DPSCD REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Education
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024
5:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. EST
3200 E Lafayette St Detroit, MI 48207 (Directions)
View the meeting online: https://www.detroitk12.org/boardmeeting
Agendas and more can be found at DPSCD BoardDocs: https://www.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Board.nsf/Public
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Live reporting by
Colleen Cirocco
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti reported enrollment has increased so much the district now has more students than they budgeted for. Teachers facing termination advocated for their jobs. And the board postponed a decision on amendments to the public comment policy.
Colleen Cirocco
@colleencirocco
Hey Detroit! I’ll be covering today’s Detroit Public Schools Community District Regular Board meeting at 5:30pm for #DETdocumenters @DetDocumenters Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
11:18 AM Nov 12, 2024 CST
Tonight's agenda can be found at this link: go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
Tonight's meeting will be held virtually and in person at King High School Auditorium. For more information on joining in person and online visit this site: detroitk12.org/boardmeeting
detroitk12.org/boardmeeting
The results of the school board election were announced last week, with Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Monique Bryant, and Ida Carol Simmons Short winning the race for the three open spots. Read more about the election here: chalkbeat.org/detroit/2024/1…
chalkbeat.org/detroit/2024/1…
Misha Stallworth and Sonya Mays chose not to seek re-election. The board's website still reflects the previous board member makeup. I'm still researching to find out when the new board will take effect. detroitk12.org/Page/15200
detroitk12.org/Page/15200
It sounds like the swearing in of the new school board members will take place on January 1, 2025 according to this source. I'll make sure to report any updates that are announced. ballotpedia.org/Rules_governin…
ballotpedia.org/Rules_governin…
Just tuned in to the live-stream, waiting for the board members to arrive. To watch along, visit this website: detroitk12.org/boardmeeting
detroitk12.org/boardmeeting
President Angelique Peterson-Mayberry calls the meeting to order at 5:43.
Most board members are not present at the start of the meeting.
Peterson-Mayberry honors three members of the DPSCD who recently passed away during a moment of silence.
Students assemble onstage for the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing" performed by the Cass Technical High School Madrigals.
Item 3. Motion to approve the agenda - motion carries. Items 4.01-4.07 - approval of various meeting minutes from 10/8-10/7. Motion to tie-bar these items, passes. Motion to approve, motion carries.
Item 6 - Chair Remarks Student ambassadors are present and are asked to stand and be recognized. Peterson-Mayberry notes that they go through a rigorous process to be elected and after being appointed.
Peterson-Mayberry recognizes new board members Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Monique Bryant, and Ida Short. She confirms that their appointment will begin in January 2025, and recognizes that Misha Stallworth and Sonya Mays' will be leaving the board.
Vacancy for the library commission - email vania.moore@detroitk12.org - applications can be submitted tomorrow through Nov 30.
Item 7 - Finance Report Proposal S passed. Here is a link to the Finance Presentation. go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
Operating debt should be closed out next year. Revenues slightly behind. Has 20 weeks of available cash, on track for the remainder of the year.
Question: can we do stress testing for potential changes to the state and federal legislature. CFO: Yes, we can do that.
Item 8 - Superintendent's Report Has increased identification of homeless students - students and families have received more support as a result. Numbers increased from 600 to 3,000 homeless students. Three individuals are being recognized for their work in this effort.
Increased from 48,200 to 48,600 FTE students. Recognizing principals who showed the greatest improvement in enrollment.
Next Superintendent Vitti presents DPSCD metrics. Over 1k student increase from the end of last year. Re-enrollment is slightly higher than last year. Avg daily attendance is 86%. 52% of students are trending towards being chronically absent. go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
Vitti is excited that DFT two year contract is part of today's agenda. Hopes to have two year contracts with all of their unions by the end of the meeting.
Peterson-Mayberry remarks that several schools give out breakfast at the door (in response to the numbers showing less students are eating breakfast in the classroom). They are investigating the root cause.
Peterson-Mayberry asks what constitutes the vacancy numbers he is reported, because she has heard that some vacancies are not reported. Vitti asserts that the numbers are accurate.
🚨Public Comment Looks like there are 9 commenters in person. 1. Teacher Referral program, rejected from the bonus because the candidate didn't put her name down on a form. She helped to fill an ESL vacancy. Has lots of documentation and emailed Dr. Vitti.
2. Asks the board to retain, retrain himself to active duty. Has been overcharged with violations from HR, denied union representation, lied to and deceived. Is currently suspended. Has many accomplishments in his career as an educator, asks not to be terminated.
Clarification to the commenters that all comments are heard and then responded to at the end. If you need a follow-up, wait until the end.
3. Academic Interventionist at Ronald Brown Academy - charged with job abandonment. Had COVID for 12 days. Requesting that her job not be terminated.
4. Mother Moore - Project 2025, abolition of the department of education, argues that it should be managed at the state and local level. She states that this is one of the first things that the future president talked about. We are being treated as slaves.
5. Paraprofessional at an elementary school, of the late Alexis Brooks, her mentor. It has been a month since her passing. There has not been a certified teacher in that classroom, only paraprofessionals. Asking for support, they are not getting any direction.
6. A student, sophomore, had issues with her dance teacher. Her principal did nothing. Teacher cussed out students, forced their religion on the students. Alleges that this teacher committed fraud with grant money.
7. Gate needs to be repaired near the staff parking lot. What is going on at CMA as far as their sports - students don't have a gym where they can practice.
8. Not enough transparency about the cell phone tower revenue, just tell us where the money is going. Re: culture and climate of the district, congratulations to board members who are leaving (sarcastic). Has feedback on public comment restrictions, they are taking it personal
9. Nicole Conaway - no audio, moving to the next person until her issue is fixed
She's back! Thanks everyone who voted her during the school board election. Supports the workers tonight who are fighting for their jobs. We have lost way too many people in this district for job abandonment. Complete disconnect between leadership and the district.
10. Congratulates new board members. Speaking against the policy to limit public comments. Detroit deserves a board that is accountable to the people. Now is the time to stand up for our students the most, in the face of Project 2025.
11. Peterson-Mayberry is reading a statement from someone whose technology wasn't working for public comment. Has been trying to get her daughter enrolled since 2023. Wants assistance understanding this process.
This concludes public comment. Dr. Vitti will address the questions being raised.
He will visit the school that is missing a certified teacher, work with HR. Basically he says he will look into all of the issues people brought up...
Addresses public comment feedback - the process is that a committee discusses an issue, brings to a first read to the full board, edits discussed and made, second read, and then the board votes to the new policy or changes to an existing policy.
Public comment policy is in line with Roberts Rules of Orders, their bylaws, and the Open Meetings Act to ensure that all participants can be heard. The policy reflects how they already operate.
Item 10 - Closed session The board votes to move into closed session at 6:50pm
While the closed session is in progress - here are the proposed policy changes for Public Comment, which several public commenters tonight spoke out against. The changes to the existing policy are in green. go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
Still standing by during the closed session, which has now been in session for an hour and twenty mins...
Looks like Dr. Vitti and a couple of board members are starting to return. 8:26pm
These are the remaining items on the agenda - I am curious how they will bundle the voting since there is quite a bit.
11.01 Administrative Terminations Motion to accept the Superintendent's recommendation with revision. 30 day suspension without pay for employee SL, as opposed to termination. Some confusion over the agenda item - that discussion was related to item 11.02
11.01 take 2 Motion to accept the Superintendent's recommendation with revision for employee JF. Motion carries. 11.02 Motion to accept the Superintendent's recommendation with revision for employee SL. Motion carries.
11.03 Motion to accept - motion carries 11.04 Motion to accept - motion carries
Item 12 - Administrative Action Items 12.01 -12.03 Motion to tie bar these three items. Motion to approve these items - motion carries
Item 13 - Consent Agenda These items have gone through committees 13.01-13.13 Motion to approve, motion carries
Item 14 - Policies 14.01-14.02 Motion to approve, motion carries 14.03 Motion to table until December, motion carries
15. Announcements Family wish list survey is now live and will close on 11/22. Policy meeting, finance meeting, academic meetings are scheduled. Here the district's calendar for more information: detroitk12.org/Page/2#calenda…
detroitk12.org/Page/2#calenda…
If you find anything inaccurate in my tweets, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.”
Meeting adjourned at 8:40pm. This concludes the DPSCD Regular Board Meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for 12/10/24. For more meeting coverage, check out . documenters.org
documenters.org
Agency Information
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is Michigan’s largest public education system. It is governed by a locally-elected, seven-member board. The District’s mission is to provide every student with a beneficial and rightful educational experience, preparing students to be career and college ready, and qualified to compete in the global market. The District has 106 schools and educates 50,000 children.
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