Dearborn board approves naming Edsel Ford gym for Ibrahim Beydoun
Summary
The Dearborn Board of Education unanimously approved naming the Edsel Ford High School gymnasium for Ibrahim Beydoun and set specific display and signage plans after public testimony and a building-and-site committee review.
The Dearborn Board of Education voted unanimously Sept. 8 to name the gymnasium at Edsel Ford High School for Ibrahim Beydoun after several community speakers urged the board to honor the longtime coach and educator. The board approved a package of signage and commemorative elements and directed staff to proceed with implementation.
Board members discussed the placement and type of recognition before the vote. Trustee Petlichkoff moved the naming motion, which received a second and carried on a unanimous roll-call vote. Trustee D—Ambrosio, Trustee Eljami, Trustee Zahir, Vice President Petlichkoff and President Moszick all voted yes.
The decision followed public comments from family members and community supporters. Dr. Mike Beydoun, who spoke on behalf of his brother Abraham (Abe) Beydoun, told the board, “I would like to ask the board, please consider what's on the table, naming the gym after Abe Beydoun.” Jihad Beydoun, speaking for a tribute committee, thanked the board for keeping the naming process a priority and asked for a unanimous decision. Community member Ali Dager urged the board to balance school pride with a lasting tribute to the coach.
At a building-and-site committee meeting earlier in the evening, trustees and staff agreed on the visible honors the school will display. Under the plan the board approved, the district will: (1) add identification and naming in the counselor-office hallway; (2) place Ibrahim Beydoun's name on the gym's outside wall; (3) install display cases in the gym corridor for Edsel Ford High School memorabilia with Coach Beydoun prominently featured; (4) place Beydoun's name along the sideline outside the court boundaries; and (5) commission an interior wall mural or collage, likely located by the scoreboard, that will reference the Thunderbirds identity and include Coach Beydoun's image and a quote.
Trustees clarified that the coach's name will not be placed inside the playable area of the gym floor. According to trustees' discussion, vendors declined to apply markings to the playing-surface area because of the composition of the floor and concerns about damage; the district therefore chose the sideline placement to ensure visibility. Trustee Zarr (committee member) explained the limitation as a vendor and floor-structure issue rather than a decision to avoid on-court recognition.
Board members thanked the tribute committee and community participants and said staff will work out logistics, sizing and any fire-code constraints for display cases and hallway installations. Trustee Petlichkoff said the unveiling is expected in "months to come," and the district will continue coordinating with stakeholders on final designs.
The action taken was a formal naming vote; no changes to district policy or budget line items for the work were described on the record beyond authorization to proceed with the displays and signage.
Next steps include finalizing designs with vendors, confirming mounting locations and fire-code compliance, and scheduling an unveiling event with the community.
