Dearborn officials say state, federal grants now fund far more district programs; Green Schools has raised $2.7 million

At a Dearborn City School District board meeting, district grant staff told trustees the Michigan Department of Education is increasingly using restricted state and federal grants to pay for programs that previously relied on the district’s per-pupil (foundation) funding. "We're here to talk to you about changing landscape in state and federal funding in, Michigan schools and how and why this method of funding is impacting us so strongly," Lauren Imberico said.

The shift matters because the district still receives unrestricted per-pupil funding, but the presenters said that an expansion in restricted grants means more programs must match strict eligibility, reporting and timeline requirements. "Effective grant management isn't just about receiving the funds, it's about ensuring those funds are wisely used to improve student outcomes and strengthen Michigan's education system," Imberico said.

District staff said the number and dollar value of grants have risen sharply over the past decade: in 2015 the district held 33 grants worth about $28.5 million; around 2019–20 it had 55 grants worth about $38.5 million; and today it manages 115 grants totaling roughly $156,000,000. Presenters stressed that grant dollars are restricted to each grant’s purpose, and cannot be used as general operating revenue.

That restriction creates extra work and planning needs across the district. Lamise Roar (grant administration) and Imberico described heavier data reporting, tighter timelines, more financial and programmatic oversight, and the need to avoid creating programs that cannot be sustained when grant funding ends. "A lot of them are a year. There's a good bulk of them that are crossing maybe 2 to 3 years. We have just a couple that are maybe 5," Imberico said when asked how long typical grants last.

Presenters and trustees discussed sustainability and planning. A trustee asked what the district expects to lose if grants decline; Imberico answered that the district tries to use one-time grants for pilot programs or one-time costs so core services are not suddenly dependent on short-term funds. She said demographics and program alignment help the district remain competitive for many grants, and staff monitor state and federal budget proposals to anticipate changes.

The presentation highlighted program examples funded by grants, including whole-food service initiatives, summer discovery, social-emotional learning and mental health supports, preschool mini-grants that engage families, multiple safety-and-security grants that funded cameras and card readers, and a Grow-Your-Own teacher pipeline grant meant to address teacher shortages.

Green Schools program

The Green Schools initiative was presented as a district example of multiple grants and community partnerships producing sustained programming without district operational funding. "Green Schools is an example of how grant funding can really, foster and increase and and just improve and empower a community," a presenter identified as Ms. Brewer said. She told trustees the program began about five or six years ago in a neighborhood described as constrained by industrial land use; partners and staff worked with community members, conferences and donors to build momentum.

Presenters said donors and in-kind partners have contributed roughly $2,700,000 to Green Schools since its start, including community donations, corporate partners and municipal cooperation. The program has supported rain gardens, tree plantings, a musical garden, and a prairie project in partnership with the Toledo Zoo; Home Depot and the City of Dearborn were cited among contributors. Staff invited board members to spring groundbreakings for projects on school campuses.

ESSER and other funds

Trustees asked whether ESSER (federal COVID-era) funds were included in the grant totals. Imberico said ESSER funding has largely concluded and that only a small remaining amount (she estimated about $8,000) is still wrapping up construction projects.

Why it matters

Board members and the superintendent emphasized that managing many restricted grants requires cross-department collaboration and strong internal controls. Dr. Maleko and board members said they are monitoring state and federal budget uncertainty and continuing advocacy with legislators. The presenters urged careful alignment of grant-funded activities with district strategic goals so that programming remains effective if a grant ends.

Speakers who appeared in the presentation or Q&A included Lauren Imberico (grant presenter), Lamise Roar (grant administration/presenter), Ms. Brewer (Green Schools presenter), Dr. Maleko (superintendent), Trustee Pawlowski, and other trustees who asked questions during the discussion.

Ending

Trustees thanked the grant team for the work and said the board will continue to monitor grant timelines, sustainability and the district’s ability to turn short-term funding into lasting outcomes. Staff said they will keep watching state and federal budget developments and report back as proposals and program renewals become clearer.