The Hamtramck Public School is working to gather feedback from people for a reconfiguration process to improve the schools.
Jim Larson-Shidler, Interim Superintendent/CFO Hamtramck Public Schools, says this is a collaborative effort.
“Our focus is on creating the best possible learning environments for our students and staff,” he said in a recorded presentation shared at the last school board meeting.
Reconfiguration is the process of examining, restructuring schools, buildings and resources to improve attendance, educational opportunities and resources for students.
Larson-Shidler says the process involves examining enrollment trends, building capacity, and long-term sustainability.
He says the district could possibly save some money.
“I also know that staggered start times could save the district up to $1 million in transportation costs. While that information is important, I want to be clear, the reconfiguration process is not driven by financial savings,” he says.
Abdulmalik Algahaim, President of the Hamtramck Public Schools Board of Education says the district will analyze data to build capacity, by exploring multiple reconfiguration scenarios and seeking input from staff, students, family and community members.
“The purpose of this work is to ensure every student has access to high-quality programs and learning environments, and that our resources are used efficiently and responsibly,” he says.
Some districts reconfigure schools to close or repurpose buildings, address financial challenges, or improve collaboration efforts.
Algahaim says while there is no official timeline, the study will be presented to the Board of Education in March 2026.
“Implementation will depend on the reconfiguration that is ultimately recommended,” he shares.
John Silveri, Regional President at the Michigan Leadership Institute, has been enlisted by the district to do a comprehensive review of the current configuration.
“We want to make sure we go through a process that will get us to the desired outcome and leave us with a great decision for Hamtramck Schools,” he says in a recorded presentation that was shared at the last board meeting.
Silveri says the goal is to improve educational outcomes for Hamtramck Public School students.
“It’s also essential that whatever we do aligns with your district vision and mission to make sure that we stay on track and support long term success,” he says.
The district will be creating a committee to work on the reconfiguration process. Part of the job is to explore different options, such as looking to other districts to see what works.
“Once we identify those various options, then we’re going to research those various options, and that will include even what you currently have in place to determine their feasibility. And what outcomes might we be able to expect if we were to implement them in Hamtramck,” he says.
The district will collect feedback from stakeholders.
“We want to evaluate factors such as transportation, scheduling, facilities, resource availability for each and every one of those options,” Silveri says.
Algahaim says it’s also an effort to strengthen student opportunities.
“We want every student—no matter which school they attend—to benefit from strong course offerings, appropriate class sizes, equitable access to supports, and safe, modern learning environments,” he says, by identifying long-term models to support student success.
Silveri says after collecting information, and analyzing stakeholder feedback, the options will be ranked.
Larson-Shidler says there is no predetermined outcome.
“This will be through input, through discussion, collaboration, and then we hope to come up with possibly three, up to three options… of course the option that we currently have that will be in the mix,” he says.
Algahaim says after the options are narrowed down, a cost analysis will be done for each option.
Larson-Shidler says the district is looking for volunteers for the committee, through a Google Form.
“We’d like to identify volunteers that can go through the process with us, culminating with our presentation to the board and recommendation to the board,” he says.
The committee will present a recommendation to the Board of Education for an approval during the March 2026 meeting.
Silveri says there is not a timetable set for implementation. He says it’s more important to do it right, rather than set a timeline.
“We want to be sure that whatever we choose to do, we’re very thoughtful and deliberate about how to go forward with it from there,” he says.
Algahaim says the district is studying the district configuration prior to creating an updated strategic plan.
“This initiative is part of our broader strategic plan, which includes grade reconfiguration and long-term capital planning over the next 10 years,” he says.
Algahaim says everyone’s feedback is encouraged.
“Everyone’s input is vital to ensuring that this reconfiguration meets the needs of our students and families,” he says.
Algahaim says the implementation timeline depends on the option selected by the Board of Education. He says it may be a phased approach or it may be implemented for the 2026-2027 school year.
