Dearborn Public Schools Say District Office Move Not Imminent

Buzz created by the fact that representatives from the Dearborn Public Schools and the City of Dearborn visited a building to possibly operate joint headquarters appears to be just that: buzz.

DPS Superintendent Brian Whiston said he’s not sure why the city, as evidenced by comments made in the Dearborn Press and Guide, believes the tour of the former ADP facility on Michigan Avenue . But, he added that moving into a singular facility is something that could be considered by both governmental entities after a long process of looking at facilities with city officials, mainly Mayor Jack O’Reilly.

“I talked with him (after news of the tour was published), and we both agreed that we would need to look at a lot of buildings before anything like that could happen,” he said, adding that from the district’s perspective, any plan would have to be approved by the seven-member DPS Board of Education.

But some board members said that they were stunned to hear they were moving, and that Superintendent Whiston went on the tour.

Trustee Aimee Blackburn said she believed that Whiston should have consulted the board before even considering the tour.

“I was offended that this was in the newspaper (before board members knew about it),” she said.

Secretary Hussein Berry said that he, too, was confused by the tour. “I had a few phone calls about this," he said. "It was unfair to us."

For his part, Whiston–who apologized for the tour being made public–said he sent an email to board members.

Board Treasurer Joseph Guido said that he was on the tour, and was not offended that the district looked into the facility, citing the district’s fiscal woes and the need to eliminate duplicated services.

“I think Brian was just responding to an invitation by the mayor,” he said.

Board President Mary Lane said, “We have told our staff members that they need to make sacrifices.” Lane added that the district may not have the resources to buy a facility at this time.

The district’s Audette Street headquarters would first have to be evaluated for possible sale, and many issues would need to be worked out before a move would be considered, Whiston said. Additionally, any building that would be considered as a new home for the district would also need to be evaluated to see if it could be retrofitted into a suitable headquarters, he added.