DPSCD REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Education
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023
5:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. EST
Remote
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
Note-taking by
Autumn Jackson-Hines
Public commenters express concern about locked bathroom doors, a lack of security, a lack of technology, IEPs, and "teacher jail."
Live reporting by
Perry Sylvester
DPSCD budget balanced for a 7th consecutive year, this year with a surplus in the general fund. But the district is still struggling to recruit and retain sufficient instructional and support staff.
Perry Sylvester
@PerrySylvester6
Hello, Detroit! I will live-tweet the Detroit Public Schools Regular Board meeting today at 5:30 PM for #DETdocumenters and @DetDocumenters media partners:
@BridgeDet313
@chalkbeatDET
@freep
@metrotimes
@MichiganRadio
@media_outlier
@PlanetDetroit
@wdet
@wxyzdetroit
@BridgeDet313
@chalkbeatDET
@freep
@metrotimes
@MichiganRadio
@media_outlier
@PlanetDetroit
@wdet
@wxyzdetroit
11:13 AM Dec 12, 2023 CST
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is Michigan’s largest public education system, with 106 schools. It is governed by a locally-elected, seven-member board; you can check them out here:
detroitk12.org/Page/7145
Tonight's DPSCD meeting will be held at Mumford HS Auditorium, 17525 Wyoming, Detroit. You can also find out how to attend virtually or watch on YouTube here:
detroitk12.org/boardmeeting
Slides for the Chief Financial Officer's Report--item 7.01 on the Agenda--are available here:
go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Boa…
You can check @colleencirocco 's thread from last meeting for context as to what is going on with DPSCD
here:
here:
@colleencirocco And definitely have a look at Ethan Bakuli's reporting @chalkbeatDET here:
chalkbeat.org/detroit/2023/1…
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Well, now the band has left the stage and Board takes their seats…with lots of sound feedback🤯🫨
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Meeting called to order—last one of year; no quorum (again) so will move through to agenda items not requiring quorum for vote
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Moment of silence to give respect to two DPSCD employees and one student who recently passed
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET YouTube tells me 47 people are currently watching as Renaissance HS band performs
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Public comment period closed(?); Chair welcomes student ambassadors, who will give their youth council report
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET The two students list a series of accomplishments by schools and students, but they also point to increase in frequency of fights as well as some specifics about lack of resources
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Here comes the financial report… link to the slides is available in earlier post in this thread
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Chair thanks CFO and notes Financial Committee is coming up and “they” all look forward to more details there…hmmmm
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Superintendent up for his report…first acknowledges the student reps and says his office will get back with the various schools to address the concerns noted
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Superintendent moves through things very fast...his report has PPT, but this was NOT included as attachment/link in the Agenda...really kind of a shame because some rich material here, like the one shown below about the Love, Challenged, Prepared program metric
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET The Loved, Challenged, Prepared frame works to provide data about AND action to address issues like student absenteeism and reenrollment
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET There is good information here...says he "thought it was important to share"...just not a very effective approach. Really should share the PPT slides and the supporting data
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Question about survey used for mental health support—the Love, Challenged, Prepared is not directed to this
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Question about whether staff is part of Loved, Challenged, Prepared—they are, but questions are different
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Discussion about mental health services—communication about what services available, assessment of need, process for determining actions, etc…a “one page” on this topic is brought out and shared with Board for review
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET The “one-pager” is received with comment that it should also include a QR code with access to immediate intervention support
@colleencirocco @chalkbeatDET Dr. Taylor asks how it is integrated with Detroit-Wayne health system ; there is also discussion about collection of data for requests for services by schools
Superintendent report and questions completed, Chair moves meeting to recognitions
Motion to move action items--10, 11, 12, 13 and 4---up so as to take action; agenda is amended.
All the items in Agenda section 4–all approval of minutes—get bundled and approved/accepted
Now we are at section 12–Consent Agenda—are approved; it was noted these have all previously been before the Board and discussed
They move to section 13 on Policy…there is actually a question on one item😲… question pertains to protection for sexual harassment in course of off-site event (it does, so long as school-related activity)…all items in 13 combined and approved
They now move to Public Comment, with instructions being given
Here is list of public commentors...if you have your Captain Incredible glasses you might be able to read them 🧐
Dr. Macon challenges her performance rating…submits information an observation was documented and she provided evidence she was not there at the time
Teacher from Cody up…addresses Board to say they need a new building NOW…smoke is coming from some of the lights, HVAC completely dysfunctional with temperature fluctuations creating not only discomfort but mold and structural decay
Ms Blossom from Detroit Board of Police Commissioners appreciates District support for Youth Advisory program
Now 106 people watching as district social worker points out how they have case loads over the capped limit and are short staff and resources
Two teachers, from different schools, give reports with positive results of outdoor student education experiences.
Lisa Card from Central HS--she is with DFT, relating concerns of ancillary staff regarding safety, especially as to access to buildings via key card. Also notes promise to deliver a laptop has not been fulfilled.
dft231.mi.aft.org
Parent of student expressing concern about bullying connected to alleged sexual harassment and loss of services as she does not want to go to school
Another parent with long ties to DPSCD with student at Cody is up pointing out to how the situation is simply unacceptable and causing real physical harms
Teacher of 25 years is up...refers to a "teacher jail"(?)...very upset with the principal's approach; notes that the teachers have never had problems or complaints prior to the new principal's arrival
Board Chair notes in response Superintendent Vitti will be holding a meeting at Ronald Brown tomorrow to address these issues
A Speech Language Pathologist for the the District reports on how the case load is overwhelming and well above the best practice level...asks Board to recruit and hire more SLPs and support the District ancillary staff
Occupational Therapist (OT) with District is up, describing what OTs due and the value they bring as essential medical service providers
Alumnus (class of '79) of Northwestern HS appears asking for what the plan for the school is, noting there is a boiler problem and low enrollment
Person from Paul Robeson up...asks when Superintendent Vitti's next evaluation will occur? Wants to know about allocation of cell-tower(?) funds, results of Count Day, and status of IEPs...questions Board's transparency?
After string of criticisms, vote taken to extend time for public comment to final 7 people in attendance--no online comments.
District employee who works with students on autistic spectrum voices challenge to District's support for her students. There has been a continuing failure to provide promised smart boards with detrimental effects to their education
Parent and grandparent of DPSCD school voices frustration about "teacher's jail"
Person who is affected under Agenda item 11 speaks out; thanks the Board for allowing her to speak, but says they should have let the other affected speak out as well. Points out contradictions in the information used for her termination along with the timing of communications
Person from Detroit School of Arts (DSA) notes lack of Dean and notes it as an example of lack of equity in funding
Pastor in joint partnership with Thurgood Marshall MS points out how unique it is to have a public school-church program and describes some of the benefits of this faith initiative
Speech pathologist speaks and congratulates Superintendent for acknowledging their importance in previous meeting and stresses the value of ancillary service workers. She goes on to detail the MANY shortcomings in staffing, basic time-clock technology and lack core materials
Public comment is now complete; Superintendent Vitti responds. First, acknowledges issues at Cody HS, and mold assessments are being done. Second, acknowledges importance of healthy food options for students and need to have improvements in staffing at cafeterias.
Vitti goes on to explain what is being done to increase staffing...points out the connection with failure to be in compliance with IEPs with lack of staffing. Says not only wages and work conditions need to be improved, but District needs to train and empower existing staff
Vitti says he was discouraged by the many examples from ancillary staff relating to lack of follow-up; he pledges to be more involved with this unit
Superintendent states he is having a closed meeting with Ronald Brown, and notes he had met twice already earlier this year. It is a tough situation with multiple areas of conflict
Vitti explains "Teacher Jail" which is officially the "Teacher Transition Center"... describes what it is and how it functions
Board member addresses Vitti on the ongoing nature of so many of the complaints that were heard during public comment; questions process for addressing complaints
She goes on to ask about the continuing failure to deliver IEPs...relates how she has spoken with Social Workers who have never had any interaction with third-party vendors who are supposed to be assisting with IEP process and wonders what role they are playing
Board member Gay-Dagnogo, in reference to time-clock technology shortcomings, states: "We should fix that shit now". Can we get an "Amen"?
Chair asks if there is anything else prior to moving to Agenda item 14, Announcements...Gay-Dagnogo asks what is happening with 5 vendors providing mental health services, i.e., how do they interface with the District Social Workers.
Vitti responds that the contractors provide services on individual basis, so confidentiality requirements make it so Social Workers are unaware of what is happening. Vitti and Taylor note that there is an issue with full integration and agree should be better awareness
That concludes my coverage for the December 12, 2023 DPSCD Regular Board meeting. If you believe any of this coverage to be inaccurate, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
Attachments
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.
Documents
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