Superintendent

As we wrap up the 2024-2025 school year, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each of you. At DCS, we have great kids. It is an absolute gift to see them grow up in our schools and our community. Thank you to all of our staff for their dedication to all Dexter students. Thank you to our families for your continued support of our kids, our staff, and our schools. And, thank you to our students for being awesome!   

Attached to this message is our back-to-school calendar with important info about summer hours, fall events and the link to our transportation plans form. We ask all families to complete the form ASAP to help our route planners be efficient and accurate. 

The 2025-2026 School Calendar has been approved. We have two formats this year - the traditional list, and a fridge-friendly grid version. 

Thank you so much for your commitment to our students, our staff, our school district, each other, and our community. Serving as the DCS Superintendent since 2013 has been a truly remarkable experience. After 17 years working as a school superintendent, I’ve made the decision to retire at the end of February, 2026. 

The May 2025 Bond Proposal Passed with 56% of DCS voters approving the proposal!!!  Thank you so much for your support of our students, our schools, and our community!  We are truly blessed to have such a supportive community committed to each other and our kids.  

I want to share a special thank you to all of the community members and staff members who served in various capacities on the bond steering committee that studied our district needs and created this incredible plan that will shape the future of our school district.  This bond proposal truly is transformative for our schools.

In the coming months, we will finalize the process with the Michigan Department of Treasury, completing contracts for Construction Management and Architects, and begin the bond sale process.  The first set of projects will include the secure entrance at the high school, new DHS gym entrance lobby, relocation of the DHS weight room, addition of Career-Technical Education space at DHS for Woodshop/Building Trades, restrooms at the twin turfs, music instruments for 5th/6th grade students, and design committees for the Wylie classroom additions and the indoor athletic space.  Later next school year, we'll begin the design committees for the Creekside Renovations and the new theater at Creekside.  

Superintendent Update on several topics including the 2025 Bond Proposal, Dexter Drama Club's production of Mamma Mia!, the 2025-2026 School Calendar Update, a German Exchange opportunity, and an Upcoming Virtual Career Fair.

The Dreadbots are headed to the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston April 16-19! If you’d like to support the team, please donate to: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/peer-to-peer/oops-we-did-it-again-worlds-here-we-come. The fundraising goal will require support from a broader community beyond family and friends.

Spring has arrived, at least for now, and it’s great to see our students and the entire community outside enjoying the sunshine. As a reminder, spring break is just around the corner. The last day for students is Friday, March 21st and students return to class on April 1st.  

On Monday, March 10th, Dexter High School hosted a career fair for students. We are so fortunate to have such an engaged and caring community. In total, 117 community volunteers presented to our students on Monday. Students selected three separate careers to explore and the entire event was such a great representation of the power of a community school district. Thank you to the high school staff who planned the event and thank you to all of the community volunteers who made this event possible.

Below are a few items of note:

Young Five and Kindergarten Parent & Guardian Information Night will have two session options on February 26th: one in person at the DEEC from 5pm-6pm and one virtual from 6pm-7pm. Registration is required for the virtual session. DCS staff will share information about our young 5 and kindergarten programs and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. Please join us! (The info night presentation will be recorded and posted online by March 3).

Young Five and Kindergarten Open House will take place March 4th at the DEEC from 5:30pm-6:30pm. We welcome all new incoming Young 5 and Kindergarten families to join us at the DEEC for a self-guided tour and “scavenger hunt." Staff members will be available to help guide families through the building. This is a casual event to help incoming students get familiar with their new school.

On Monday, January 27th, the Dexter Community Schools Board of Education approved an application to place a $241.8 million bond proposal on the ballot that local residents will have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.  The proposal has an estimated ZERO INCREASE over the current debt millage rate.  

This letter is to inform you of a recent cybersecurity incident that impacted PowerSchool, a company that provides our school district with student information management software. On December 28, 2024, PowerSchool discovered unauthorized access to certain customer data, however, we have been informed that the security breach did not impact our district.

Last night, DCS voters elected Amy Reiser and Mike Cipolla to serve on the DCS Board of Education starting January 1, 2025. Thank you to all the candidates for your willingness to serve the community and our kids.  Thanks also to Dick Lundy and Mara Greatorex, whose terms end December 31st. We are so fortunate to have such caring and committed community members willing to serve on the DCS Board of Education.  Congratulations, Amy and Mike!  Welcome aboard! 

We are soliciting applications from interested 10th-grade students, staff, parents, and community members to fill recent vacancies. The Board of Education's SEAB ad hoc committee will establish a process for selecting and replacing board members to remain in compliance with SEAB Bylaws and MDE Laws.

The role of the SEAB is to establish program goals and objectives for pupil knowledge and skills that are likely to reduce the rates of sex, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. School districts that offer sex education are required to teach the A-K standards.

We are very pleased to invite you and your family to join us for a very special field hockey game under the lights! Abby Tamer (Class of 2021), the first Olympic athlete to graduate from Dexter High School and the first U of M Field Hockey program Olympian, will be recognized at the Varsity field hockey game's halftime by the District and Community. Abby represents the epitome of a Dreadnaught scholar athlete with her focus, drive, and determination. 

Admission is free for everyone! JV plays Pioneer at 5:30pm; Varsity pays Chelsea (in a state championship rematch!) at 7pm with recognition at halftime. 

Important transportation information for families whether your student will walk, bike, be driven by a parent, or ride a bus to school this fall. Topics include the No-Transport Zone, Transportation Plans Form, and bus route publication.