DPSCD REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Detroit Public Schools Community District

Education

Tuesday, June 11, 2024
5:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. EDT

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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

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Paige Rollins

Thirkell's principal was suspended for 30 days without pay and will return to the school in July. There are 29 employees in “teacher jail,” officially known as the Employee Transition Center. Board approved a 3-year spending plan for the $94.4 million from the literacy lawsuit.

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Live reporting by Sherrie Smith

Sherrie So Ultra @SherrieSoUltra

It’s Tuesday, June 11th! I’ll be live-tweeting the DPSCD Regular Board Meeting at 5:30pm for #DETdocumenters
@DetDocumenters
Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET
@freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public
@media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet
@wxyzdetroit

04:21 PM Jun 11, 2024 CDT

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While you wait for today’s meeting to start, check out the thread from last week’s meeting here:

https://x.com/colleencirocco/status/1790454969994297691?s=46&t=RpYzZ1EoOiisPIGmWFspMA

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The agenda for today’s meeting is available online at:

go.boarddocs.com/a187062b-7639-…

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Here is a copy of today’s agenda

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For info on how to attend today’s meeting check out the Detroit Public Schools Community District Board webpage page:

detroitk12.org/Page/9425#cale…

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Currently the DPSCD Budget Hearing is still in session so the Regular School Board Meeting has not begun yet

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Meeting called to order at 5:40pm

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Roll Call. The following Board Members were present at the beginning of the meeting.

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Moment of silence for (1) beloved student, (1) retired educator and (1) contractor that passed away.

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Denby High School Color Guard presented during the recorded playing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing“

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Item 3. The Agenda was approved as presented

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Items 4.01-4.09 were tie-barred and approved

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Item 5. Public Comment Registration was Closed at 5:51pm

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Youth Ambassadors on the DPSCD School Board, Mi’kah West and Erioluwa Zannu, addressed the board re: Donors Choose donations and Detroit Youth Executive Council

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Item 7. Student Report. Dr. Vitti addressed the question re: Donors Choose and stated the OIG investigated and found that funds were raised and not used properly so the district put systems in place to prevent this

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Board President recognized the Detroit Federation of Teachers members present in the meeting and stated that she hopes they can reach a contract before the start of school, which has only happened once in history

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Item 8. Finance Report. Summaries

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Item 9. Superintendent’s Report. The Board presented Student Ambassadors with plaques

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Special Presentations. Davison Elementary 5th Grade girls track team is #1 in the country in the 4 x 100 relay. Celebrating the Core Value of Excellence

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Special Presentation. Spain Elementary Middle School Robotics Team placed 1st in the Great Promise State and National Competition. Celebrating the Core Value of Excellence

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Special Presentation. Bates Academy Debate Team won the Umoja Debate League Grand Prize of an All expense paid 10-day trip to Ghana. Celebrating the Core Value of Excellence

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Item 9.02 Blueprint 2023 Metrics from Superintendent’s Report.

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Current DPSCD Staff Vacancies

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Superintendent Vitti cited less staff in Procurement office as the reason for invoices still being paid late and increase in Length of Time for Request for Proposals

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Many Detroit Federation of Teachers Members in the audience tonight. Dr. Vitti stated “DPSCD teachers should be the highest paid in the country!” and he is confident the contract can be signed before the start of the school year and that it will be the richest contract in years

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Superintendent Report was accepted by the Board

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🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT 🗣️ Each speaker will have 3 minutes to speak

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In-person Commenter: AFSCME Local 345 Para-professionals

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In-person Commenter:

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In-person Commenter: Multiple teachers from Thirkell Elementary called the Principal’s suspension and not firing into question for stealing student learning time and forcing students to do custodial work

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In-person Commenter: Student alum Mr. Cook came to thank DPSCD staff and teachers for his success and scholarships for himself and two brothers

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In-person Commenter: Leadership of Pershing High School working with Alumni and parents have made great strides

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In-person Commenter: Principal of Thirkell Elementary has been violating her suspension. Climate is better w/ her out. Working with the principal akin to being in an abusive relationship. Staff AND now PARENTS have signed letter asking not to bring her back

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In-person Commenter: Mother Helen Moore

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In-person Commenter: “Why aren’t teachers and parents included in conversations before renewing superintendent contracts?”

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In-person Commenter: Academic Interventionist (AI) says students need as much help in Math as they do in Reading. Also suggested having part-time AI positions for retirees

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In-person Commenter:

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In-person Commenter:

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In-person Commenter: “Why are nurses not given the $15,000 ESE bonus too?”

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In-person Commenter: “District theater staff are working on average 150 unpaid hours per year”

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Because it is 7:30 the Board has to motion to hear the rest of the 10 in-person, and 2 online public commenters. The motion was approved

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In-person Commenter: DFT President asked DPSCD Board members to commit to DFT contract negotiations every day next week to get contracts done before it expires 6/30/24

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Online Commenter: Followed up on concerns from last board meeting re: access to bathrooms and recess at Thirkell Elementary and did not receive a response until today

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Item 10.01 Public Comment (Superintendent’s Response)
- principals at exam High schools have not requested to raise the gpa higher than 2.5
- new AIs hired through the literacy lawsuit funds can only be used for literacy
- theater teacher concerns were valid

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Item 10.01 Public Comment (Superintendent’s Response)
- Part Time Lunch Staff make $13.52 per hour and full-time staff make $17.55 per hour
- there will not be a new cell tower on PRMXA at CMA
- will visit the CMA building, was told that generally teachers were pleased

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Item 10.01 Public Comment (Superintendent’s Response)
- an investigation has happened into a particular principal, was suspended 30 days and allowed to attend 8th grade graduation ceremony. Was asked not to email staff during suspension. A new allegation was made last week

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Item 10.01 Public Comment (Superintendent’s Response)
- The district purchases materials for curriculum at a baseline amount
- allocation of at least one music or one art elective at each school
- board members visited Thirkell unannounced and visited restrooms, helped at lunch

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Item 10.01 Public Comment (Superintendent’s Response)
Is staff feel they are being bullied or harassed contact your supervisor or their supervisor

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Item 10.01 Public Comment (Superintendent’s Response)
- Board Member Gay-Dagnogo has a problem with teachers going into “teacher jail” without knowing why and saying that all of these teachers are lying is “disrespectful “

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Item 10.01 Public Comment (Superintendent’s Response)
- Employees are only placed in the Employee Transition Center (Teacher Jail) if allegations are made endangering a student or other staff member during investigation, there are 29 individuals in the detention center

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It appears the Board is skipping the Closed Session

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Items 12.01-12.03 Personnel Actions were tie-barred (combined and voted on together) and all were approved. (10) Terminations and (3) Disciplinary actions

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Items 13.01-13.04 Administrative Action Items were tie-barred and were all approved

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Consent Agenda Items 14.01-14.19 were all tie-barred and approved

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Policies Items 15.01-15.15 were all given their First Reading and approved

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Item 16.01 Amendment to Policy 7217 - Visitor Possession of Weapons was approved

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Item 17. Announcements. The next Board Meeting will be July 9, 2024

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Meeting adjourned at 9:01pm

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This concludes my live-tweeting of the Detroit Public Schools Community District Regular Board Meeting for 6/11/24. For more meeting coverage, check out:

detroit.documenters.org

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If you feel there are errors or corrections needed to these tweets or you have questions, please contact documenters@outliermedia.org

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Attachments

agenda 6 11 2024

By Paige Rollins 6/11/2024

Transcript and recording

By Noah Kincade 6/11/2024

Agency Information

Detroit Public Schools Community District

www.detroitk12.org

(313) 240-4377

See Documenters reporting

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.