The Michigan Department of Education has awarded Hamtramck Public Schools $11 million in infrastructure funding that will improve the learning experience of nearly 3,000 students across the district.
The funding, known as Section 12e Infrastructure Grant, will cover critical improvements, including to roof repairs, and upgrades to playground surfaces, the electrical system, security features and fire alarms.
It will also help renovate the high school auditorium.
“This is an investment for Hamtramck Public Schools,” Interim Superintendent Jim Larson-Shidler said in a statement.
“For years, our district has faced significant facility needs while working to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. This award allows us to address some of those needs without placing an additional burden on our local community. It is a tremendous win for our students, staff and families.”
He added that the investment reflects the confidence that the state has in Hamtramck Schools.
‘District is proactive’
Now the district will work with engineers and construction firms to finalize the projects and their timelines.
Officials said the work will be designed to have minimal impact on the students’ experience.
Hamtramck Public Schools expressed gratitude to the Michigan Department of Education, the Legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer for making the funds available.
Hamtramck was one of 31 districts to receive funding that will benefit 80 schools around Michigan.
MDE awarded a total of $242 million to districts across the state, including $32.8 million to Detroit Public Schools.
The Hamtramck district said it has been “aggressively” pursuing state and federal grants while saving “operating resources for classrooms and student services”.
“This award demonstrates what is possible when a district is proactive, strategic, and focused on creating opportunities for students,” Larson-Shidler said.
“We are excited to begin finalizing projects to continue improving our schools and providing facilities that our students, staff, and community can be proud of.”
‘Important step’
Hamtramck School Board Abdulmalik Algahaim echoed that message.
“This achievement reflects the hard work of our administration, staff, and community advocates who continue to pursue state and federal funding opportunities on behalf of our students. Most importantly, these improvements will be made without adding an additional financial burden on local taxpayers,” Algahaim said in a statement.
He added that the grant represents “important step” towards addressing the district’s infrastructure needs.
“Together, we will continue working to ensure our students learn in safe, high-quality facilities that our entire community can be proud of,” Algahaim said.
State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko vowed that MDE “will continue to strongly advocate for investing more state dollars in school infrastructure”.
“In my visits to schools around Michigan, I have witnessed first-hand the critical facility needs that districts are unable to meet with local tax dollars and how this negatively affects student health and learning,” Maleyko said in a statement.
For this competitive infrastructure grant, MDE said it used selection criteria factors such as “the percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged, the ability or lack of ability for the district to issue bonds for infrastructure needs and whether the district participated in the Statewide School Facilities Study”.
That study had concluded that Michigan “needs a nearly $23 billion investment to carry out much-needed infrastructure work in schools across the state over 10 years,” MDE said.
