Dearborn High’s New Football Field For 2009
A rendering of Dearborn High's new $2 million synthetic turf football field. The current football field can be seen in the upper left part of the image.
We thought it would be worth sharing color renderings of what Dearborn High School’s new football field will look like when the roughly $2 million project is completed this fall.
As a Dearborn High graduate, I’m actually saddened to see the football field move from the valley, where it was surrounded by trees and hills to give it that special outdoor bowl feel. Now the football field will be the top of the hill alongside the rush of vehicle traffic on Outer Drive. The uniqueness of the Pioneer football field and its bucolic setting will forever be lost come the start of football in the fall of 2009.
But we all knew it was headed this way. Once Fordson High School had its synthetic football field installed in 2007 at a cost of more than $1 million, followed by Edsel Ford in 2008 for its new football field, another cool $1 million plus, Dearborn High wouldn’t be far behind. No school wanted to be left behind.
This artist rendering shows the new football field viewed looking toward the high school, just out of view to the top left of the image.
Natural grass, much like Michigan State University and U of M football use today, could have worked here at Dearborn High, even though the field is in a floodplain. The key here would have been to limit traffic on the field to just football so it wouldn’t get so torn up.
That would have meant a separate natural grass field for soccer and field hockey teams to play and practice on. Such a field could have gone at the top of the hill now that new tennis courts have already been constructed behind the high school. Though we doubt the folks pushing for a fancy new synthetic grass field would have supported such an idea.
For those of you wondering, Dearborn High’s graduation ceremonies still will be held down in the bowl.
February 16th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Classic example of boosters and parents having too much say on how a school district should spend its money. Have to keep up with the Jones, don’t they. Priceless.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
All the projects have been approved with most completed so there is not much any of us can do about it now except live with it and hopefully appreciate having the areas best state-of-the-art athletic fields.
But common sense tells us that in future projects of this magnitude perhaps DPS should consider the public relations message this sends to our community. Many taxpayers will believe the PR message this sends is that in a time when state and federal funds for education are dwindling and school districts are going broke, in a city like Dearborn that has had enormous budget cuts that have seriously impacted our schools and students as well as teachers that are losing jobs, the message will be interpreted as sports are more important in Dearborn than education. This is not the PR message DPS should be sending in my opinion.
Even though school leaders will tell you all of these sports enhancements were funded by an approved bond that is a totally separate budget than the general school bueget, don’t let it fool you because I have been informed that this money still is paid for out of the general school budget.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I also failed to mention that DPS has cut multi-millions in regular school budgets for the past eight years due to being financially unable to meet it’s regular school expenses which has resulted in a large number of teachers, administrators, classes and extracirricular activities being downsized and/or eliminated.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
It would be interesting to see the breakdown of school taxes paid by high school district. Maybe the DHS taxpayers didn’t think they were getting enough for their money. Can’t blame them.
February 16th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I think that it is time for Mr. Whiston and/or the school board to appear on the Eductional Channel and explain just exactly where this money is coming from. What are all these funds and what can/can’t they be used for. There is plently of available time because they are still showing Christmas programs.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
This was voted upon and approved under Artis and his school board. Whiston was not yet hired as superintendent and Mary Petchlicoff was not yet elected as a board member when this vote was approved.
Even though my ‘guesstimate’ is that they could overturn this vote now or at anytime in the future, I’d bet that since Edsel and Fordson’s projects are completed, there would be a big price to pay from DHS parents and boosters if the DHS projects were not completed to equal to the other two high school athletic fields. Former DPS board member and president Sharon Dulmage also stated in her nominee forum at the Little Cafe last year that DHS has the most effective, hard driving boosters of any school in the city.
February 16th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
It’s reports like this that get my shorts in a knot.
We all complain about how the performance of Dearborn Public Schools and its students has been declining over the past decade or two. Standardized test scores have dropping like a rock while staffing levels remained stagnant. So it’s aggravating how the district – both the Superintendent and the Board – constantly kowtow to the athletic special interest groups. After all, nothing is too good for our football teams, right?
While we appreciate the value that the schools provide to our students through extracurricular activities, the constant emphasis on sports seems to turn the leadership of the District into morons. They will proudly tout the benefits of artificial turf and new football facilities but express a total lack of understanding over how to meet the academic needs of our children. And when budget cuts loom, sports is an absolute untouchable – unlike the arts, special education, or even core curriculum.
It seems that the Superintendent and Board have given up on improving the academic performance of the District. Since it cannot compete against other districts academically, it has decided to measure itself using athletic facilities. This defeatist attitude by the leadership of the District will only accelerate the downward spiral of our childrens education and future.
February 16th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Old Man McGuffey says: “the constant emphasis on sports seems to turn the leadership of the District into morons.’
Let me add that it is also turning the students into morons.
February 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Subterfuge
Pronunciation: \’səb-tər-fyüj\
1: deception by artifice turf or stratagem in order to conceal, escape, or evade years of responsibility for creating a school district that is a failure.
2: a deceptive device that blames past superintendents for everything the board approves or stratagem of selecting a retired former superintendent search firm for replacement of super blamed.
Pamela Adams
Aimee Blackburn
Darrell Donelson
Sharon Dulmage
Joseph Guido
Mary Lane
President Schoolmaster
http://www.dearbornschools.org/board/documents/AGd9-11-06.pdf
DPS looks to upgrade prep athletic fields
By Jason Carmel Davis, Press & Guide Newspapers
PUBLISHED: November 8, 2006
At a work study session on Oct. 23, the DPS Board of Education discussed making upgrades to all district athletic facilities. The board is also mulling over the possibility of installing field turf at each high school football field.
http://pressandguide.com/stories/110806/loc_20061108002.shtml
DPS votes to sell Sarkozy Field to city
Funds could help with Fordson athletic complex renovations
By Jason Carmel Davis, Press & Guide Newspapers
PUBLISHED: April 15, 2007
During a closed session meeting earlier this week, Dearborn City Council members authorized city officials to move forward and possibly purchase the Sarkozy site for $825,000, Artis said. DPS board members unanimously approved, 7-0, two proposals at their meeting Tuesday night — the sale of the property to the city and taking the bids off the market.
http://pressandguide.com/stories/041507/loc_20070415002.shtml
Former superintendent to help DPS pick new one
By Jodi Rempala, Press & Guide Newspapers
PUBLISHED: August 26, 2007
On Monday night, the Board of Education unanimously voted to hire former Dearborn Superintendent Tom McLennan and his firm, Tom McLennan and Associates, to lead the search for John Artis’ replacement.
But in the end, familiarity won out and the board decided McLennan’s dedication to Dearborn would be a great benefit during the search.
http://pressandguide.com/stories/082607/loc_20070826003.shtml
Aimee Blackburn
Darrell Donelson
Sharon Dulmage
Joseph Guido
Mary Lane
James Schoolmaster
President Adams
http://www.dearbornschools.org/Board/documents/AGd8-20-07.pdf
DPS plans athletic facilities improvements
By Jason Carmel Davis, Press & Guide Newspapers
PUBLISHED: December 17, 2006
http://pressandguide.com/stories/121706/loc_20061217005.shtml
Compromise reached on DHS athletic field
By Jodi Rempala, Press & Guide Newspapers
PUBLISHED: February 13, 2008
With a budget of $2.6 million and a wish for $4 million, school board trustees could not stand behind the elaborate design without some kind of change.
In fact, the plan was reduced by about $1.2 million — a cost the board said they could work with.
The construction cost was reduced to $2.9 million and the total cost about $3.4 million.
About $2.6 million in funds is already covered from a bond sale.
The biggest change is in the size of the ticket booth, concession stand and restroom facility on the east side of Dearborn High’s campus. The size of that facility was reduced, bringing the cost down $150,000.
They also eliminated a second concession stand on the west side of campus, taking $200,000 off the price tag.
http://pressandguide.com/stories/021308/loc_20080213002.shtml
Pamela Adams
Aimee Blackburn
Darrell Donelson
Mary Lane
Mary Petlichkoff
James Schoolmaster
President Guido
http://dearbornschools.org/board/
It is what it is.
MME 2008: DEARBORN HIGH SCHOOL
Reading – 32.5% fail meeting state standards
Writing -50.5% fail meeting state standards
Math – 48.6% fail to meet state standards
Science – 42.4% fail meeting state standards
Social Studies – 18.8% fail meeting state standards
MME 2008: EDSEL FORD HIGH SCHOOL
Reading – 43.4% fail meeting state standards
Writing – 62.7% fail meeting state standards
Math – 57.1% fail meeting state standards
Science – 47.3% fail meeting state standards
Social Studies – 20% fail meeting state standards
MME 2008: FORDSON HIGH SCHOOL
Reading – 57.4% fail meeting state standards
Writing – 70.1% fail meeting state standards
Math – 67% fail meeting state standards
Science – 64.2% fail meeting state standards
Social Studies – 34.5% fail meeting state standards
https://oeaa.state.mi.us/oeaa/directory/meap.asp?dCode=82030&bCode=%2D99&gCode=110&aCode=MME
No matter what kind of happy face is painted on it.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
That reduced $150,000 alone that DHS is paying for that ticket booth, concession stand and restroom facility could pay for one nice, huge home in Dearborn at this time. But as LX states, it is sad to say that what family with children would want to invest here when our schools are performing so poorly.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
At least we can turn the new football fields into tent cities so that we’ll all have somewhere to live when the economy collapses under the weight of the stimulus package.
February 18th, 2009 at 7:26 am
With the way our citys luck is going we’ll probably all be banned to tents in the older football field in the valley of Dearborn High and we’ll be swished away down the Rouge and into the Detroit River. If we’re lucky though we’ll wash ashore in the Grosse Pointes.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Typical Dearborn High. They have to one up everyone else in the City. Forget about Fordsons beautiful field or Edsel Fords. Dearborn High has to play with the Board, but this won’t be for much longer.
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
Regardless of where the money comes from and where it was supposed to be used, I thought that it was overkill and sent a terrible message to taxpayers at the same time DPS is cutting millions from the regular school budget.
But since it was approved and the other 2 schools had their work completed, why now shouldn’t Dearborn High also have the same?
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:00 am
Cake eaters always get what they want. They let every other school finish their fields first so they can one up them in the end. That’s why DHS is the school of Champions and EFHS and Fordson are a bunch of fools.
February 28th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Just drove by today and am now wondering: where will they put the tennis courts? I think I see two south of the field in the first rendering, but don’t they need five for matches?
Also, is that cost figured in or will it reqiure additional money beyond what has been designated for the football field?
I’m getting cranky again.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Old Man McGuffey: New tennis courts are being built behind the high school, at the rear of where the school’s shop classes take place (far north corner on top of the hill).
May 19th, 2009 at 12:54 am
i liked the old one better with the hill. anyways fordson has the best field and is always gonna beat dearborn high
May 31st, 2009 at 6:14 am
Wondered what was going on with all the construction as I drove Outer Drive to visit a relative. Why? Wasn’t the original plan put there so that the football games wouldn’t distract the drivers going by? I liked the privacy of going to the football games in the bowl and I bet for the residents who live close the sound of the games will be louder now…thanks to all who thought that one up. My original thought was maybe they moved the student parking finally over to the school making it safer for the kids instead of walking out in busy traffic every day. I remember as a student it was like playing dodge human with drivers not givng a care that school crossings were there.