By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Saying she felt ignored and “made to feel irrelevant,” Dearborn Heights District 7 Trustee Mandy Diroff resigned from the board Jan. 5.
A parent of the district, Heather Sanders, played audio from Diroff during the public comment portion of the board’s organizational meeting. Diroff read the letter addressed to the board members which said it was with “extreme regret” that she resign from the board effective that same day.
“During this past year, I have been made to feel irrelevant and ignored by the board president and some other members of the board, no matter how many different ways I’ve tried to insert myself,” Diroff said. “If we are a district, and especially a board of education who truly believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion, I wouldn’t be feeling this way. Inclusion is more than just when the president has needed to, or just felt like including me on that particular day.”
Diroff’s term expires on Dec. 31, 2024. She was re-elected to the board in November 2020 and previously served as board president.
“I apologize to those who voted for me for not completing my term,” Diroff said. “This is not at all what I want. However, after a full year of this treatment I realize if it hasn’t changed by now, it isn’t going to. I understand that I am the problem and not part of the team, unless I go along to get along, I never will be. Hopefully the governance training will help all to realize that everyone needs to be brought along by the president, heard, and most importantly valued, in order to have a great team.”
“I do hope that the board can find a new member that all, especially the president, are willing to work with and include in everything, so that you can be the true and valid team we all want for our students,” Diroff said.
The district had not released details regarding filling the vacancy as of publication.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at zeinabnajm92@gmail.com.)