2023 Strategic Visioning

Enrollment. Over the past three years, Oakland County K-12 public school enrollment has fallen by 9,664 students. Statewide, enrollment dropped over 60,000 students.

• Michigan birth rates have dropped:

  • 1990: 153,000

  • 2016: 114,000

• WBSD has lost 10.8% of our student population over the last 5 years. We are projected to lose another 11.51% in the next 5 years. We must right-size our district to keep funding focused on students’ educational programs.

We are not rushing into this decision. The formal study was initiated back in 2012 – 11 years ago. This fact may help put it all into perspective.  When we began the discussions about rightsizing years ago, our current high school sophomores were in kindergarten. You elected this board to make difficult decisions that are in the best interest of our students.

No investors had reached out to the Superintendent until the second week of September*, and that offer was for $1 for the building and land. The district is wary of selling the building, as that could lead to additional competition if purchased by a charter school. The District remains open to developing the site.

* Edited: As of 1/30/24 the district has now received 4 offers.

WBSD understands community concerns about the non-acceptance of non-binding letters of intent. While the district has a process for evaluating options, all community members can look into the Harvest Inc. offer as well as into previous offers made to other local school districts by an individual who also provided WBSD an offer. Investigating previous offers made to other school districts can provide valuable insights into the complexities involved in such transactions. The decision-making process is not taken lightly, and WBSD is committed to making choices that prioritize the educational experience and safety within the district. We truly believe we can best meet the needs of all WBSD students through this plan.

The Educational Instruction Access Act, MCL 123.1041 et seq., prohibits local governmental bodies, including school districts, from discriminating against educational institutions and private schools in property transactions. This includes refusing to sell or lease property solely based on the intended use for lawful educational purposes. The Act makes unenforceable a deed restriction that affirmatively requires uses that do not include lawful educational uses. Michigan law grants the WBSD broad authority to manage its property, as outlined in MCL 380.11a(3)(c). If the property is sold as is, even if there is a deed restriction, it is unenforceable and nothing precludes the developer from selling the property to the buyer of their choice in the future.

The primary concerns of the WBSD regarding Roosevelt Elementary revolve around building safety, structural adequacy, and a 21st-century learning environment. The 103-year-old building has encountered serious ceiling issues (plaster cement ceiling that fell through the drop ceiling), necessitating a careful examination. The decision-making process is focused on serving the community's safety needs, educational needs, and complying with relevant laws.

The original plaster, concrete and metal ceiling collapsed through a drop ceiling.

The reason demolition is so expensive and time consuming is that we must do it correctly. The district will first abate the asbestos, and then proceed with demolition.

As a result of the recent Board approval, our current plan revolves around maximizing the utility of the equipment within the building for the benefit of the district. This includes assessing the potential use of various assets such as technology resources, security cameras, water heaters, and, of course, the boiler. Recently, we took the necessary step of disconnecting the water supply to the boiler at Roosevelt.

That idea came out of strategic planning. The district needs more space for practice and games and that location would help distribute activities across the district and also provide a beautiful green space in Keego Harbor that could be a draw for new families. The team is incorporating feedback from each of the strategic visioning sessions to model for our students the importance of our Portrait of a Graduate. As a result of community feedback, in the version taken to the board Monday, September 18, the soccer field proposal was removed.

The West Bloomfield School District is determined to work from preschool through graduation to equip graduates with a toolkit of nuanced and highly impactful skills in critical thinking, collaborating, communicating, and contributing. We want our students to be able to communicate effectively with one another. We want them to think critically when presented with a complex issue and find a resolution. We want them to be able to collaborate with those around them. And, perhaps most importantly,  we want them to feel safe and loved in our classrooms so they are able to contribute to their learning and that of their peers each and every day. Thank you for helping us model these four competencies.

Once a student becomes a part of the West Bloomfield School District through the school of choice program, they are a WBSD student and no distinction is made. The placement of these students in specific programming will be contingent upon the redistricting process, which we will be working with a consultant on. 

The redistricting will affect many of our families, including those who previously attended Roosevelt Elementary. Based on the preliminary plans, it is likely that most school-of-choice students who would have attended Roosevelt will hopefully be placed at Gretchko or Scotch Elementary Schools. However, we anticipate having more detailed information and a clearer picture of the placements early in the new year.

We value your commitment to your child's education and are dedicated to making this transition as smooth as possible for all families involved. Rest assured that we will keep you informed as the redistricting process progresses, and we will be available to address any further questions or concerns you may have.

Below is a scatterplot of the Roosevelt student body. The district included these for each school in the Strategic Visioning study and presentation as they develop and refine a facilities plan for current and future students.

The ultimate goal is to take the ACS building offline.  This will be accomplished in conjunction with the plans to move central administrative functions to the Abbott building and the plans to create dedicated early childhood spaces in both the north and south ends of the District boundaries.  

Contact Dania H. Bazzi, PhD-Superintendent - dania.bazzi@wbsd.org - (248) 865-6490

OR

Rebecca Fannon - Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator - rebecca.fannon@wbsd.org - (248) 865-6454