DEARBORN — Edsel Ford High School has shown growth in 11 out of 12 areas in a replica of the Michigan Merit Exam tests taken in November, director of Compensatory Education and School Improvement Kathleen McBroom told the Dearborn Board of Education on Monday, Jan. 27.

Although the November tests are not official, they show academic improvement in the high school, which was designated as a “priority school” in August after placing in the bottom 5 percent of Michigan schools. EFHS is the only “priority school” in Dearborn.

McBroom was updating the school board on the academic progress of Dearborn’s Priority and Focus schools, which the State has identified as in need of improvement. The Michigan Department of Education requires school districts to submit quarterly reports on Focus and Priority schools to the Board of Education.

Focus schools are those that possess the largest achievement gaps between the top and bottom 30 percent of students. Dearborn Focus schools include Dearborn High, Salina Intermediate, Woodworth, William Ford, Haigh, Howe, Lowrey and Nowlin.

The school district is working with state facilitators Dr. Karen White and Dr. Markita Hall to improve these schools.

“We’re very fortunate to be working with these people, because of their expertise and because they are very willing to meet our schools where their needs are,” said McBroom.

She added that both experts work from a central office but also visit the schools and meet with staff and parents to help them reach the state’s standards. 

Edsel Ford.

McBroom outlined plans and programs that are being implemented to pull the schools out of their state-designated status. The programs include focusing on certain subjects, including reading, writing and math. A detailed report on EFHS’s progress will be presented to the board on Feb. 28.

In other business, Matt Hiser with Thrun Law Firm, a consultant to the Dearborn Public Schools, briefed the board on the results of the S.M.A.R.T bond sales, which were approved by voters in December. 

The district sold $76 million in bonds at an interest rate of 4.1 percent, which was lower than expected. Low interest rates saved Dearborn Schools about $460,000 from the projected costs and could translate into lower taxes on the city’s residents.

The school board also addressed the numerous weather-related school closures. President Hussein Berry said some residents have been “unfair” to the teachers by blaming them for the decisions to call off school days. 

“Teachers don’t call snow days,” he said. “They are highly motivated to come into the buildings and teach.”

He added that the superintendent decides whether or not schools open after following a process depending on the severity of the weather and the road conditions.

“We want to make sure that our schools are open, but we also want to make sure that our students are safe,” said superintendent Brian J. Whiston.

He added that extremely low temperatures result in school closures because they impact school busses. “Our busses run on diesel; they don’t like -20 degree temperatures,” he said.

Whitson said he follows weather reports and corresponds with City officials to determine road conditions in the morning.  He added that although he communicates with neighboring school districts before making a decision, each district makes its own decision, based on its particular conditions.  

Trustee Aimee Schoelles called on residents to shovel the snow off the sidewalks to aid students returning and going to school.

“The sidewalks not being cleared have a huge effect on students, especially elementary students,” she said.

The state allows schools six snow days each school year. Districts have to make up any extra days they choose to close their schools. Dearborn has had five snow days so far in the 2013-2014 school year. Berry said state legislatures might look into amending this rule because of the intensity of this winter.