Dearborn Board appoints Ali Bazzi to fill school board vacancy

At a special meeting Sept. 8, the Dearborn Board of Education voted to appoint Ali Bazzi to one of two vacant trustee seats, voting 4-1 to fill the opening left by a recent resignation.
The board appointed Bazzi by motion of Trustee D'Ambrosio, seconded by Trustee Zarr; Trustees Eljami, D'Ambrosio, Petlichkoff and Zahir voted yes and Board President Mozip voted no. The board secretary said the appointee will serve until certification of the next school board election on Nov. 3, 2026.
Why it matters: The seat fills a two-member shortfall the board said it must fill quickly to maintain full membership for upcoming decisions, including hiring district leadership and preparing for a possible bond campaign.
Discussion and context: The meeting began with one public speaker, Kathy Martin speaking for the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, who urged the board to consider conflicts of interest when selecting trustees. Martin said, "when you have people who work in city government serving on the school board, it could be a conflict of interest because what's best for the city isn't always what's best for our schools." Several trustees referenced that concern while describing their criteria.
Counsel and logistics: Board counsel Kevin Sutton advised the board that the agenda was set to handle vacancies via individual motions and noted a timeline for filling vacancies. Sutton also said the interviews and materials are public record and available to any newly seated trustee. The board said the appointee must take the oath of office before participating fully and that the appointment documentation and interview materials will be available so the appointee can prepare for the next meeting.
Outcome and next steps: The motion to appoint Bazzi carried. The board also took separate action to postpone consideration of the second vacancy until its Sept. 15 regular meeting at Henry Ford College. Bazzi will be sworn in in the coming days, after which he may access interview materials and participate in subsequent deliberations.
Ending note: The board said it will revisit the remaining vacancy at the Sept. 15 meeting and that all remaining candidates remain eligible for consideration.