DEARBORN — At Monday’s Board of Education Meeting, Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston announced that a planned mid year layoff that would have seen over 20 teachers let go from the district was scrapped, after enough funding was allocated to cover costs in the district.

The announcement of the expected layoff was made in November after the school board had announced that the district had a deficit of around $5.5 million. Laying off over 20 teachers would have cut off over $1 million of that deficit. However at Monday’s meeting, Whiston had stated that they’ve been able to cover costs in order to avoid layoffs by cutting substitute spending.  The district had also underestimated the impact of mid-year retirements, which have helped greatly, according to Whiston. 

Board of Trustee Mary Lane asked that teachers continue to help keep a modest budget by taking less vacation days and using up less absences in order to lower substitute spending. Funding is also expected to come from the state towards the district for introducing the “Schools of Choice” program in the district, which allows out of district students to enroll at a Dearborn School of their choice. So far, only Nowlin Elementary School has practiced the program, with six slots open for new out of district students.