State Cuts Create Shake Up in Dearborn Schools
Some Dearborn students returning to classrooms in February for their second semester will find they have new teachers, the result of mid-year layoffs caused by Michigan Gov. Granholm’s decision to slash school funding.
“Just as many of us have had to make adjustments in our own homes as a result of the changing economy, we too are faced with making changes due to less revenue coming from the State,” said Dearborn Public Schools Supt. Brian Whiston
The unprecedented action by the school district – laying teachers off in the middle of the school year – will result in two days off from school for students so remaining teachers can move their belongings to their new teaching locations. This new news comes just days after Dearborn schools announced that as many as 26 staff positions could be saved as a result of the state restoring about $2 million of the $12 million in funding it cut from the district.
Students will be off from school the following days:
Jan. 29, 2010 – No Students, Teacher Duty Day
Feb. 1, 2010 – No Students, Teacher Duty Day
Feb. 2, 2010 – Full Day All Students and Staff
In the coming days, every home in Dearborn will receive a two-page newsletter from the school district explaining these mid-year school changes, how things may look for their students when they return to school in February and answers to many questions about the district’s budget situation.
Supt. Whiston, says every school in the district will experience some changes.
“Unfortunately these reductions could result in some elementary students having a new teacher for the second semester and all grade levels may see a slight increase in class size,” Whiston said. “Principals and district administrators have been working very hard to make as few changes as possible. They’ve focused on protecting class size in grades kindergarten through second and the core subjects (math, English, science) at the middle and high school level.”
While students can also expect to see a decrease in the level of service offered in the Media Centers, Whiston said the centers will remain available for students. Media Centers will be staffed by a Media Specialist only one day a week in larger schools and a half day in smaller elementary schools. Teachers will still be able to bring their students to the Media Center and parents have asked to volunteer in the Media Center to help keep them operating.
“There is no doubt that the district will look different,” Whiston said. “But I’m confident that despite these devastating reductions, our dedicated and highly trained staff will continue to provide each student with effective instruction that ensures academic success.”
January 14th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
How sad. I feel for these families and the students that attend Dearborn district. 🙁
January 14th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Thanks for the heads up on the new days off!!!! 🙁
January 14th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
I do to but somehow they will manage to get thru the school year. Wonder what it will do to the calendar adding extra days off. I know there are a couple of snow days baked-in but if they have to be used will the school year just be extended?
January 14th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
I am amazed that we’re just throwing days off in as well. I cannot begin to fathom the packing up that has to be done and the changes and transitions that will have to happen. Students can’t just pick up where they left off with a whole new teacher. If they are LUCKY, 2 weeks of learning will be lost for those kids this year. If they are lucky.
January 15th, 2010 at 6:04 am
I believe children are in school on February 2nd, meaning only 2 days off. Please check with your schools for the most accurate information regarding days off.
January 15th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
This is a tough situation for everyone. I feel most for the kids, who will receive a lot less personal attention in their own classrooms due to growing class sizes (not to mention a gaping drop in vital library / media instruction) and the teachers who have not been laid off (they are going to be forced to do even more, while their contract status remains in limbo.)
January 17th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
If one media specialist per week per building is good enough then shouldn’t one coach per week per building be good enough? To me it seems the media specialist is much more important in the education of a student.
On the other hand I am glad to see the district was finally brave enough to start charging for participation in athletics and other extra-curricular activities. At least it seems like they are from a quick search I did.
Now I’m curious how hard hit non-teaching athletics staff were hit? To me that would seem like the first thing to completely get rid of before touching teachers and social workers.
January 19th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
The district has been charging for extra-curricular activities for a few years now … I believe the rates have gone up this year though. If non-teaching athletics are paid strictly from the pay-to-play money that families are charged for activities, then they shouldn’t be cut. Additionally, cutting extra-curricular activities (particularly sports) would likely cause many families to leave the district in search of these things … if enough families left, this would cost the district FAR more because they would lose the per pupil money from those students.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:53 am
I was exaggerating above. I just think priorities seem to be twisted. Especially after the district spent millions on new fields. If they can pay for these extras through ticket sales, the minimal fees and fund raising then they should be able to spend it as they wish. I somehow doubt that that is what’s happening.
From the paper I found on the district’s site there are flat fees of $75 for non-athletics and $150 for athletics. You can pay a flat fee of $200 for both or 300 and some for a family for both. Of course there’s an easy to fill out fee waiver form. Personally I think it should be more of an activity based fee rather than a flat fee.
I think more people are likely to move out of the district because of overcrowded classrooms, lack of regard for teachers from the administration and poor media center services (in addition to a declining library system). A good athletics program is a bonus but not a necessity.
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:40 pm
They can apply for a hardship waiver and not pay any fees just like some get free lunch as they drive to the Fairlane Club in their Lexuses BMWs and Mercedes wearing the latest in designer clothing and furs. The district cares not as free lunches= more gov’t $$$! They care not about outsiders that attend the district as that also= more $$.