Comments on: State Cuts Create Shake Up in Dearborn Schools

By: Food for Thought

Food for Thought — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:40:00 +0000

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 $$$! They care not about outsiders that attend the district as that also= more $$.

By: Paul Mastrogiacomo

Paul Mastrogiacomo — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:53:27 +0000

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.

By: Happy Here

Happy Here — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:05:23 +0000

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.

By: Paul Mastrogiacomo

Paul Mastrogiacomo — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:22:05 +0000

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.

By: Dave Bowman

Dave Bowman — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:17:40 +0000

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.)

By: Happy Here

Happy Here — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:04:00 +0000

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.

By: LifelongDbnRes

LifelongDbnRes — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:00:35 +0000

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.

By: Donna Hay

Donna Hay — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:15:57 +0000

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?

By: dearborn 48128

dearborn 48128 — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:05:28 +0000

Thanks for the heads up on the new days off!!!!

By: YoungGibraltar

YoungGibraltar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:32:02 +0000

How sad. I feel for these families and the students that attend Dearborn district.