Dear Community,
As you have probably heard, the proposed BRICS Bond failed by a narrow margin on Tuesday.
I would like to start by thanking the community Infrastructure Task Force that spent months studying the District’s needs. A little over a year ago, that group recommended the priorities included in the bond and that the District pursue a bond that would not increase the tax rate.
I also would like to thank our Board, parents, and staff members who went above and beyond in their efforts to share information on the BRICS bond with our community prior to November 5th. Specifically, I appreciate the tireless efforts of the Citizens for Dearborn Schools, a group of community volunteers who spent countless hours advocating for the passage of the BRICS Bond.
The District works hard to be a good steward of taxpayer money and to be transparent and accountable in all we do. That includes the months of work that went into planning this bond proposal. I want to thank those who took the time to make sure they had accurate information before casting their vote to support this measure that would have raised $240 million for much needed repairs and upgrades at all 34 of our buildings. Unfortunately, a lot of misinformation was spread about the bond, how it would be funded, and how the funds would be used.
Moving forward, I will continue to work with our Board of Education as they provide direction on how to proceed. The district cannot fund the level of work proposed in the BRICS Bond from the general fund, which has an annual budget of about $230 million. Even prioritizing the most needed infrastructure projects would likely require reductions from other parts of our budget that may impact staffing levels, curriculum, or other services provided to students.
The outcome of the bond shows a part of the community did not agree with this proposal. I hope those who had concerns about the BRICS Bond will step forward, join the ongoing District dialogue, and present possible solutions for our infrastructure, capacity and security needs.
Although the results of Tuesday’s election signal an end to a long campaign, our students still arrived this morning to their classrooms ready to learn, ready to share their accomplishments, and looking to us to help them overcome their challenges. It is important to remember that while all of this bond activity was taking place our staff members remained dedicated to the mission of providing all students with a quality education and were ready to greet those students this morning.
I want to thank our staff members for always being ready to fulfill our vision of putting Students First. Our students are very fortunate to have this dedicated staff of professionals in their schools, and I am honored to be Superintendent in this great district.
Sincerely,
Glenn Maleyko, PhD