Dearborn Public Schools outlined construction plans for three campuses in the first phase under its $1.5 billion bond. Superintendent Mike Esseily announced the plans at a Thursday, Nov. 5, press conference.

Smith Middle School, Lowrey and Salina will each get new construction, the district said. The announcement came two days after voters approved the bond, with more than 68% support and a majority in every precinct, the district reported on its website. The district described it as Michigan’s largest school bond to date.

The district is beginning the process of seeking and hiring architects for the three first-phase buildings. Design discussions will follow, with community meetings and opportunities for employees to provide feedback.

Each project will bring elementary and middle school grades together on district property:

  • Smith Middle School and Nowlin Elementary, which occupy the same parcel, will share a new building at the Smith site. The facility will also serve students with severe disabilities who currently attend Howe School.
  • A replacement for Lowrey School will be built across the street from its current location. Lowrey already serves kindergarten through eighth grade, and the new facility will also accommodate Becker Elementary students.
  • A new Salina Intermediate building will connect to Salina Elementary, bringing preschool through eighth grade into one connected facility.

The district expects the first bond proceeds in spring 2027. Infrastructure projects are expected to start that summer, including restroom renovations, more secure entrances and other work at the initial group of schools.

What the bond covers

The district’s bond plan calls for four phases over 20 years, with improvements across its 37 buildings. It includes six new neighborhood schools serving preschool through eighth grade and comprehensive remodeling of the remaining buildings.

Planned upgrades include boilers, cooling and air-filtration systems, elevators and classrooms. The district also plans STEAM labs and opportunities for middle school students to explore skilled trades.

District plans offsets to keep combined millage rate steady

The bond will initially add 3.14 mills, but two offsets are intended to maintain the combined city-and-school millage rate for homeowners in the City of Dearborn, according to the district. The district will stop collecting its 2.18-mill operating levy on homeowners, and the millage for a City of Dearborn combined sewer overflow bond is declining.

The district says later increases in the new bond’s levy will be offset by reductions in the sewer bond levy or its 2013 school bond levy.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said the city worked with the district to ensure the improvements could happen without raising the combined city-and-school millage rate.

“As the father of three daughters that are going to enter the public school system fairly soon, I feel like it was only obvious that we went big or went home,” Hammoud said. “And most certainly our residents all voted to go big.”

Hammoud added that the defeat of a smaller proposal in November 2019 may have helped lead to the more extensive plan.

What leaders said

Board of Education Trustee Adel Mozip said voters “have entrusted us with a generational opportunity to modernize our infrastructure and make sure that our schools serve the students the best over the next hundred years.”

Kathi Martin, president of the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, said teachers would experience the greatest effects after students.

Esseily closed the press conference: “Our community believed in us. Now it’s time that we deliver for our community. We are ready. We are excited. Let’s get to work.”

The district said a website for tracking bond work is under development at dearbornschools.org/building-opportunities.