001Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Good evening all. Apologize for our delay. We are in a previous meeting. Welcome to the school district of the city of Dearbornne. Today is a Monday, June 23rd, 2025. Regular meeting uh 7:36. Uh call to order. A roll call. Trusty Aljah here. Trusty Barry here. Trusty Drojo here. Trusty Pelichkov here. Vice Chair Watts here. Trusty Zaher here. Trusty Mos absent. Next item, please. Next item is the pledge of allegiance. Oh, you're doing it. You guys come and join me. 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. Yay. Thank you. Uh, next item, please. Next item is a superintendent update. Good evening, everyone. Uh unfortunately I have to start with
002uh sad news. We had a student who passed away and uh to recognize and uh just send our thoughts and prayers to the family and his loved ones. I'd like us to honor a moment of silence at this time. Thank you. And I will continue to move along. So, we're going to start with um our retirements. Uh we have Dana Addis with 25 years of service. Gretchen Bajoric with over 29 years of service. Samira Barry over 18 years. Donna Breffield over 17 years. Ruth Corovo over 22 years. Luis Hixon 35 years. An Angela Hughes over 21 years. Mike Evves over 26 years. Susan Kushner 25 years. Nancy Meisner over 27 years. Anita Pelker over 19 years. Christine Rosberry 34 years. Marsha Sand n over nine years. Kimberly Shonet over four or four years of service.
003Julie Wilson over 28 years of service. And Pat Trisha Xander over 27 years of service. So, I want to congratulate and thank them for their many years of service in the district. That's a lot of years. Let's show show our appreciation. Okay. So, I'm going to move along. We have Exchange Club academic excellent awards. And I think we have some people here. President Click is here, it looks like. How you doing? Good. How are you doing? Hi. Good evening everyone. My name is Jeff Click. I'm the current president of the exchange club of Dearborn and I also work at Heport College. I've been there since 1999. So, it's great to see everybody. Uh, first I would like to thank the board, the school district administration for permitting us, the exchange club to present its academic
004excellent awards at tonight's meeting for the 2025 validictorians of Dearborn's three comprehensive high schools plus the early college. So, um, would also like to thank the high school principles and those that are in attendance tonight, executive director, uh, Adam Martin. I just spoke to him a few minutes ago, uh, for helping in administrating this award, and it is greatly appreciated. You may not be aware, but the Exchange Club has been in Dearbornne and actively a part of this community for 100 years. We just celebrated our 100th anniversary. And throughout these years, the men and women of exchange have worked tirelessly to raise money for many local projects and programs. Many of these are aimed at uh educating and bringing up and developing tomorrow's leaders. All right. So, this evening we present the Exchange Club of
005Dearbornne Academic Excellence Award. The 2025 validatorans named by their high schools will be given a one-time $1,500 cash gift to be used for their education or any other worthy purpose. Um, in in one case, we had a tie, so we're going to split it. They'll get 750 each. The aim of the academic excellent program is to encourage and reward high scholastic achievement and assist with recipients with the cost of furthering their education. And is now my honor to present the checks to our validictorians. All right. Um if the students would like to come up. Anyone in the town? All right, Dearborn. High Adam. All right, buddy. All right, stick around. I got a couple things. All right. All right. Uh Zel Ford. Um she is out of the country, but her father was here earlier
006and we did present the uh the gift. Um, uh, Hanan, uh, Abukar. Um, but we did give the check. And then we had a tie. We had a split for, excuse me, for Fortune High School. Hassan, is it Idris? Idris. Idris. Okay. Hassan. All right. There you go. And also, um, hang on a second. Rer. Ria art. I get it right. All right. Perfect. All right. And then is there an Ali Berry? Yeah. Oh, yeah. There's a lot. Many. All right. Well, okay. There's a berry. All right. Now, congratulations. There there is one other thing. All right. There is one catch, however. We would like to invite you the exchange club to come sometime in the fall and bring bring yourself we'll reach out to you. We'd like to have you and then perhaps one
007of people from your former high schools to come and let us know how school is going and what you're doing and um in any case it's welld deserved. All right. And um I would just like to thank you again and uh congratulations. Yeah. Or take a picture. Let me take a picture. You going up there? They don't want us. Congratulations. [Applause] Thank you. Thank you very much for your support. Okay, next we also have positive. I'm going to have Mr. Martin come up for the AMAS scholarships. As he comes up, I just want to say I'm a proud exchange member. I know Trusty Damrosio and Mason, Miss Ali, Bazzy, and S Rob Platt there too as well. So, thank you. It's a great group. Thank you, Dr. Mleco. Trustees. Uh, so the Amicus Award also
008recognizes three graduating seniors with a $500 scholarship. So, I'm going to go ahead and read their name, say a little bit about them, get them up here, and then you guys will get another photo opportunity if you want. My hope is that they're here. First one from Dearborn High, Muhammad Alawan. Muhammad here. So, Muhammad had a GPA of 3.74, is hoping to have a career in engineering. Uh, always very ambitious, goal oriented, and unafraid to ask questions. Um, and very dedicated to helping his family. So, congratulations, Muhammad. from Edzel Ford. As AIA Tel AIA Assa has overall GPA of 3.99 uh this year took three AP classes, two hours of co-op. Also has 260 hours of community service. Um hoped will be attending the University of Michigan Dearborn, majoring in computer science. Comes from a
009large family as well. Um and helps her family u all the time. So congratulations. And then from Fortson, Norah El Yasari. [Applause] Norah is another high achieving student, a 4.25 GPA, ranking 32nd in her class at Fordson. She's completed challenging course load, including multiple AP and dual enrollment classes, actively involved in extracurricular activities, is planning on attending the University of Michigan Ann Arbor to pursue premed and pre-law. Um, and remains committed to her goals and is determined to make a meaningful impact through her education and future career. Uh, Amicus is very grateful to be able to support you guys. I do not have the $500 checks here tonight, but I will make I will make sure to get them to you or she will. So, congratulations, guys. I promise you, you'll get your money. together.
010Thank you. Congratul [Applause] Okay, I'll keep moving um the list and I'm also uh proud member of the AMAS club as well. So, appreciate their support. District membership, MHSA, we have to pass that every year. Uh and it's on the agenda. I also just want to mention last week we had the national holiday Junth. I did send out a a message out on social media. Just want to recognize the contributions of black Americans um uh in celebrate the end of slavery many years ago. So I know there were celebrations last week. Next, I also want to say I'm very proud of the we have again one of the larger summer programs in the state, 4,000 students. Uh Miss Ali Bazzy has been taking the lead and doing an outstanding job working with all the other
011executives and principles. It's a huge operation. Uh we're happy that we got the Balmer Grant um and Steve Balmer's group and the work they're doing and I know it's hot but we have everybody in air conditioning. Uh so uh they're doing a great job and happy to provide that program to all our students here in the district. Another note is just that you know we had a lot of celebrations over the course of the end of May and June. I want to congratulate all of our graduates. It is on the agenda for approval tonight. Uh, so I want to congratulate everybody and all the accomplishments. It was great going to not only graduation ceremonies, promotion ceremonies, fun things, dunk tanks, all sorts of things. I've seen board members all over at these events. And it's
012a lot, but it's a lot of positive as we celebrate our students and we thank our staff, our great staff and the parents and community who supported our students to make sure they were successful. Next I have is just we continue to work on a potential bond. Uh we're still working with Quinn Evans and Gil Bane. I know that the board individual members had meetings with them. We've met with them. Uh we now have Byron and Fisk who um is out starting stakeholder meetings. Uh they're going to be starting one-on-one meetings, surveys, and other focus groups, eventually community forums at some point. So, obviously, the soonest we could look at a potential bond if the board if we got the plan together, and that's what we're working towards would be a 2026 at this point.
013Um, so we continue to move forward with that. The other thing I just wanted to mention, we still can see uh changes and, you know, we're still not 100% on state and federal funding. Uh, I did have some good news last week that title one, it looks like, won't be touched for a while, but you just never know sometimes what's going on at the national level. Um, we're still hearing about title 2, three, and four going, but that would be for next school year potentially is what we're hearing. Again, we don't know for 100%. because a lot of things are changing at the state level. The state budget is very important to us and what I would say is uh I was in meetings last week that um uh right now there's uncertainty because it
014doesn't look like we're going to get a budget at any time soon. We're the all the association and organizations in fact I sent out an email to the whole district that they were saying look we need a budget and I think I know the board is aware of this by law which we're approving tonight. we have to approve a budget June 30th, but we're not sure what it is because it hasn't yet been approved by the state and things are going on between the House and the and the Senate and the governor's office. So, the association organizations, all of them, um just mentioning superintendents, schoolboard association, others, they put out a a joint and many others letter saying, "Look, we need to get this budget done because we need to know the numbers so we
015can, you know, implement it for the students." I know our local legislators are also very supportive. I've reached out to each of them, Santenna, um, uh, Far Hat and Representative Burns and, uh, Witset's office and also, uh, although he's not in our area, Senator Cameli, uh, as well. So, we'll see what happens, but there's still uncertainty occurring. And that's all I have for today. Any questions? Trusty Barry, I don't have a question, but I want to recognize and congratulate uh, she's in the house. uh our soon to be interim president of Henry Ford College, Dr. Congo. Welcome. Welcome. Join us. She doesn't take the role until July 1st, but we can tell she's ready to go. That's all I got. Thank you. Any other comments, questions? Okay. Next item, please. Yeah, I didn't. Next item
016is under recognition and acknowledgements. First item is commendations. That's me. All right. Good evening, board, superintendent, Miss Harris. Thank you all. So, we've got some commendations here today. First off, we'll start off with the district commendation. Commendations to the district staff who were recognized on May 15th by the American Association of Yemen Students and Professionals. Those honored included teacher of the year Heather Bowman, Janet Smith and Genevie Sullivan from Ford High School, Mohamad Sabra from Fortzson High School, Nicole Rodriguez from Stout Middle School, and AAYSP administrator of the year included Dr. Keith Morris from Fortzson High School. Commendations to the students, staff, and families of our virtual K12 community for their dis dedic dedication to staying engaged beyond the virtual classroom walls. Through their unwavering commitment and extraordinary efforts, the virtual students along with their
017teachers and principles have gone above and beyond to create an enriching and an inspiring school experience. Special thanks to Miss Peterson for her leadership and support in helping establish the virtual program and then her continued efforts to help it grow and help it uh the current administration as they move forward with this exceptional school. So, commendations to Dearborn Public Schools bus drivers and assistants who participated in the annual Wayne County Resa bus rodeo competition in May. Uh the Dearborn team took You don't have to wear cowboy hats when you go to the bus rodeo. I've been there. Uh it's a great competition. It's tons of fun. Uh it's amazing what these people do with these buses. Uh if anyone's ever had trouble with parallel parking, they're like Ford Pinto. You wouldn't want to get be
018do what these guys and girls do. They take these buses and put them through the paces. And it's incredible. It's no wonder we have such an outstanding transportation department uh and how safe our bus drivers are because you see them perform in this event and it's just outstanding. So anyway, sorry birdwalk there a little. The Dearborn team took third place overall and we want to thank the uh 13 other staff members who volunteered their time to be judges at the event. Drivers that finished in the top 20 include Andre Price eighth place, Nasserberry 10th place, Chris Crowe 12th place, Lee Perry 14th, Antonio Hernandez 15th, Antoine Evans 18th, and Fabian Cuney who finished in 19th place. All right. Cong commendations to our own Courtney Pitzky who has earned her human resource specialist certification through the
019Michigan schools business officials voluntary certification program. That's Miss Platsky is the director of human resources for instructional staff. Some high school commendations. Commendations to the Zel Ford high school students who completed this spring at German day at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Zel students won a school record 15 awards in the categories of music performance, video game design, spelling bee, poetry, uh, uh, exemporaneous reading, skits, conversation, news, broadcast, German outreach, podcasts, and my favorite, karaoke videos. That had to be fun to watch, right? That had to be fun. I'm sorry we missed out on that. Maybe we can invite them here to the next board meeting. they could do some karaoke videos in German for us. So, all right. Commendations to the seven Ford uh high school students inducted into the international thesbian
020society, which is a internationally recognized honor society for dramatics in secondary schools. Those inducted include Matthew Brown, Jackson uh Shaki, Drake Morates, Rick Re Rex Chen Ken Clerks, and Steven Durant, Riley Warren, and Alice Ferguson. Commendations to the Dearborn High and Ford High students recognized at the Dearborn Area Theater Association's 39th annual awards night in May. DHS theater students capped off a great season by bringing home 23 awards based on the school's performances of epic proportions, the student directed scenes 31 and the spring musical Disney's Newsies at Ford students won two awards for their production of Shakespeare's McBTH and commendations to Forton High School's wood technology construction instructor Jamie Knack and welding building and home technology construction teacher Eric Miller who along with several more uh forts and students worked with the Dearborn Rotary Club
021to build a lending library for the community. And those are commendations for this month. Thank you. [Applause] Uh next item is aspiring administrators recognition. Also, I want to go to the bus rodeo next year if anyone wants to go with me. I'd like to go in. I'll go. Okay, good. But I'm not going to be a passenger. Okay. Good evening, everyone. I'm going to ask the teachers who completed this cohort of aspiring administrators to come forward to be recognized. We have our six of Thank you. So the aspiring administrators program is one of the ways the teachers build the the district builds capacity and provides the teachers with opportunities to grow leadership roles their leadership role within the building and also at the district level. uh what we do is we hold monthly sessions with
022the teachers who aspire to become administrators in the future. We kind of show them what does it look like to be an assistant principal, a principal, a director in within the different departments or any leadership position in the district. This has been in practice for at least 15 years in the district and every year we get from 20 to 30 participants. teachers apply for this and we invite uh district directors, principal panel, assistant principal panel. Uh we invite also uh from the special ed department, the EL department um and also school improvement, financing, any area that requires leadership in the building, uh this great team is exposed to it. They ask their questions and we hold interactive sessions for them. uh they complete their uh certificate uh requirements by also um shadowing a a principal
023or assistant principal and also creating a capstone project. This project has to extend beyond their classroom where they create it uh themselves and then it would be impacting other teachers at the grade level or the entire school community. The topics for their presentations are uh any year that we hold the program, it's exceptional. They they uh select topics such such as staff well-being, students seal strategies, uh data analysis, WEDA reports. So whatever it is that they choose to present their capstone on and implement it in their building, it has to be beyond their classroom. So, I want to applaud them and thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to seek leadership opportunities. Thank you so much for that. Thank you for the opportunity. What are their names? Thank you for the opportunity.
024Phenomenal. She's gonna say something. I guess I'll take on the lead. Um, I just want to say it was a great experience. All overall, it was great. family, we can't thank you enough for this experience. Um the the people that came out, you know, took time, you know, out of their busy day to talk to us about administration um to explain the different roles they have in the district and how that's going to help us when we decide to be an admin. Um so, it was a great experience and I totally recommend any teacher that's interested in um becoming admin or just um to learn about what the administration role is all about. So thank you Fami and thank you. I want to extend this to all the coordinators and directors who made this program
025successful and presenting to this wonderful group. And now we're we're typically have a picture, right? You ask for a picture. So take a photo. Thank you. You got to leave. It's too many up there. be in the way. There's so many. We'd have to have a panorama view. Congratulations. [Applause] Next item. Next item is employee recognition. So each month we usually recognize uh an administrator, a non-instructional staff member, and also a teacher. This month, because it was only six days in June, we did not honor or recognize any of those categories. But we do have a really special presentation for today. Tonight, we'd like to recognize our superintendent, Dr. Malleo, who was recently honored by the Michigan Association of Superintendent and Administrators, MESA, for his work uh for his work as a member of board
026of the directors and as past president. We all know that Dr. Mleco is always advocating for our students in Dearbornne, but his work with Mesa has provided him with an even bigger platform to be a champion for students across the state. As a president of Mesa, Dr. Malleo was able to talk directly with state and federal lawmakers as well as other policymakers to share the good news about our district and explain the challenges and needs facing public education. In recognition for his years of leadership and service to Mesa, Dr. Malleo was presented with this framed tribute and of course a hockey stick autographed by Detroit Red Wings legend and NHL Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay. For anyone that knows Dr. from Alleo. They know he is uh he plays hockey, he loves hockey, he lives
027for hockey in his free time. The frame tribute here reads as follows. This commemorative hockey stick autographed by Detroit Red Wings legend and NHL Hall of Famer Ted Lindseay is presented in recognition of your outstanding leadership and service. Lindsay, a cornerstone of the Red Wings famed production line, was known not only for his grit, passion, and skill on the ice, but also for his tenacity, integrity, and leadership off it, helping to form the NHL Players Association, and forever changing the game for those who came after him. This is more than a piece of memorabil memorabilia. It represents a legacy of courage, conviction, and deep commitment to doing what's right, even in the face of adversity. Qualities you've consistently embodied, both in your district and throughout your service with Mesa, to Mesa. We are grateful for
028your time, your leadership, and the de difference you've made for Mesa and the future of public education in Michigan. Please everyone join me in congratulating Dr. Malleo for his service to Mesa, continued dedication to public education, and most importantly, his leadership, dedication, and passion for the students in the Dearborn public schools. [Applause] Do you want a picture? Do you know where Ted Lindsay is? Who? Adam, no idea. Goodness. I didn't grow up. Um anyway, I just want to this is a teamwork. It's the team. It's not just me and I appreciate the board allowing me to serve the last six years on the state superintendent board. And I think it served us well. I know President Mos said too, he saw we could advocate where in Lancing we can directly advocate for Dearborn students along
029with all Michigan students. I think I mentioned earlier on the budget, well I we take our adv our time to get with legislators and to make sure we're doing what's right by students and our staff and everybody together. So I was very honored. They knew. I had no idea. They gave me the honor with the hockey stick. It's going to hang in my office. It also has Gordy How's autograph on it, too, by the way. So, there's two. I know that. Um, you know, yeah, the Gordy How Bridge is coming. Um, but anyway, thank you. It's a team effort and it's the board as well. I want to thank the board for their support that allowed me and now I think, you know, the board has allowed me to be on the ASA national board
030representing Michigan. Three other superintendents from Michigan. So, I will and right now we have a lot going on at the national level. So, I just want to assure everyone this is not about me. This is about our team working together. I'm humbled and I'm honored and I will continue to to strive for the best for our students um both at the federal and state level. So, thank you. Next item. Next item is acknowledgement of donations. Good evening, Vice President Watson, Dr. Malo and trustees. We have 19 donations for today. First donation is for $151 has been offered to Salana Intermediate by the Dearborn Education Foundation to be used for school of rock which is regarding theology. Donation of $135.99 has been offered to Salana Intermediate School by the Dearborn Education Foundation to be used for
031the Big Beach Little Beach tower building game. Number three, a donation of $75.20 20 cents has been offered to Michael Berry Career Center by the Dearborn Education Foundation and crowdfunding to be used for the BP BPA competition. A donation of $4769 has been offered to Hower Howard Elementary School by the Dearborn Education Foundation to be used for whiteboards. Donation of $350 has been offered to Howard Elementary School by the Dearborn Education Foundation to be used for headphones. Number six, a donation of $400 has been offered to Dearborn High School by the Dearborn Education Foundation to be used for a woodshed. Number seven, a donation of $500 has been offered to Lindberg Elementary School by the Dearborn Education Foundation to be used in for technology and physical education. Item number eight, a donation of $1,500 has
032been offered to Howard Elementary School by the Dearborn Education Foundation to be used for flat drawers to hold artwork. A donation of $1,062.20 has been offered at support high school by the Dearborn Education Foundation and crowdfunding to be used for prom. A donation of $1,000 has been offered to Dearborn High School by the Dearborn Education Education Foundation and restricted funds to be used for robotics. Number 11, a donation of a studio grand piano has been offered to Ford High School by Maria Isaac Madison to be used for by music students. Donation of a banjo, ukulele, and instructional booklet has been offered to Dearborn Public Schools by Dr. Jill Chokal to be used by the music department. Number 13, a donation of $3,300 has been offered to Dearborn High School by Dr. Tom Muhammad to be
033used for teacher appreciation week. Number 14, a donation of $175 has been offered to Dearborn High School by Flowers by Renee to be used for teacher appreciation week. Number 15, a donation of $300 has been offered to Dearborn High School by Bachi Coffee Roasters to be used for teacher appreciation week. Number 16, a donation of $400 has been offered to Dearborn High School by Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe to be used for the teacher appreciation week. I missed that one. Should have been at Deborra High. Number 17, a donation of a 100 copies of Eyewitness Journey, My Story of Migration has been offered to Salana Intermediate School by Manda Amanda Ule to be used in the classroom. Number 18, a donation of $218 has been offered to Salena Intermediate School by Obad Mari from CRSD to
034be used for PBIS student incentives and awards. And number 19, uh donation of $2,000 been offered to Sana Intermediate School by Chad Mari CRSD to be used for PBIS student incentives and awards. Thank you. Thank you. Next item, please. Next item is approval of minutes. So, I'm looking for approval of minutes of the following. Dearborn Board of Education meeting study session, May 5th, 2025, board report 24-151 and the regular P to2 meeting, May 12th, 2025, board report 24-152. I'm looking for an action to make any necessary corrections and move approval of these minutes. So, move support. Moved by Trustee Drosio, supported by Trustee Petrov. Any questions, corrections? Not hearing any attaching mandates. Roll call. Next item, please. Union leadership commentary. This section of the board of education meeting is being added to further enhance the
035already strong commitment and longtime partnership between district administration, 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 suggestion, views, and opinions brought forth by all staff members in the district. Um, so we have seems like we have nobody from the Association of Dearborn School Administrators, any nobody from the Dearborn Federation of School Employees, and we'll move on to the Dearborn Federation of
036Teachers, and a year-end wrap-up from Miss Kathy Martin. Good evening. I hope everyone's summer is off to a good start. Um, I just wanted to come and talk about this year. Uh, I feel like there were a lot of great takeaways from this school year. Uh, we were able to get a lot accomplished working with administration. Uh, Dr. Mleco, you've, you know, you've had an open door. It was really easy to reach out to you and communicate and resolve a lot of issues. So, we really appreciate that. We were able to finally get our teacher advisory group together and did have a meeting before the end of the year. Uh, and I've communicated with Dr. Suedan and we have plans for next year and how to get the year started with it. Teachers are feeling
037very hopeful that their voices are being heard. Uh, not only have we successfully collaborated with Dr. MOO, but the executive directors have been great about reaching out, talking about pilots, talking about uh preventing issues before they arise instead of um putting out fires. I feel like that's been really motivating to a lot of people because one of the big things that we've felt for a long time was we weren't being heard. And this year, a lot of things happened where our voices were truly heard. And that makes a big difference. It's easier to to come to work. It's easier to feel hopeful when you know that if you say something, you know, something might happen, um, might improve. Um, I have notes, but I didn't put a whole lot of thought into today, to be
038honest with you. I'm trying to enjoy my summer, but I I really do appreciate the work that we've managed to do together, and I look forward to another year of successes. They come faster than you think, Kathy. Oh, I know. Dr. Michael. Yeah. And I want to equally just reiterate to what you said. I on our end, we're very appreciative, Kathy, of you and the team. And I think we had a very good our last meeting, we collaborated on some stuff for next year and we're working together and it pleases me to hear that cuz we're all about working together for the benefit fit of staff and students of course and the school community. So, thank you for reaching out and I'm glad that we have that where we can just call each other and
039you can call the executive directors and we can work through things and when there's disagreements, it's very respectful and I appreciate that from your board who also comes sometimes to the meeting. So, thank you for your leadership as well and willingness to work together and I know I am excited for the teacher advisor committee. I think it's going to be a great thing and I and uh you know uh Dr. Sweden is the best too. So, working together with her so thank you for uh that idea really it came from you. I appreciate it. All right. Thanks. Yeah. I just want to take this as an opportunity to thank you for your vigorous and ethical representation of the teachers who are our, you know, first line in the schools every day and um just being
040their voice. I mean, I think they're lucky to have you and I think all of us are lucky that you um are are representing them in such a admirable way. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, Trusty Aljami, I'm going to take advantage of Kathy being up here to ask a question of Glenn and of Kathy as well. There's rumors of teacher layoffs, and I think it's exaggerated, but I want to make sure that we dispel those rumors of any teacher layoffs going on based on budget cuts. If we could address that from both sides, is there any cuts going on? Um, beside the obvious ones, is there an expected layoff of teachers? So, so we do have two today, but it really has a lot more and I don't want to get into
041the detail kind of certification and some nuance which those are okay. I'm not worried about we're not I mean right now we're still waiting on the state budget. I don't anticipate any other layoffs because we have a balanced budget. uh but we do plan for multiple scenarios and I think even if the budget from the state didn't come out to the best or to the most likely because of the planning that we do with Mr. wall I think we have a plan and what we've been able to do is you heard the retirements and things right so what can happen is any reductions you have to make you can do it through attrition and I think that's what we've done uh thus far across all groups so we've tried tried to do it to protect
042people to protect people for the sake of the students again we can't say for 100% there's guarantees I mean like I had said in the budget with the title one two three things keep changing if something were to change in lancing or if reports were different we have to base it on that state budget that we get in the federal and so we'd have to adapt but what we're hearing right now we don't anticipate anything um but I can't say for 100% if things change you know because they seem to be these days especially at the federal level but right now we have a good plan um and you know we always will sit down with the union and make sure we're fair to our employees but we haven't had to be honest uh since
043the last time I can remember was maybe 2014 where we had some layoffs and right now we have just the minimal couple because of certifications Um, and and and just to add to that, I didn't expect any layoffs based on what I hear from from Glenn in the briefs, but the the rumor is out there that there is layoffs coming on and that the district's laying off. And I just want to dispel those rumors, especially with Kathy being up here and you you know, the right group of people. So I appreciate you sharing and I understand that things could change in the future based on budget future budgets but I'm just talking about at this moment there's only attrition and there's a few but it has nothing to do with um laying off people because
044of um uh budget and I would just say too and I know you want to is just here's the important people out there in the audience and at home that's why you need to talk to your legislators right now the house budget inversion is not good for school districts. Now, I'm not saying there's going to be layoffs coming from it. It's a negotiation. But that's where everybody and I know Kathy and the unions get involved. They advocate, but that's where we need to speak out because the those that control the budget for us are in Lancing and in Washington. And so, it's very important that everyone reaches out if it's something that's important. We know our students are staff. And so that's why I just said too and I was humbled and surprised by the
045the talk for Mesa, but that's why it's so important for us to be doing those things to always be in Lancing, to be with our legislature, to have the people here in Dearborn advocating, including board members and everyone else. I know when things come up, President Mos and I talked about it too, and he said he makes calls. So I'm hoping everybody in here who, you know, is proud of Dearborn Schools and wants to continue the great things that we advocate. And one of the things is we need we do need right now the senate budget is a lot more favorable than the house. The house has a lot of concerns and there's even question as to whether some of the provisions are unconstitutional. So we'll see what happens. But that is very important and
046that would be the factor that would change things if it didn't come the way we were hoping. And I I'd like to say we are very aware of what's happening at the state and federal level. And um on May 1st, which is Mayday and International like Union Day, we opened up our DFT office and people came in and we did letterw writing campaigns because we understand that legislators a letter, a handwritten letter means a lot more than just a a stock email. So we sent out a whole bunch of letters. Um and I'm going up to Lancing. I know that aft Michigan like so we're we're working hard but um yeah I'm honestly with regards to layoffs I only know what comes from the district really um I was surprised by the two that did
047happen but um I'm hoping there are no more Jesse Petoff I'm the only one on the board who was here in 2008 when we had a huge budget deficit and I this is why I'm saying this because I believe and back then the layoffs were in the hundreds And it was every meeting we were being faced with this challenge. And I think a lot of people when they hear about the struggles we're having again with potential shortfalls, they go back to that time when when um that was our only recourse um to balance our budget. I will have to say right now when you're hearing about some other districts recently that had some huge uh deficits and budget shortfalls and to balance their budget, they once again had to revisit that and they were some
048very surprising districts that you wouldn't have thought were going to have these challenges. That may be what is again percolating up in um this community as well because they see that happening. And I have to give kudos to Dr. MOO and especially Mr. Wall and the whole team about we recognize what happened once and and we're working our hardest to never have to um revisit that time and place and we're doing our best to make sure that we have a strong budget and a secure budget to the best of our ability. We do not control what's going to come out from the state and federal government, unfortunately, but we've done everything in our power to protect this school community in every fashion. And it is a really difficult place to be in. And that's why
049I think people get nervous when when they hear things going on around them and remember things that have happened in the past. But we're we're not at that point now. I would hope that we can reassure everyone to um at this point in time look forward to the fall and that we're going to be moving forward with all the wonderful programs that we have that support all of our students. I will say though, historically, this is where I I'm the like optimist. Historically, even layoffs, most people have been called back. They Yes. So, even when there's hundreds. So that's what I keep telling people, but they're also seeing what's happening at the federal and state level, the federal layoffs, and that, you know, people can't help but get a little concerned. Dr. Malik, just a
050followup, too. Um, and I appreciate you mentioning that because I do remember I came into HR in 2011. I remember the time in09 where we had midyear layoffs and cuts and there was every year when I was HR until I left that that off uh position, there were layoffs, but again, we did it call back and we developed a system to deal with it. I also just want to mention that uh I am I'm chairing and I've mentioned it before to the board but uh I have a we formed an ELLL advocacy committee across the state with superintendents and other educators and the Michigan Association of Bilingual Education sent teachers, wrote letters to all the legislators. We helped we got some financial uh support through lobbyists and whatnot and all of them received cards, you
051know, advocating for kids from English language learners. It's very important with title three being potentially cut by the feds which is for ELLL uh English language learners but the Senate budget has an increase in the English language learners. So we do think and we thank Senator Santana and Camelaria for advocating. Uh the other positive that I'm hearing um on the budget is that there may be hope for those 380 kids that we talked about that they were going to pass and give us the funding because they came after count. there's a chance that us and other districts may get that funding. It's in the Senate budget. It's not in the House budget. So, if the Senate budget were to come to fruition, that would help us out tremendously and then that would definitely eliminate any
052need for uh programs. I also just want to mention to your point, it was brought up last week at my um Michigan Alliance for Education Opportunity former Middle Cities and they were talking exactly about um CFOs and how districts have gotten into trouble and we've seen you know different superintendents and whatnot which is why they're trying to provide support and uh they're trying to provide training on a state level. We're thankful we do have a great CFO here, Tom leading, working with all of us. And I also appreciate that, you know, we can bring Tom into the union meetings, right, Kathy? And he'll come and he's we're just transparent about these are the facts. That's it. And we work together and try to collaborate. Um, so appreciate all the unions, but those are some factors
053and there these are things that are happening all the time uh to make sure that we protect our students. So, thank you for bringing it up and trust. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause]