. A significant part of my background lies in mental health and special education where I have worked closely with students, families, and schools to develop individualized programs, provide staff training, and ensure services meet both legal requirements and each child's unique needs. I lead initiatives that impact not only the individuals we directly service, but also the families, educators, and communities that support them. I bring deep expertise in financial management, contract negotiation, revenue cycle operations, and ensuring responsible allocation of resources, and maximizing limited funds to sustain and expand high-quality programs. My dedication to special education drives my commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusion. This blend of leadership, advocacy, and financial stewardship positions
041me to contribute meaningful to the board's mission. Grounded in a background of science and evidence-based practices, I bring passion and executive decision-making skills to the board along with a strong commitment to using resources wisely that will benefit all students. At this time, I am particularly motivated to serve as I see the unique challenges and opportunities facing both DPS and HFC and I am genuinely determined to support my community that help shape my success. Diversity of thought and experience benefits not only students and families with unique needs, but the entire community we serve. I bring a balance of teamwork, independent thinking, problem solving, and always striving towards a common objective while collaborating to create a solution. Schoolboard trustees are responsible for hiring and overseeing executive leadership, primarily the superintendent and currently the president of Henry Ford
042College while also ensuring fiscal accountability through a balanced budget. They also review, amend, and improve policies as needed and serve as advocates for students in the community, keeping their voices central to decision-making. Among their critical decisions faced by the board, including the difficult period of navigating COVID, which was handled exceptionally well by the board. One I felt strongly about was the motion to adjust school schedules with later start times and early release dates. As a board certified behavior analyst serving the Dearborn community, I see firsthand how crucial consistency and predictability are for families, especially those raising children with special needs. Structured routines are not just preferences. They are essential for helping students feel secure, regulate their behavior, and thrive in both academic and therapeutic settings. This decision carries broad implications. Families already face significant challenges
043arranging child care, and for many parents of children with special abilities, schedules must also accommodate critical therapies and services outside of school. Frequent disruptions can limit children's opportunities to grow and learn, while also placing added stress on parents who are balancing multiple responsibilities amongst balancing other kiddos. I was grateful to serve as a trusted space for families, offering guidance, reassurance, and support as they navigated schedule changes, ensuring they felt heard while prioritizing their children's growth and success. While I recognize the value of later start times for student health and the importance of teacher planning time, I believe decisions like this must carefully balance student outcomes, community needs, and family realities. My position would be to minimize later start times while maintaining a limited number of early release dates that are truly necessary for professional development.
044At the same time, I would advocate for schools to continue to provide safe, reliable child care options on site during those early release times to support families who need it. This approach ensures that instructional time and consistency remain priority while also addressing the real child care challenges faced by working parents and families of children with special needs. Thank you for your time. Thank you for applying. Thank you for your time. Uh I was just told that we do have some technical issues with the audio on YouTube, but that issue should be fixed. Anyway, the rebroadcast will have the full audio for everybody to watch after this meeting. Next candidate is Miss Monaw. Hello, Mr. Alawya. You have five minutes to answer the three questions that were already provided to you. I'll just give you a
045warning at the four and a half minute mark. >> Okay, >> floor is yours whenever you're ready. >> Thank you. Good evening, board trustees. Thank you for having me. Um to answer the questions uh for question number one, the skills and attributes that I bring forth are the result of the different hats or titles that I've worn um throughout my life. One of them and the most important one being a mother. Uh being a mother of course has changed me and affected me in many ways. Um, but the most important one is since the moment my son was born, every decision I've made has been with his best interest in mind. And I would carry that same philosophy as a board trustee. Um, as the unofficial slogan for the district, the students first. Um, that
046would be my motto going forward is what's in the best interest of the children. Um, I'm also an educator of 16 years. Uh, so I know the ins and outs of the classroom. I know what challenges teachers are facing. I also know when we're looking at budgets and curriculum what um is negotiable and what's not when it comes to the classrooms. I'm also a current director of an early childhood center. So, I bring forth my leadership skills implementing policies, curriculum, and I know literacy is a hot topic, especially at the state and um national level. So, you know, I we have a lot to be proud of in this district, but if we can take it one step further and improve um and not only stand out locally, but even nationally and and the state
047level as well. Um, and I'm also the co-founder of a nonprofit and I serve as a commissioner on the Dearborn Disability Commission. And with both of those um hats that I wear, I have been able to bring key stakeholders to the table. And for the sake of time, I can't bring up all the different initiatives that I have steered. But um under those roles, I have brought key stakeholders to the table to not only discuss the concerns of our residents and families, but I've also implemented change um and made sure that all the voices and I emphasize on all voices are heard throughout our community. I'm also a product of Dearborn public schools and my son was as well. He just graduated from Fortson last year. And I bring this up because I think this
048is important because I'm invested in the schools and the success of the schools. Uh for question two, although I know the roles of a uh school board trustee is diverse and complicated but also rewarding. Uh for the sake of time to break it down, um budget staffing um and I think it's also very important that as a board trustee, you have to look at the bigger picture which might not always align with public opinion. Um and we need to consider um all involved, not just the K through2 families because as we know we have that Henry for community college and we have the residents of the city of Dearborn as well. The decisions we make impact all from the value of their homes to their tax dollars. Um and so we need to look at
049the big picture when uh we're making all decisions. Uh for question three, um you've made many decisions uh especially in the last five years. Um, but one of the most recent decision that stands out to me and that I've been following very closely is the infrastructure bond. I'm sentimental at heart and the schools and the buildings mean a lot to me, but I also know the reality of the aging of our buildings and we need to ensure that we are um providing the most um safest and uh most resourceful um uh environments for the staff and the students. uh transparency is key and communication is key when we're looking at the bond and those are something that I would be looking at in regards to um how are we engaging the community in the decisions
050that we are making. Are we allowing them to have a voice and a seat at the table? Uh and are we being transparent with how we are spending the funds and are we ensuring that it's being um uh projected in an equitable manner? meaning are we dividing and looking at the funds uh equally distributed from the south end to the east end to the west end and are all schools um given the same attention and funds and uh projects uh throughout the district. Um balancing infrastructure needs and the fiscal responsibility um are one of the key components to this as well. my values of accountability, equity, and student first decision-making would be what would guide me um in the decisions moving forward and those are my personal values and beliefs. >> Thank you for your
051time, Miss Ali, and thank you for applying. >> Thank you. >> Next applicant is Mr. Aliat. Welcome, Mr. Kat. You have 5 minutes to answer the three questions that were already provided to you. >> Great. >> I'll give you a warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. >> Okay, great. >> Floor is yours whenever you're >> Yeah. Good evening and thank you for the opportunity for me to express my interest in this role and position. I'll begin with question one. Uh why are you interested in serving on the board and what skills and calls do you bring? I see this as an opportunity for me to engage and give back to my community that has given me a great environment to raise my family. And with the lack of um federal financial support
052from our current administration or public school systems nationwide, we are facing unprecedented challenges. And it's imperative as a community that we work together to help ensure our children have access to an equitable education. The success of our children is what drives me. These are the drivers for me applying to the board. With regards to my skills and qualifications, my education began with civil engineering degree, followed by a master's degree in environmental engineering, which requires me to not only utilize my technical capabilities to solve problems, but also my soft skills to coordinate with multiple stakeholders, similar to what a trustee would be asked to do. I've had to work with multiple governmental agencies throughout my career to coordinate um project work including city water departments, regulatory agencies such as the EPA and DEEQ um but most
053importantly with rateayers and end users with over 20 years of experience in managing large multidisciplinary capital improvement projects taking into account competing agendas and from multiple stakeholders I was responsible for ensuring that everyone was heard and that some component of their interest was incorporated in the end product. And if it wasn't, I needed to be able to communicate clearly why. Um, in addition to my experience as a senior project manager, I was a director of CIP for the Great Lakes Water Authority, where my team was responsible for the development of a 5-year, $ 1.7 billion reoccurring infrastructure program. For question number two, what do you see as the roles and responsibilities of the school board? Some of those primary functions including setting the policies, evaluation of the school superintendent, adopting school budgets, but most importantly
054being a reliable member of the board and a trusted adviser of this community. Identify a recent board decision you felt strongly about and describe how you would balance concerns. Well, on May 5th, a special study session was convened with the focus on infrastructure. The agenda for this meeting goes back to one of the reasons why I'm I'm interested in this role. I spent a large part of my career analyzing risks analyzing risks associated with aging infrastructures and assets beyond their useful life. I feel strongly about being proactive in addressing needs before they translate into a larger, more costly issue for the district. This is a key part of what is needed to help ensure our students continue to have access to a fair and equitable education. I'm also aware that issues like this can be
055complex and have competing interest. I believe that a collaborative approach utilizing analytical methods when possible such as a risk assessment matrix based on probability and consequence of failure can help to provide structure and rank priorities for the district. This is an opportunity from different stakeholders to contribute to what's important and how to rank these things so we can get them all done um by order of importance. So this is just one example of a transparent collaborative approach that could be utilized with the input from multiple stakeholders and shared with the community um for transparency. This concludes my answers to the three questions. >> Thank you Mr. Time and thank you for applying. >> Appreciate it. Next applicant is Mr. Ali Abazid. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Abazid, you have five minutes to answer the three
056questions that were already provided to you. I'll just give you a warning at the four and a half minute mark. >> Floor is yours whenever you're ready. >> Awesome. Good evening, trustees. Uh my name is Ali Abazid and I hope to earn your trust and vote of confidence to serve as your colleague on this esteemed board. Um, before I tell you a little bit about myself, I'd love to just congratulate all the applicants who stepped forward and applied. I just had a chance to meet with several of them. I can tell you it was a collegial, fun environment. There are some awesome people who applied for this, several of whom I know and deeply respect. Um, and I look forward to just talking to you a little bit about my candidacy, but I don't think
057you can make a wrong decision here. Um, a little bit about me and why I stepped forward in this moment of time. Each step in my career has been about building institutions that serve people at the federal level. That was about working with states, cities, tribal communities. That was about learning the importance of transparency, of learning the importance of policy and process. That was also about learning, I think, the most important thing that we do, which is how do you center people at the core of decision-m and policym um that was working in and among communities in rural Appalachia. That was working with scientists across the American South. that was working in and among tribal communities across the Southwest. And if you know anything about those communities, they often have disperate and often diverging opinions
058on things. And so you quickly learn the importance of centering disagreement in our in our policy decisions and in our decision-m. And I think that that's crucial to the work that we do. Not pretending that disagreements don't happen, not pretending that it's something to sidestep, but incorporating it into the cauldron of things that we all use on a day-to-day basis to make decisions. That's the kind of leadership ability and experience that I would bring to this board. But beyond that, it's an investment in the youth. In Dearbornne, the first thing that I did when I moved back was established a fellowship program to invest in our youth. That's a fellowship program that empowers our youth, our students to gain the tools and the confidence to lead. And I'm really proud that today the DPH fellowship
059program is one of the strongest, most robust public service pipelines across our state. That's that's the kind of experience that I would bring to this board. That's the kind of perspective that I would bring to this board. And it's fundamentally because I understand the role of this board, which is to govern. It's not to manage day-to-day operations. It's to set policy. It's to manage budgets and contracts. It's to hire and evaluate leadership. And it's also fundamentally about making sure that we're overseeing facilities and capital improvement. Um, just as importantly though, I think the fundamental role of the board is to serve as a bridge between the communities it serves and the schools so that students and their families know that they are centered in all the decisions that we make as a body. That's something
060that I've done in Dearbornne. That's something that I've done at all levels of my career and it's something that I would be honored to do as a school board member as well. Finally, on decisions, the way that I think about decisions that this board has made is that whether I was out of state um walking the land, as they say, or whether it's being back in Dearborn as a resident, I've followed with intrigue and interest the decisions that this board has made. And you know, in public health, we have a saying that there's no more important a population to our work than the school-based population because where else do you get a reliable population from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. And also because we recognize the link between education and health. That said, I've followed
061with real close intrigue the decisions that the board has made since the failed 2019 bricks bond millage. And I think that the board in 2022 when it sort of took a step back, decided not to rush, decided to set out on a long-term evidence-based policy, a 30-year facility study, which was presented out in 2023. And then the decision that this board in January of this year that you all made to bring in experts to both refine those cost estimates, but also to do the thing that I think is most critical, which is lead with community engagement. I thought that those decisions were exceptional. I thought that those were decisions that were wise and those are decisions that I too would have supported as a board member because I think we all know that the most
062important thing that we can do is center our community residents voices. Not only because it's the right thing to do, but if you're setting out on a process, you want you want to make everyone feel the grassroots organizations, the community organizations, the residents themselves. You want them to feel like they have some sense of ownership over the process because by doing that you're set up for success and sustainability over the long run. And those are decisions that I would make as a school board member as well. So in closing, what I would say is that in my career, what I've learned is that there are three three of the most important rules to governance. One is leading with integrity. Two is leading um on behalf of the public, stewarding public resources on behalf of people.
063And I think the most important thing is leading with courage on behalf of our residents. I thank you all for your service and I thank you for the opportunity to share more about myself today. >> Thank you Mr. Aazid and thank you for applying. >> Thank you. >> Next applicant and then we'll take a five minute break right after that is Miss Nuha Bun. questions that were already provided to you. I'll just give you a warning at the 4 and a half minute mark. Floor is yours whenever you're ready. >> I'm ready. >> Go ahead. >> Good evening and thank you all for the opportunity to speak with you. My interest in serving on the board of trustees comes from the students I work with every semester at the University of Michigan and Arbor where
064I'm a faculty member in the comprehensive studies program. In specific, I'm talking about the students I meet there from our community. These students have a pride in their city and an eagerness in their face to succeed. And they are brilliant byproducts of our school district that's working tirelessly, relentlessly and clearly very very effectively to bridge the gaps in systemic inequities. The current moment however poses some challenges. The changing learning needs of our students coupled with uncertainty in federal funding and programs poses problems. My own career trajectory in and out of the classroom has been dedicated to developing robust anti-racist inclusive educational spaces. But I also know that this can't we can't solve these problems in just the classroom spaces alone. It has to happen at the policy level too. I want to work alongside you
065all to respond to these challenges to ensure that our students can continue continuously achieve elite higher education. I think I'm a uniquely positioned candidate because I have an outsider's perspective working in elite higher education settings, but I also have the insider's perspective of being a a Dearborn native. I'm the daughter of immigrants, a first generation college student. Before I got my PhD, I was certified in education in secondary education and I taught in both public and private schools, the latter of which I most recently led through accreditation. I taught at Henry Ford College and I'm currently highly engaged in community nonprofit work. I think this breadth of experience offers me a skill set that aligns with what it takes to carry out the board's mission. In terms of what the roles and responsibilities are of
066a school member and any of the board capacities that I've served on previously, I see the role of a board as both practical and principled. On paper, the school board of trustees's responsibilities of course include ensuring a balanced budget, vetting and implementing policy, firing the superintendent and the college president, making uh forging community relationships. But in the broader context, I I see this as a healthy checks and balances to provide oversight to ensure that the highest level admin administrators are carrying out policy and resource allocations that truly meet the needs of our students and of our community. I highlight my recent work on two search committees to hire a new senior director of the department I work for, CSP. I would bring the same lens of accountability and care to the school board. in terms
067of identifying a recent board decision that I felt strongly about is I I'm going to point to the millillage bond because it drew in all such aspects the questions asked and that which we need to consider when setting policy. The policy itself caused quite the stir. There were concerns of misinformation and how it would impact taxpayers and theu the community at large. But I think the broader question here though is how I would approach voting on such issues. To which I would say let's look at the data. What data do we have and what data do we need? Our community is not by any means monolithic and the data can come from a number of sources but importantly it needs to reflect the unique concerns of all of the stakeholders students teachers administrators and our
068broader community. And this is totally in line with the school board's current efforts in surveying the community now and in the recent request for example uh by trustee Al Jahi to uh make dashboard data accessible from our schools. I think that it speaks to the transparency and the ethics by which you all are already governing. Um from there we then collaborate with others to determine what the needs are and how we can feasibly what we can feasibly do. Here I highlight my recent work in the universitywide initiative of the department action teams for equity focused teaching where we looked at data on both culture and climate and student achievement to set goals >> um that would enhance the student experience across CSP. I just want to end on a note that on a personal level,
069I would not be applying to fill a vacancy if my personal values and beliefs didn't align with the mission and vision of our district and that is students first. Thank you again and thank you for applying. >> Okay, we will take a five minute break and we'll come back with the other candidates. So, let's take five minutes break.