Dearborn Board of Education Moving Forward with Proposed SMART Bond

The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education directed district officials to gather more information for a possible $76 bond proposal at its meeting on Monday.

Board members said before they can approve ballot language for a proposal, they want to make sure all potential projects that would be included under the bond are necessary.

In a previous presentation to the board, district spokesman David Mustonen outlined several key projects, including auto-lock doors and buzzer entry and video monitors in the office at all schools, and the purchase of 30 new buses.

At Monday's meeting Superintendent Brian Whiston said the district also has plans to address specific issues at each building.

"Every school is going to have some work done. What we need to do is schedule meetings with parents, teachers and administration at each school and determine what projects they feel are the top priority," he said.

Board Trustee Mary Lane said while she understands the need for safety improvements, she cautioned administration officials from adding unnecessary projects.

"If there is going to be any reworking of proposed projects, I want the bond to be as tight as possible," she said. "Where there is fluff, I would like it worked down. I don't want a bunch of sweeteners put in."

Whiston said schools without a specific project outlined in the bond would receive $150,000 for new lockers, carpet repairs, and other small renovation projects.

"We're not creating projects," he said. "In many instances these are safety issues that buildings in our district have not had the money to address properly."

Trustee Aimee Schoelles said she supports the bond, but recommended the board wait to put it on the November general election ballot rather than the primary ballot in August.

"We historically have had 60 to 70 percent voter turnout during a general election. I'm not opposed to waiting for November to make sure everyone has the correct information to make a decision," she said.

Trustee Hussein Berry agreed, stating that the November election would give more voters a chance to express their opinions.

"I think we need to hear from the majority of our voters, and that generally happens during the November election," he said.

Whiston said the main argument for putting the proposal on the August ballot is to help reduce the impact of pending employee layoffs during the 2013-2014 school year. The district is facing a $5 million deficit and is expected to layoff 25 to 30 employees.

In the past, the district allocated $1 million from its general fund for emergency projects, however if the bond passes in August, that money could remain in the general fund to help cover employee salaries during the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

District officials will meet with the community from March 26 through April 24 and will determine an election date at the Board of Education's meeting on April 8. The deadline to submit ballot language to the Wayne County Clerk's Office is May 28.