Henry Ford Community College and Lake Superior State University will formally announce at a noon press conference today a new partnership that would allow community college students to complete their bachelors degree in Dearborn.

Lake Superior State University (LSSU) will establish a regional site in Dearborn, partnering with Henry Ford Community College at the Dearborn University Consortium Center (DUCC) located on the campus of the Advanced Technology Academy (ATA). The university will offer degree completion options in Business and Criminal Justice beginning in the fall of 2010. Future degree completion offerings include Applied Geographic Information Systems, Computer Networking and Web Development in 2011.

“This is an extremely efficient and cost effective path for students to complete their education right here in the Dearborn community,” said Dr. Gale Mee, HFCC president.

The LSSU Board of Trustees approved the agreement to establish the Dearborn site.

“We’ve spent a lot of time on this agreement and in establishing this site, which will be very favorable for Lake Superior State,” said Board President, W.W. “Frenchie” LaJoie.

Added LSSU President, Dr. Tony McLain: “The establishment of the DUCC gives us a presence in Metro Detroit. It also allows us to bring our high value educational programs to students who never before had access to LSSU.”

Dearborn Mayor, John B. O’Reilly Jr., praised the partnership and said it will broaden options for students.

“Dearborn has always been a strong supporter of higher education and with the combination of the University of Michigan Dearborn campus and Henry Ford Community College we have over 27,000 students enrolled,” O’Reilly said. “This certainly qualifies us as a college town, but more importantly, demonstrates a commitment to meeting a significant demand for preparing professional and leaders for the Metropolitan Detroit area.

“This Next Generation Learning Center will mobilize educators, employers and community leaders to act on new ways to ensure education and training that will match the demanding requirements of 21st Century workforce.”

The Center is enrolling students for fall 2010 classes. Contact Eric Dubitsky, Regional Site Director, at 313-625-4712 or edubitsky@atafordpas.org to learn more about the Dearborn University Consortium Center.

We’re not horror movie fans but for those who are into the Scream movie series you might recognize one Dearborn school when Scream 4 opens next year.

Woodworth Middle School

While most of the film is being shot in Ann Arbor, Woodworth Middle School, 4951 Ternes St., will star in a “flashback” scene in the film.

In the coming weeks, movie production crews will be constructing a new “face” of the school at the entrance of Woodworth. So if you spot some construction taking place at the school now that it is closed, it is all for the school’s movie cameo.

Apparently, the school was chosen because the design and brickwork closely matches a building that was featured in an earlier Scream film.

According to Hollywood gossip publications, Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham is very close to joining the cast working on the Scream 4 saga. If she joins, she would join a number of other high-profile names in this slasher series. For those who follow these types of films, the series’ original writer and director, Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven, are leading the efforts behind the new movie, as are the original trilogy’s stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.

The film will start shooting in Ann Arbor at month’s end and is scheduled to hit theaters on April 15, 2011.

From a field of more than 400 nominations, three Dearborn teachers on Wednesday were presented with the 2009-10 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Award and a $1,000 cash prize for their dedication and passion for teaching.

The awards are sponsored by Alberta Muirhead and coordinated by the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce.

The winning teachers for 2010 are:

Ms. Jilrae Greco, Haigh Elementary School

Ms. Diane Solomon, Bryant Middle School

Ms. Jennifer Gorsline, Dearborn Center for Math, Science & Technology (DCMST)

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How will your child’s school look 20 years, 10 years, or even five years from now? What knowledge will every child need as they move from kindergarten to graduation? How will instruction be delivered?

These questions just begin to lay the groundwork for an in-depth discussion that will take place on March 29, 2010 during the 21st Century Schools meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Dearborn School’s Administration Building, 18700 Audette.

The Dearborn Public Schools, in conjunction with the Dearborn Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, and the Dearborn Federation of School Employees, are inviting members of the community to take part in the first of many discussions that will explore how 21st century learning must look, operate, and educate.

The meeting will cover an array of topics, including what will students need to know in order to be successful graduates and how will schools utilize the tools at their disposal to properly deliver a 21st century curriculum. Changes that are driven by the educational needs of students will take the cooperation and input from all stakeholders in the community.

Registration will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. There will be two follow-up meetings in April and May. Those interested may contact the Dearborn School’s Communication Office at 827-3006.

“If you ever wanted to be part of redesigning education, concerned about state and federal requirements having too much control over local school districts, or have ideas about how to make schools better, then you will want to take part in the 21st century school discussion,” said Brian Whiston, Dearborn schools superintendent.

Award winning documentary filmmaker and Dearborn native Tom McPhee will share his latest film, An American Opera, with Dearborn High School students in the school’s auditorium on March 2.

Tom McPhee

McPhee, who grew up on Long Boulevard and attended Dearborn High School (DHS), has won numerous awards for his documentary work.  He also owns two production companies and is executive director of the World Animal Awareness Society.

 His latest work, An American Opera: The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever, tells the story of the vets, owners, officials, and rescuers who worked through the chaos during the days that followed hurricane Katrina to save and reunite thousands of pets with their owners. The work was not easy and there were others who had a different plan to deal with all the abandoned animals.

McPhee will begin his visit at 11:00 a.m. when he sits down for a special discussion with students in the Advanced Video class.  From there, he and the video class will join about 300 other students in the school’s auditorium for a private screening of the film. McPhee will follow up the movie with a question and answer period.

“This is going to be an exciting event that will provide our students with multiple opportunities for learning,” said Sousen Dobbs, a teacher at Dearborn High and event organizer.

Nomination forms for the 2009-10 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by Alberta Muirhead and coordinated by the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, are now available on the district website at www.dearbornschools.org or the Chamber website, www.dearbornchamber.org.

For those of you who may not know Alberta Muirhead, she and her husband John were founders and longtime owners of Muirhead’s, a Dearborn shop that started as a toy store in 1946 and developed into one of the most successful department stores in the Detroit area. In 1983 Mr. Muirhead passed away, and in 1990, after 43 years in the retail business, Muirhead decided to close her store at Michigan and Military and dedicate her energy to a longstanding passion for community involvement and “giving back”.  She later donated her building – that still bears the Muirhead name – to Oakwood.

Forms for the Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Award are also available at all Dearborn Public Schools, and the district Administration Office, 18700 Audette.

Students can nominate new or veteran teachers whom they feel have made outstanding contributions to the teaching profession.

- Preschool through fifth-grade students are asked to describe how their teacher has created a classroom where learning is positive and fun.

- Middle school students (grades 6-8) will need to explain how their teacher connects classroom learning with everyday life.

- Students in high school must describe how their teacher is preparing them to be successful beyond high school.

Adults are allowed to assist in the application process, but nominations must come from students. Applications will be assessed on quality of the nomination, not on the number received. Award judges are members of the Dearborn Chamber Education Committee and are not provided with the teachers’ names. 

Teachers selected to receive the Teacher of Year award are being recognized as positive role models who consistently provide unique, productive, positive classroom experiences.

Teachers selected receive a $1,000 cash prize, a plaque commemorating their achievement, and will be part of a select group of Dearborn teachers who have been recognized by the community for their dedication and passion for teaching.

Completed forms must be turned in to the Chamber Office by March 26, 2010. Please mail both sides of the nomination form to the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, 22100 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48124, or fax to 313-584-9818.

Dearborn Schools Supt. Brian Whiston took to the local papers this weekend, the latest school official submitting a column on the difficult changes the Dearborn School district is facing because of massive cuts in state funding.

Supt. Brian Whiston

His column comes weeks after a “he said, she said” column appeared in the paper from Aimee Blackburn, president of the Dearborn Board of Education and Chris Sipperley, president of the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, Local 681. The column writing has been criticized by some in our city but no one can deny it is an effective way to present the issues facing our district and reach people who may not otherwise attend or watch school board meetings.

Whiston raises some valid points in his column, namely that the school district cannot go back and start over.

“We can’t pretend the $12 million in cuts from Lansing didn’t happen,” Whiston writes in his column that appears in the Sunday issue of the Dearborn Press & Guide. “We are faced with a new beginning that looks different than the beginning we had in September. Our new beginning, although not ideal or the one that we want, can have a successful ending, an ending that is even more meaningful than the one that we planned when the school year started.”

While Whiston spends too much time in his column quoting others to make his points (Woodrow Wilson, Maria Robinson, John Maxwell), he does at least admit the obvious: what lies ahead is going to be extremely difficult for our school district.

“. . . Not only are schools facing the possible loss of a teacher, parapro, or other vital staff member, but they are facing the difficult task of changing the way we meet the educational needs of children or how we deliver instruction. The task ahead will not be easy but it is vitally important to the success of the students in our classrooms. . .”

Indeed. And everyone working in the Dearborn School District will need to come together to successfully navigate the rough waters our schools and students will soon face.

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.”

Dearborn resident Andrew Angel and his wife, Jean, sent this letter to us, the local papers, the Dearborn Board of Education, the Dearborn Federation of Teachers and the Dearborn Administrators Association.

The letter is timely and well thought out. Mr. Angel asks school leaders to put themselves in the shoes of parents and think what will happen if the board, administration and unions cannot deliver quality education to all children.

“How long do you expect parents to remain in the district if class sizes grow 5% every year? If split grade classrooms are the norm? If our children don’t have school libraries? If we cannot get in touch with administrators because we saved $8,000 on Blackberries? If Halal meals or after school sports are not available? Would you keep your children in the district? Those of us who have the option of moving or paying for private school will be gone in a few years at the most. What will our district look like then? What contract will the unions negotiate with an emergency financial manager?”

Mr. Angel says he and his wife feel that the more people who read it, the more people will think about Dearborn’s school situation and hopefully do something about it.

Mr. Angel earned an undergraduate degree at Michigan State University in public policy and a master’s in business administration. Professionally, he is involved in the logistics side of the corporate world and has held various positions dealing with process improvement, program budgeting and cost reduction.

His letter begins below.

Andrew Angel

Dear Dearborn Educators,

We are proud district parents, and we are writing to ask you to keep four things in mind as you enter the final stages of contract negotiations and the resolution of our current budget crisis:

1) The absolute necessity of structural change for both teachers and administration.

2) Changing the current acrimonious and destructive tone of the budget crisis.

3) Focusing on where the real root cause of our problem lies- Lansing.

4) The critical role the public schools play in keeping our city healthy.

All district employees have had to adjust their expectations downward whether they are Dearborn Federation of Teachers, Association of Dearborn School Administrators, Cabinet or Dearborn School Operating Engineers Association. Most residents of our city and state are adjusting their expectations downward as well.

According to Census data just released, the median adjusted gross income for the state of Michigan fell from $35k in 2000 to $32.6k in 2007. Those numbers are not adjusted for inflation and do not include the effect of rising cost of health care for those that still have it. From what the economic forecasters tell us, we can count on that trend continuing at least another year.

At the same time our district is also facing a change in the students it serves. In 2000, 18.7% of school age children in our district’s boundaries lived under the poverty level. In 2008, a staggering 34.3% now live below that threshold. That means a family of 5 with an annual income of less than $24,800. Please realize that many of those students are children of families who “did everything right,” invested in their education, worked hard, lived below their means, and are now unemployed with few prospects.

The reality of our budget is that Lansing will continue to decide how much money we have available for wages and benefits. You must work together to make significant changes in the promises that we make in the union contracts. Even if all of the unions agreed to a 6.3% wage cut and another step freeze, we will be in the same situation every year if you assume that the district can agree to a salary schedule and then hope to get enough money from the state. Wages and benefit gains must be contractually linked to state appropriations.

Structural change cannot just mean that we ask the teachers to take pay cuts when

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Here is a great new way to support Dearborn businesses.

A new marketing initiative created by a local economics team and students from Dearborn High School could help jump start the Dearborn economy now with the holiday season in full swing.

The new “Shop Dearborn” campaign is the brainchild of Dearborn High School’s Intro to Marketing class. The program is simple: purchase a “Shop Dearborn” card for $25 and then enjoy discounts at more than 200 local participating businesses. Discounts are recurring and the card is active for one year.

The key-chain card, available to both Dearborn residents and non-residents, can be purchased at the school or by clicking HERE.  Participating businesses can also be found at this site. Those businesses who want to participate in this program can do so for free and proceeds will help benefit the Dearborn Education Foundation and ultimately Dearborn Schools.

WDIV Channel 4 did a story after our post here.  The Channel 4 story can be viewed by clicking  Shop Dearborn