Testing testing. Thank you. The time is now 530. We want to go ahead and respect your time and get started. I will now call the meeting to order. Madam Secretary Can we please have a roll call
Angelique Peterson may
be present Misha Stallworth, Sonia mais, that the iris Taylor sharegate and Yogo the Treece McClendon, Bishop color Yvonne, Michael West, present, or yellow as
Donald President,
Madam Chair, you may begin.
Thank you, meeting norms. We respect the right of all persons to participate in this public meeting of the board and kindly request that everyone engages in behavior that supports the same in the event anyone engages in behavior that is not as supportive that good request that you refrain from that behavior. During our moment of silence today we will lift up the families of Aleta Calloway from the Office of Food and nutrition class be manager at Vernon Orlando does shields A ESC paraprofessional at Henderson Academy and Mary Meyers a teacher at Earhart elementary middle school so during our moment of silence today if we could remember the families of Miss Callaway, Mr De shields and Miss Myers
Thank you, we will now move to school presentations. Today we have coding high schools color guard and our Star Spangled Banner and Lift Every Voice and Sing will be performed by Renaissance varsity core chorus if we could please stand
Martin colorguard let's face
it Oh say can you see the Dawn's was so proudly we believe me whose broad stripes and rise
again.
Love
Every voice rang with ease
listening because that it reads out loud as the Roglic see
saw see.
Mark
can we give another round of applause of Cody High School color guard and Renaissance varsity chorus awesome job awesome job excellent. We will now move into public comment registration has closed, public comment registration has closed. We are awaiting a fourth board member for a quorum. We will now move into chair remarks.
So I want to thank all of those who contacted the board in regards to last month's board meeting. closed sessions never have time constraints attached him to them, but instead are a result of the amount of information shared questions asked engagement and due diligence necessary to move forward with board action. Last month, there was several closed session items that dictated a very lengthy conversation. We as a board remain committed accessible and available to stakeholders through face to face meetings, emails and phone calls. So thank you to all who reached out with your concern. April is National Autism Awareness Month. And as the District recognizes the month, the ESC department has a month long of activities and events plan with students, staff and families in mind. I want to thank our partners, NASA and rover education network who provided each school with solar glasses to participate in the educational opportunity for viewing and discussion about the solar eclipse on yesterday. I like to congratulate and thank all dpscd staff who are part of our level up high school Expo on Saturday and Martin Luther King. Each one of our high school principals had an opportunity to showcase their high schools and its offerings to hundreds of families who have either committed to join dpscd in the fall or are contemplating joining us in the fall. Being able to talk to parents who have been out of the district or with charter for a while and then making a conscious decision to join us this fall was indeed a memorable event. Most of the parents share with me that their students themselves have made the decision to attend a dpscd high school. There was food entertainment, town halls, student panels and workshops. And the feedback from those in attendance has been very well received. Attendees are appreciated having the ability to meet school level leaders and district staff to greet them and answer any questions they may have had. So again, thank you. I like to also congratulate our Detroit branch NAACP, art and essay winners who were recognized at a reception on Sunday at Marygrove and they will attend the fight for freedom fund dinner next month. Their essays and artwork will be on display for 1000s to view thanks to all the teachers and counselors who helped endure our students as they participated. Our first place Elementary School Art went tuna Tavia Abdullah from Fisher lower. Our third place middle Elementary School Art went to a Nissa Mia from Davidson Elementary. Our second place elementary school essay went to Trey Lewis From Edmondson. Our first place Middle School Art went to Samaya Malik from Davidson. The second place winner for middle school art went to grant Mitchell from Paul Robeson Malcolm X. Our third place winner for middle school art went to Elizabeth never Rez from Carver stem. Our first place winner for middle school essay went to Sammy udon from Davidson. Our second place middle school essay went to raise our child hurry from Davidson. Now to high school, our first place winner for high school art went to Tyler walay metals from Renaissance High School. Our second place winner for high school art winter tonight Harper from our dpscd Virtual School. Our third place winner for high school art went to ISIS Chesterfield from DSA and finally, high school essays. Our first place winner went to Shawn horn. Our second place winner went to Jada Jordan, and our third place winner went to Terry Acton, and all of those high school essay winners were from Renaissance High School. Lastly, I had an opportunity to attend and witnessed several of our middle and high school students as they participated in the imager debate championship on Saturday at Wayne State Daymond Keith School of Law. The middle school champion went to Bates Academy and the High School Championship went to Cass tech. I just want to thank all of our coaches who've spent extra time each week working with our young people as we make debate, healthy debate, something that we can all be proud of. At this time, I will turn the mic over to our student ambassadors for their report.
Good afternoon for the April report. The Detroit executive Youth Council would like to speak about the debate Championship, the vaping slash lock bathroom situation and Michigan Youth in Government. Over the past few weeks easy, I have spent time reviewing the shared spreadsheet between the YC Detroit executive Youth Council, the members on the board and the superintendent. And here are a few highlights. We really want to first greatly appreciate Henry for a high school who gets to participate in the debate championship as well. They really want to uplift their debate team they've been doing really, really well in school. In addition to that, though, they are asking for some more choir supplies when it comes to notebooks, pencils, things like that to be able to fund back to their choir program. Moving on to vaping and like bathrooms. Detroit Lions Academy has been experiencing lag bathrooms because there has been an uprise and students using the bathrooms to skip and there also has been a usage of drugs in the bathrooms. With the help of Mr. Proctor we were able to contact the principle and acts more about these claims. And the principle stated in quote that students have not been prohibited to use the bathroom all students have access to bathrooms. The only thing required for students is to ask their instructors and slash or security officers to go to the bathroom and the students can go freely without hindrance or interruption. In regards to the vaping issue, we know that the use of drugs, it's especially vape pens has become a serious addiction within the past couple of years for teenagers locally and nationally and therefore as a solution presented, students are asking for possible rehab rehabilitation center meetings. Whether they come to the school or students are forced to go out and seek help on their own. We know vaping is a very serious issue and we are hoping that we can come to some sort of solution soon for students across all schools. When it comes to vaping a lot bathrooms do two more questions for the board on that in particular I can go more in detail if needed. I'll pass them on to easy to talk about me.
For my portion of the Board report I wanted to highlight many of our different dpscd high schools with their leadership within the Michigan youth from government program. Several high schools including Cass tech Cody crack at Midtown Detroit Lions Academy, Mumford and Renaissance will be attending this conference within the next couple of days. For anyone who doesn't know what Michigan you think government is, it is a program designed to engage young people in the process of the government and civic engagement. It involves simulations of governmental procedures such as legislative sessions, court proceedings, and executive decision making, where students take on roles such as legislators, judges, attorneys and lobbyist. This program aims to provide young people with hands on experience and how the government works and foster skills such as public speaking critical thinking and leadership. Michigan Ufan government otherwise known as me provides a platform for young people to actively engage in democratic processes by participating in model government simulations. You've learned about the structure and function of their government as well as them points of civic engagement. to Michigan useful government people have the opportunity to develop leadership skills such as public thinking, negotiation, critical thinking and teamwork. These skills are very valuable for the personal growth and future of various fields. This year, I'm proud to announce that between the six different dpscd High Schools attending this conference, they have secured multiple leadership's roles, including presiding judges, committee chairs, chamber and committee clerks and group leaders.
Thanks easy. Lastly, we would like to invite you all to join us for the student empowerment conference on April 26. At the school and may grow from 10am to 1pm. There will be student performers, a DJ raffle prizes, gift cards, iPads, beats, and way more. Please join us in raising up our students within dpscd. At this time, that concludes our board report.
Thank you. Does any member have any questions for our student ambassadors? I do have a question and a comment as it relates to vaping and marijuana being sold at facilities to underage students. And so Dr. BD, I know that there has been some grassroots efforts that we have actually demonstrated as some of these facilities, what the one most recent being by persion High School, is there a partnership that we have with our DPD as well as our public safety, as well as city council members as it relates to these facilities who are selling marijuana and vapes to underage students.
So definitely can improve that partnership. I think what you're thinking about is more supervision, monitoring of who's going into those facilities, making sure that our youth are not making sure that our youth is not going into the facilities, especially during school hours, because that's the majority of our dpscd police work during school hours. I that partnership can be stronger. And so as we talked about last board meeting that didn't seem too far ago, is we are crafting recommendations for the City Council to state legislature and Congress around strengthening marijuana laws in particular, and at the local level requiring profit from the marijuana dispensaries to be used for public awareness campaigns to fight youth accessing marijuana using marijuana. Especially more better labeling of edibles. I talked about that at the last board meeting. So we're just making sure that the letter doesn't come as a surprise. I'll be sharing with the board. But definitely, by the beginning of May, I think we'll release the recommendations, which hopefully will create better awareness of the challenge that we're facing in our schools and throughout the city with increased use of edibles, access to edibles, and marijuana in general. And to your question, we as our officers patrol the neighborhood of schools, we can definitely ask them to pay closer attention to the dispensaries as well. But we're not really hearing that they're being used during school hours. It's really the access to edibles and marijuana at the home. And then the community in general, which is just generally more accessible, because obviously, it's legal and more prevalent.
Thank you. So I know we've had an influx of our students who are so I'm hoping that we continue to reiterate the importance of as students are trying to partake in eating things at school that may look like it is just a regular snack, that we are talking more in depth about the dangers of that. So I'm hoping that that's not something that we started stopped but be ongoing because we're constantly seeing emails from situations where young people are being taken to the hospital because they are engaging in this activity. Do we have any more other questions or comments from students reports of why remember McClendon?
Well, I just want to comment on the what you were just speaking of. As a parent of a child, I received a robo call Dr. Beatty, which I thought was amazing to talk about the importance of watching out for these types of edibles and things that children are consuming. What other things are we doing just to educate people on this topic outside of working with BPD? Because it seems to be I was just in a school recently. And we had a situation where some kids brought some edibles, and they couldn't tell the difference between that and regular candy. So what else are we doing as a district to just educate folks? I think it's important that we highlight that
Through the Chair. So there's there's definitely a commitment moreso on the counselor side, to regularly review the accessibility to edibles. More public announcements during the school day or before school after school, about the warnings, we've definitely had been messaging more to parent parents about checking bookbags having the conversation about edibles increase access to marijuana. So I think that has definitely been communicated to schools. And we're seeing more of that. I would say that should continue. But I think we need more support at the city level, and more of what I would call public campaign about the dangers, awareness of edibles coupled with actual city ordinances that require the proper labeling of edibles as marijuana in some way. And I from from my understanding, it would be in the jurisdiction of the city council to do something like that, at least for the dispensaries that are in the city. And my recommendation would be, and obviously, we'll, I'll share the letter with the board before it's sent. But considering the revenue that's being generated from the legalization of marijuana in particular, I would suggest an argue that that revenue should be used for public campaign awareness. Opportunity. So whether it's billboards, commercials, its TV placements, or, you know, hiring third parties to go into schools and talk about the risks of marijuana, especially at young ages, are all part of I think the next step in something broader that that we're doing at individual schools. I know, every time Bishop and I do the parent engagement session every month, I typically bring this up and talk about greater awareness for parents and checking bookbags and just having honest conversations about edibles their accessibility. And and there are certainly positives to the legalization of marijuana. But there are negatives. And I think it's important for parents to talk to children directly about those.
anymore. So Dr. Pete, I look forward to that letter. I'd have had a couple conversations with a couple of city council members who are on board with this conversation. So if we could get that letter sooner than later, then we can let them know that it's on the way we can have further engagement. Is there anything else? If not, I'll go back up to item number three. We the approval of the agenda as presented. We now have a quorum for voting purposes. So the chair will entertain a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Is there support support? It's been properly moved by Dr. Taylor properly supported by member bond, any discussion? All those in favor of approving the agenda signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries item number four, the approval of minutes. So we have 4.01 the regular board meeting minutes from March the 19th 2024 4.02 regular board meeting closed session minutes from March 19 2024 4.03. The policy ad hoc committee meeting minutes from March the 20th 2020 for 4.0. For finance committee meeting minutes from March 22 2024 and 4.05 academic committee meeting minutes from April the first 2024 The chair will entertain a motion to tie bar items 4.01 through 4.05. So moved zero support. It's been properly moved by member Vaughn properly supported by member McClendon to tie bar items 4.01 through 4.05. Any discussion not all those in favor of the motion on the floor to tie bar items 4.01 through 4.05 signify by saying Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried the chair will now entertain a motion for the tie bar of items 4.01 through 4.05. So move because there's support support. It's been properly moved by member bond property supported by Dr. Taylor for the tie bar of items 4.01 through 4.05. Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion on the floor for the tie bar of items 4.01 through 4.05 signify by saying Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried Thank you. We'll now move into our finance report by our CFO Mr. perdido.
Good evening board members and community. This evening we'll be presenting the financials through February. We started with DPS. We continue to receive collections and DPS the 13 and 18 mills have documents six point 2,000,030 mil collection bringing our year to date totals at $1.6 million. I can confirm this year will be our lowest borrowing in the last 10 years. If you recall previously, we're borrowing over $100 million. This year it will be less, it'd be approximately $55 million. Well to borrow as data has continued to get repaid, as well as property value increases and collection rate increases. So positive news there on the 18th Mills, collection still remains solid and we made all debt payments for the month of February as well as supplemental payments. For DPS for dpscd. Revenue was slightly ahead of budget projections. This was due to local revenue as we received additional enhancement millage, payments as well as an increase to our ACC 18 Special Education payments. And then a slight increase on state aid related to our MIPS reimbursements. And those payments. expenses were in line with projections for the month. And then in terms of available cash, we continued we ended the month with 25.2 weeks of available cash. Um, you will see the decline happening in March. That's related to the transfer to the facility master plan that was adopted at the February Board meeting. Those transfers took place in March. That concludes my report.
Thank you Mr. For detail. Do we have any questions from the board from the CFO? If not, thank you Mr. perdido, you can file this report for auditing purposes. Thank you. And we will move into the superintendents report. Dr. Vitti.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll pass it to Miss Wilson. We're excited to do a number of student recognitions, mainly teams that had been associated with and Richmond competitive competitions over the past year. So Miss Wilson will recognize the school. The teacher or employee that sponsors a team and we'll have the team come up, as we normally do for recognitions Miss Wilson.
Thank you, Dr. Beatty. Tonight we're recognizing several of our district teams and elementary, middle and high school levels for the core value of excellence. be relentless in your pursuit of greatness. Be bold and innovate. Learn from your mistakes hold yourself and others to high standards. The Excellence in academic Games is a competition in mathematics, English Language Arts, Social Studies and logic. The Michigan League of academic games tournament is held in Ann Arbor each year, teams play in groups of five and compete with students in school teams from across the state. On sets is a mathematics game based in set theory. Current Events is a social studies game based on any and all events that took place in the previous calendar year. This year, the district since 19 teams from schools across the district to the state tournament. Tonight we are recognizing our state champs and the elementary middle school and the high school divisions, give them all a round of applause.
In the area of current events, we would like to recognize the first place and state champions, the school team and Bates monster might for the game and current events they took on the state championship. So please come on up. Coach Christopher hosting, and Matt alasia. Sims are the coaches so please come on out with your teams. Give it up for the bait monster might say champion
and we're gonna have you come on down and meet the board members and shake hands. Our photographer if you could wave in the audience, Justin. And take a look at Justin he's gonna guide you from the audience and where you should stand. So you can take your photo and be recognized give it up again to the bait monster Mike team. Now we know who to vote to when we need information about current events. And Justin, if you look out to the audience, or members and team members, Justin's gonna direct you so he can get this photo taken for you. There SilverStar
thank you so much. And then if I could get the students for the next teams to get ready, the Bates Elmo team and they won first place in onset. And we will be recognizing again their coaches Christopher hosting and not alasia Sim so if you guys can come right stage side, and then we'll get you your award. Give it up again for Bates Elmo to bathe Elmo trophy trophy that Yes. The Bay Bayes Elmo team and they weren't first place and I'm set so this is a mathematics game basis set theory. So these are mathematicians rising. Give him another round of applause Elmo team Okay, Mr. Justin is in the middle of the room. Ladies and gentlemen, he's gonna direct you on where to go for your photo, and the other team will stand over to the side or exit the stage. Kids our students come to the middle
you may not have the right plaque name but you do have them with your name on it. We were given plaques for the photo you have the Nate we have over 30 plaques behind stage everybody will have a plaque array let's give it up or bathe Elmo. The next team if we can have baked cookie monster who won first place and I'm Bates Cookie Monster if I can have my other group Well, it's all bait so they could take a group picture but Justin afterwards can you take individual team pictures for us out? Okay, thank you. And then the students go to the middle this is our bait elementary division that's all on stage now or state champion their first place winners we got little brothers and sisters off to the side they want to be on a stage and the pitcher two
three Okay, thank you to our base mastermind base, Elmo, Bates, Cookie Monster teams, we'll have you exit the stage baits. And then our Middle School Division team could not be here, but we want to recognize mackynzie Justice League. And they also were our state champions for current event. Your plaque will be given to you at your school level with your correct name. So we just gave those to you so you can take your picture but keep them in take them to your seats. Yep. And then our next high school division is with the school with Marygrove. They are our state champions. And we are recognizing our coach Hunter Janice for our state champion. School of Marygrove and also in high school onsets they were first place so Coach Janice, thank you. And we welcome to the stage the Marygrove Huskies. And we have today with us the principal of Marygrove will be joining us principal Lisa Williams.
All right, and we have one of our student leaders who also serve on the board who's also performing on a state championship level. Let's give another round of applause to the Marygrove husky, who are our High School Division state champions and our first place winners. Do we have all our Marygrove winners on the stage Prespa Williams we need your on the stage to take her photo with their board. Everyone give up another round of applause to our Marygrove state champion and first place winner
anymore Marygrove Huskies onto the stage. We're gonna take a photo
Marygrove place twice state champions at first place champion. A ray Thank you. Thank you for joining us for your photo. You these are the Marygrove huskies and their families are out in the audience. Let's give a round of applause to our families who came out tonight. We have brothers and sisters This there's a sibling I see grandma see pop up I see NTSC uncle as the guardian a caregiver let's give him a round of applause for prepping our students for this excellent tonight. Thank you so much were state champions and for representing dpscd We know when students rise we all rise
way to go
okay
alright again, I just want congratulation to all the staff, especially our sponsors of our enrichment teams, not only those that were recognized tonight, but throughout the district, we definitely expanded our level of competition on the academic side, whether it's chess debate, performing arts, just continue to be excited about the number of not only students that participate, but more schools that participate as well, including our neighborhood schools. So just thank you to all the staff that goes beyond the regular workday to support our students, after school and even on weekends when it comes to competitions. It's great to highlight the champions today. Obviously, it is an example of excellence with our core values. But I want to thank all of the staff, all the families and all the students that participate. Tonight, as always, I'll review our metrics. Enrollment currently stands at 40,332 students. That's an increase as compared to where we ended last year. Right now, our re enrollment rate is 70%. That's consistent with where it was before the pandemic, consistent with where typically is as a district. Right now, our average daily attendance is about 83%, which would be about a 1% increase as compared to last year. Right now, if you look at where we are in the school year, with about two months to go 63% of our students would be considered chronically absent, that would be an improvement of four percentage points as compared to last year. Right now, teachers with excellent or moderate attendance is about 75%, which is higher than last year. But again, we have two months ago. Based on our interim survey, 32% of students said that they were all three love challenge and prepared. That would be an improvement from last year. But that was interim data. Our students just completed their survey data and we'll have that data. By the summer will we have been conducting our family survey data and our staff surveys as well, that data also will be available by the summer or the beginning of the fall? This is stagnant academic data that you see on this slide because it's based on medeor data. Right now our students this week started testing the for the PSAT and the sap from grades eight to 11. That will continue throughout this week. And then M step testing various grades and subject areas will continue until the beginning the end of May. There is greater flexibility now with testing. So schools are able to use a differentiated window and smaller group testing to make sure that when students test they're showing everything that they know rather than some of the old style testing where it was large group and only being conducted one day or two days. Mmm, that's allowable under the state. But right now 40 55% of students would be showing at least one or more year, or just one, at least one year of growth and literacy, that would be a 1% improvement from last year. The bottom 30% 62% are showing at least one year of growth that would be improvement versus 55%. Last year 59 59% of students are showing at least one year of growth. They said mid year data would be a five percentage point improvement from last year 67% of students in the bottom 30 have shown at least or are projected to show at least one year of growth. That would be almost a nine percentage point improvement versus last year. Both our ELA projected data shows that we should have more students at an above grade level an M Step Testing again, that's what they will be doing this and next month. This is based on a predictor of iReady. And in math, we're also projected to show an improvement versus last year. Our data for the college readiness is not as accurate because we did shift our assessments. But again, students are taking that test officially right now. We've seen an increase in students being in college and career classes. In fact, 59% of juniors and seniors are in college or career classes and 55% are passing those classes this year. Right now we have 64 core vacancies at the teacher level throughout the district 18 support staff vacancies, we have three assistant principal vacancies district wide, four counselor vacancies district wide, six academic interventionist vacancies district wide six security guard vacancies district wide only to pre K para vacancies only two ESC para vacancies. We have 22 custodian, contracted vacancies and only 32 cafeteria worker vacancies, which is a significant improvement from the days we had over 100, cafeteria worker vacancies. I do want to spend time today reviewing something that was shared a couple of months ago with all staff and I believe students and parents as well. You know, oftentimes during public comment, and just just general emails that the board receives or I receive, there's a perception that complaints are not investigated or reviewed. And we do as a district, over the years have created the systems and processes to ensure that complaints are reviewed and investigated. There are certain complaints defined by federal and state law that are required to be reviewed in a certain way. And certainly we are complying with that. But we also have a way to investigate fraud, malfeasance and just employee related issues that are not defined by federal or state law. So I just want to walk as quickly as I can through this flowchart. And identify which will be in the preceding slide that you'll see a little closer. Who do you call? What number do you call? Who do you email if you have very specific complaints, and I'm hoping that one day we can arrive to the point where all employees know this, our students know this. So that issues when they do exist, are understood to be addressed. Now, the challenge, obviously, with this process is when at the conclusion of a review or an investigation, it does not always mean that the employer, the student, or parent, or a volunteer is satisfied with the conclusion of the review and complaint. Meaning once it's registered, it's reviewed and investigated. There is a conclusion that comes with that, whether it'd be a disciplinary finding for someone else, whether it might be a policy change, some some individuals are satisfied, others are not. When we get to that point, then there is no resource other than recourse other than what we have started to built in based on conversations that I have, have had over the past year with board members, which would be a mediation. So I'll speak to that as I walk through this. But if you're looking at the slide in the audience, it would be on your left on the DS on the left as well. I'm complaints of fraud waste, or ethical claims linked to fraud, waste malfeasance. So when you think of this, you're thinking of misuse of resources, misuse of funds, misuse of contractors, or how contractors are identified how contractors are paid
employees that are overpaid or underpaid on consciously. Those are investigated by the Office of the Inspector General, the Inspector General is a separate office that inspector general does not administratively report to be the Inspector General reports to the board. Administratively I can guide you guide the work of the Inspector General, but I superintendent do not dictate what is or is not investigated by the Inspector General. The inspector general investigates things independent of my office, and really my direct reports and my team that's done purposely and it was done before the start of my superintendency and the board being empowered and taking office. And so the Inspector General, investigates those issues of fraud, if there are complaints sent to me or the board. And they're fraud related than they are given to the IG, the Inspector General, to investigate independently, when we have complaints related to employee misconduct, Title Nine or civil rights, that is a separate process. We have a separate office that independently reviews issues related to Title Nine, which are gender related issues of harassment or complaints, Civil Rights Office investigates issues that are linked to protected classes based on age race. And so we have a separate team and a separate office that investigates those issues. And so I will, you can see it at the bottom of this of the flowchart who to call for those. But again, the preceding slide will show that if a contractor or visitor has a title nine or civil rights complaint, then the Risk Management Office investigates that, or if the individual is a volunteer, let's say in one of our schools, or central office buildings, then that has to be reported to the Family and Community Engagement Office, who will then review and investigate that issue. When there is a complaint about an employee, let's say, based on tone, on abuse, not title nine or civil rights, then it is the administrator that supervises that manager or that employee who does the initial investigation, and so are consequences or or discipline is linked to four levels, level one, level two, level three and level four. Level one is a verbal reprimand level two is a written reprimand. If a complaint is made at a school, and it's related to an employee at a school level, and the discipline after the initial review looks like it'll be a verbal or written. reprimand that that is handled at the school level or at the department level. It does not necessarily involve central office, it is recorded, it is documented, it is officially put in the system, and then the employees record. But it doesn't necessarily, it's not necessarily investigated by central office, which is employee relations under human resources. If it's moving into a point of suspension without pay, which is level three or termination level four, then it is investigated by the central office of human brief resources, and human and employee relations. If it is a suspension without pay, then I must review it and approve it. If the suspension without pay exceeds 14 days, or is linked to a tenured employee, then the board has to review and also approve it beyond me. If anyone is recommended for termination, obviously, that comes from me, but the board has to approve all terminations upon my recommendation. And so if a matter is linked to an employee, and it's civil rights related and based on a protected class, or claim, then that's investigated, investigated separately by civil rights, either in partnership with employee relations or outside legal counsel. And then the same thing goes to Title Nine, which is agenda review agenda related to complaint. Now we do have our own police department. And those are considered employees of dpscd. And if there's a complaint linked to gender issue, a civil rights issue, the district will still investigate and impose discipline. But if there's a charge of misconduct related to an officer, that is maybe student based or community based, there's a separate process defined by state statute, and we have a separate review panel that reviews and investigates those matters linked to police As I mentioned, we have very specific emails and numbers that any employee should use. Any student should use, any volunteer should use and contractor should use if they are dealing with issues of civil rights complaints, Title Nine complaints are really just employee misconduct allegations. I have said this repeatedly. And I think I've demonstrated, I read all of my emails by myself, there is no someone behind the stage or behind a curtain that reads my emails, the board reads their emails, we have a constituent review process, where the board either responds directly or routes, the issue or question over email through the superintendent's office, and we review that complaint or issue or just question, and we respond and copy the board on that response. And all of those are logged, and all of those are recorded. Moving forward. In partnership with the board, I will be creating a more transparent record of complaints, whether they be employee complaints, civil rights complaint, Title Nine complaints, where the board can access a log to see where are we with the complaint investigation? What was the conclusion of that investigation, so that the board can keep track of reviews investigations, and engage myself or a district administrator about a particular issue. And as I mentioned earlier, we are adding a third party mediator to conflicts. So let's say an individual employee has a concern with how she or he is being managed. And so that would initially be reviewed by that person's manager. And so that may lead it employee discipline in May, and they may not it may lead to coaching. And if the employee is not satisfied with the conclusion, or there's continuing conflict between the employee and the manager, then we can use a third party mediator to try to get to a point of understanding between two parties and how you move forward. amicably to focus on the work of student serving students, that the new component to this process that we're going to add, I'd also finish this conversation by saying, based on recent complaints made during public comment, and just what I have seen over eight years, with the employee manager relationship, sometimes, and oftentimes, I think it's working well. But as we move in this new direction of performance and focusing on outcomes and knowing that our students can and must do better academically, admittedly administrators are holding employees more accountable to what's happening in classrooms, to conduct in schools, that is leading to greater levels of tension and conflict, that does not excuse any yelling, threatening type of behavior, there's a way to manage change, and tension and conflict in a way where everyone is still made whole, and treated professionally. So what I will be doing in next year's budget, and our overall work, and professional development, is investing more resources in coaching our leaders at the school level, and even in central office, is how you manage change how you manage conflict, how you manage disagreement.
No different than what I tried to model at board meetings, it is not easy to sit and listen to people accuse you of things that you have not done. It is not easy to listen to people criticize a body of work often not based on facts, but I have always tried to keep my composure. I'm not saying that I'm 100% Perfect that doing that. But I try to model that when employees have issues and concerns I tried to focus on what is the substance and root of the concern, rather than taking it personally. And it's it's not easy to do. But it's something that all of our leaders must do better at and I think that there needs to be more coaching with our leaders to manage that change process. Our district prior to this board, and this administration, frankly, was not a performance based district. We were not focused on outcomes. We loved our children. We worked with our children, but we were not focused on outcomes. We were not. When I started this superinten Eight years ago, there was no evidence of a performance based culture. We have made huge strides and improvement and doing that and with that comes tension with that Tom's resentment with that comes resistance. But that does not excuse me abuse. It does not accuse it does not excuse mismanagement of human beings and people and employees. And I own the improvement of that with all of our leaders. And I think there needs to be more investment in how to do that. I think some principals do it really well. I think some central office leaders do it well, but it needs to be scaled and consistent. So every employee experiences a healthy work environment, even when urged and pushed and held accountable to do differently or better on behalf of children. A couple of updates unrelated to that. As the Board Chair mentioned, we had our level up event this past weekend, excited that 975 participants attended the event. This is an activity to try to ensure that we increase enrollment in ninth grade, and our high schools and more eighth graders stay in our district. That 975 Number is compared to 500 the year before. So a strong improvement. I want to thank all of our principals, our central office staff, our parents that attended also excited as mentioned earlier about the expansion of summer schools through the Balmer grant summer school this year will take place from June 24 to July 26. We'll have an early and a late session from eight to 12 or nine to one with the morning focusing more on the academic and as we move to the latter part of the morning and afternoon, morning enrichment. The Enrichment will be offered by either our teachers or contractors that will work in the schools. There are 26k Eight schools that have been identified for summer school. Those 26 schools are throughout the city. We will be providing transportation to our students to these 26 schools. The registration process for families and students will start may 1 include may 24. Again, summer school will be from June 24 to July 26. We will have our employees apply to positions just because they're at a school where the site is offering some school does not necessarily mean that they will be selected to be at that site, we will try to keep staff at the schools that they're at. But there isn't necessarily a preference for those staff already at one of those 26 schools. All those 26 schools will have air conditioning. And that is a major improvement from years past. I do remember, eight, seven years ago when we had summer school in many schools, there was often we had to cancel schools because it was too hot, and we didn't have air so that was a commitment to improve the process. We will have high school summer school for grades nine through 12. That includes gret, possibly graduating seniors, of course recovery and social studies, language arts, science and math. That will be at select locations and we'll have teachers there as well. We'll also have kindergarten bootcamp. And we'll have on special education or ESC summer school as well as select sites with transportation. I'll conclude as a follow up to last month. I know staff from noble came. They were very enthusiastic about participating in summer school. There's a couple of challenges with including noble in the Ballmer grant. One, the Ballmer grant is concluded the funding has been provided for these 26 schools and noble does not have air conditioning. And so there was a recommendation to put partial air or to maybe put air conditioning units in every school. If you think many of you, including myself, if you have a home in the city, you have challenges with electricity. So because houses and schools were built in an era before at scale air conditioning, so even when I run my own air conditioning unit and a separate room, often the fuse blows. So think about an individual score like noble that is old, it is impossible to put partial or put classroom air conditioning units in most or many buildings because the grid specific to noble cannot sustain that it is impossible in two months to upgrade the electric electrical system at Noble to allow that to happen. Not only is it impossible to contract to do that, but we have very specific state construction laws that would prevent any kind of procurement process to happen in two months. Plus, finding a contractor that can even provide the air conditioning units and install them if the electrical upgrade could happen, which cannot. With that said, I will work with principal Norwood on a plan and to offer summer squat noble if the staff wants to. If the parents want to go there right now the parents that know the students at Noble would go to Durfee. And I'll also problem solve with staff to consider possibly going to Durfee if that's where they'd like to go, but I am thankful for the enthusiasm. I want to problem solve with the noble staff to do something. And I will work with principal Norwood to do that, and possibly meet directly with the noble staff to problem solve with what we can do at Noble or at another site this summer. So the way that we organized the Balmer grant was to do it through central office. Because if you just take a moment and put aside what you would like, it would be maddening to manage 70 different schools applying to a summer school application, when you're talking about paying teachers, putting teachers on payroll, defining transportation, and then also working through air conditioning and facility upgrades that are happening throughout the summer, at particular buildings. Lastly, we did have comments about circle last month, we have been over the last couple of weeks, in partnership with DFT, interviewing all wheeling staff at circle about their experience that circle, what's working, what's not what are concerns from a climate and culture perspective, that has been one on one, interviews along with surveys that have been used, we are going to share those results with the leadership team and staff. There are also other allegations that are separate to that process that are being investigated by employee relations. And unnecessary discipline will be implemented. But the next steps is to review the survey data and to work collaboratively between the school leadership and the staff so that all employees ethical can feel better about working at circle, and we can move forward with a focus on our students at the school. The board may have questions, but that concludes my presentation.
Thank you, Dr. Vitti. Do we have any questions for the superintendent and in regards to his report? Thank you for the collaboration that the board and the superintendent has had since last month board meeting. So thank you for everybody being available to have conversation. And I think the result of that is what we heard today. So thank you. We'll now move into Oh, the chair entertain a motion to accept the Superintendent's report. Zero support or it's been properly moved by Dr. Taylor. properly supported by member Vaughn to accept the Superintendent's report. Is there any discussion? All those in favor of accepting a report signify by saying Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried Thank you. We will now move into public comments.
Members of the public are welcome to address the board during public comment. Individuals wishing to address the board must register in person or raise their hand online prior to the chair announcing the close of public comment registration. For those in person, the Chair will call the names of individuals to address the board in order to see please remain seated until your name is called for virtual public comment. Virtual public comment will be facilitated through a zoom webinar. The link and phone number for which can be accessed at Detroit K twelve.org backslash board meetings. Individuals wishing to address the Board may do so by choosing one of the two options. One through your computer you can raise you can select the Raise Your Hand option on the screen or to through your telephone, you can press star nine and that raises your hand on the telephone. The meeting administrator will select the individuals in the order received. You will remain muted until it is your time to speak. All comments will be limited to three minutes. The superintendent will reply to questions or concerns raised today that do not violate ethical legal standards, confidentiality, privacy of others or requires additional information to respond. If you would like a direct response to your question and our concern, please forward an email to the secretary of the board Vanja Dartmoor at Detroit K twelve.org.
So we have the two mics if we could have Mr. Hollin Bolton and Lisa culpa to one mic, and Loretta Hall and Eileen Smith to the other mic, please. Thanks
Hey everybody, my name is Emma Holland Bolton. And I am a proud fourth grade teacher at Circle Elementary School. And I'm going to take this moment to say on the record that my students aren't the best. At the last board meeting, when I got up here to speak, I was so nervous, I was shaking. I was nervous because I thought if I didn't do a good enough job, if I didn't get the people sitting on this stage to care about what's happening at my school, then they wouldn't intervene and help us and then I would have failed my students, my colleagues in my community, you'll notice I'm not nervous today. That's because I now know there is nothing I or anyone else can do or say to get the people on this stage to care. They don't care that students that third will haven't had recess in five years. Yes, that includes kindergarten. They don't care that we have the highest teacher turnover rate in the district because of the culture of fear and intimidation that permeates our building. And they don't care that our young people often have three or four different teachers in a year as a result, they don't care that our students don't have access to be to books because our principal refused the donation of a school library four years ago, they don't care that parents are not welcome into indoor building, and they don't care that people are afraid. Much Ado has been made about the fact that 32 staff testimonies about workplace violations and retaliation were anonymous, initially, but they're not anonymous anymore. In fact, when the district finally came to investigate, there were so many people waiting to put their name on their testimony, there was a line down the hall. There are a couple of people here today to tell you that we are all lying all 32 of us. That should tell you everything you need to know if there's a school where staff leave in droves because of their poor treatment, if the majority of staff who have stayed are terrified. And if someone is still willing to stand before you and tell you that circle is a positive place to be then I'm here to tell you that is an individual who is personally benefiting from their relationship to the principal. Maybe they just got a new job they didn't apply for maybe their master teacher who has been granted power and privilege well outside their job description, two of the three staff here to talk to you today about how we're all lying have committed serious infractions, including hitting or pushing students and letting them vape in class, and we're never written up for them. Let's see. Sorry, but I'm letting you know. Now anyone who stands before you and says that our school has been improved by our school leadership is telling on themselves, and we should listen. And we should care. Your learning and working environments shouldn't be pleasant or hostile depending on how well the principal likes you. But that's what we have, for a select few theorical is a dream come true. For the rest of us. It's a living nightmare. Sure, there are two or three people who have personally benefited from the relationship to the principal, but the sheer number of staff who have left tell the real story. The primary problem with this district is that the feelings of a few highly paid adults are prioritized over the needs of all of the children. In this district. You're punished if you speak up and rewarded if you stay silent. But if you're willing to lie, well, you're treated like royalty. And I really think we should change that. And again, I just want to shout out my students, the butterflies and let's waffle, they're the best come to our school of music on May 21 at that Circle Theatre at 5pm.
Thank you, Lisa Cabo. And at the other mic, we can have Loretta Holland Eileen Smith.
I'm Lisa. Hello, I'm Lisa colpa, kindergarten math teacher, third teacher that this class has had this year. I'm a newer teacher at third goal. I spoke last month about the conditions overall and wanted to share some some specifics. As I said previously, this is not meant to be an attack on the principal as a person but on things that she allows or doesn't allow. Typically when one teacher goes on a field trip, the other teacher goes on a subsequent trip. I was left behind in December from the Ann Arbor hands on Museum, so fully expected to go to the Edsel Ford House Trip on March 22 2024. An email was sent at 9:30pm on Thursday the 21st right after I spoke that I was staying back. The teacher who can barely walk the steps at Circle had over 20 students on the trip during a snowstorm. It can only be assumed that this was in retaliation for my speaking last month. There was a student with an IEP who was supposed to be placed in an ASD room but miss Gaines allows this student to stay at the school because the parent comes in and helps. And so recently that homeroom had a behavior support person who is assigned to go to him to ELA lunch specials, but not math. This student has been a major distraction and no one is receiving a free and appropriate public education during that time because of Miss gains policies of not allowing other volunteers or having the district places student appropriately. A second student with an IEP for an ASE placement returned after almost two months gone this past Thursday. He is not toilet trained, screams and throws things around the classroom. This student should have been dropped completely or placed correctly but as allowed to stay and disrupt everyone's free and appropriate public education. Discipline is not handled with consistency again, because of policies not being followed, a student was moved between homerooms because of grabbing girls, and watching boys in the bathroom. He is now in the same room as the students I mentioned earlier. This boy has repeatedly made threats to other students going as far as saying, quote, I'm gonna get you and directly pointing finger guns at another student's head, moving his finger like a trigger and clicking his mouth like he's cocking a firearm. These actions he does his actions in other classrooms, but I'm the only one who does referrals correctly. So little has been done, maybe a one or two day ISS. I've been in schools where these actions would have had a student be removed, even in kindergarten. But a circle is allowed to continue to disrupt the learning of many students. My students are learning and growing as our president met one of them. But I think they would do so much more an environment where they, their families and their teachers feel safe, welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss culpa. We have Loretta Hall, Eileen Smith.
Greetings, everyone. My name is Marita Hall, and I'm I'm sorry. And I am the parent of parent outreach coordinator from Emerson school. I am also a parent and Mr. School. I help coordinate our monthly PTA meetings and monitor students who arrived before school starts and greet the students and parents in the morning as the end of the school. I recently conducted a petition for our school to have a fence built around the perimeter of school grounds because we are connected to a community park and this will keep the dogs and protect our children. I would like to tell you about some great things happening with Emerson eagles. We recently enjoy the family dinner evening celebrating our students with honors and attendance. We have speakers such as Detroit's very own Wayne County Commissioner District Six, Monique Baker McCormick, last little who volunteers once a week and has the vote and has the vote is I've always organization and a few others to inspire emesis who attended on this past Friday in conjunction with spirit week, we had a celebration of Ellison Ellis Ellison's out in the hallway celebrating middle school students who are accepted in application high schools, as well as celebrating best teachers ever award. Our robotics teams just had Roboto Fest at Emerson and we landed in first and second place. Emerson has two upcoming events, which are our second annual father and daughter dance, a large turnout and our first mother and son dance. The students are excited. Just to name a few Emerson writes, and also want to give a shout out to my principal, Mr. Terry, who was doing an excellent job.
Thank you, Miss Smith. Oh, that's my saw. I'm sorry. Annie Smith. Yes. And to Liz Allen the third. And Kelly Thompson is deal is Allen the third and Kelly counsel. Thank you. Go ahead, Miss Smith.
Hi, my name is Eileen Smith. I've been an employee with DPS for good 24 years mostly as a substitute teacher. This is my first year as an AI. I've been sending emails about my concerns I have experienced with this principal at the school I met Schultz, this woman is the worst principal I've ever encountered. All my years implored. Were DPS. Oh, she's verbal abuse of she abused her authority. I experienced it October 31. My first time we were at a MacKenzie Scott meeting, October 31. And she just blew off for me because she thought I wasn't on task. She was yelling at me while other people present saying that. Did you get paid? Did you get paid? Do you will go back to your school you would go back to school. She repeated it over and over again. And then again. I had another incident January the 12th was another meeting. Whereas she tried to go off on me again. But I did stand up spoke I did speak up for myself and since I refused to obey her command to go get a drink of water. And I felt I did not do anything wrong. I did not leave the building right away. So she caught me at the media center. The teacher was there in the room. And he overheard her yelling at me. She demand that she asked the security to escort me from the building. Like I was a criminal All right, and I'm trying to find out. Well, what did I do wrong? As far as the ethical code is concerned? What did I do wrong to be escorted from the building? I don't care if it was with pay, not contact the ER office, Miss Miller mess. And I explained to her what was going on January 12. She wanted to set up a meeting with me where she had her own summary of what happened on a 12. She wanted me to sign her summary with discrepancies and false statements. And I said, I'm not signing that. So January the 26th. That Friday, Mr. rosier comes, he wants to hear my side story. And he distorted all my words what I said everything. I sent an email to Dr. Baby cherry. I haven't heard anything I sent it was unclarity. What what I actually said and then I have to take a polygraph test. I will do it because I don't like I'm very upset that men distorted my words like that. And he should not be in a position he sent a report to Dr. Vida false report. And that's defamation and libel, right difference. I'm concerned. Oh my god. And I sent an email last week.
Thank you. Thank you, Miss Smith. We do have the email response that we can resend to you. It was sent on February the fifth 2024 from Dr. VD all board members were CC it on here. We will resend that so that's at the top of your email three. Thank you. The next Miss, Dr. Dr. Collins, thank you Dr. Lewis Allen. Go ahead and is Kelly Tunsil. Okay, in at the next mic if we can have Portia young and Mackenzie Campbell. Porsche McKinsey Campbell, unfortunately young at the other mic. Go ahead, Mr. Allen. Okay.
First, I want to say I'm a graduate of Cass Technical High School product of DPS. All right, I started off at thermo March of 2021. As a academic interventionist, I am now the attendance agent, I have to be transparent about why I'm making these comments is actually to have live, it is not to sling mud on anybody. And I want to share my experiences at Thurgau with principle games. Last meeting principle games was called the bully vindictive in the light. I just want to say that that has not been my experience in the lease. I must also let it be known that I was not questioned or asked about my experience with principle gains at all by anyone from the union. Nobody approached me to say did I have any issues anything from where I stand principle gains as a dedicated educator who puts the children's needs first above everything else, including convenience, as Miss HB stated, recess is a requirement. So as a tennis agent, sometimes I do recess, I do recess today, seventh grade, kindergarten today, I took a bunch of kids Friday to the gym. This is an actual thing that we do. And Miss Gaines does the same thing. She runs the lunch room. She does tutoring during lunch time. We fill in the gaps because that's what's necessary. Another thing that Miss Gaines has done and I was there during the 2020 to 2122 or 2021. I want to say, Yeah, I was there when they opened up the schools for the M step. Three adult men rushed into the school to attack a student. Mr. Merton was there I ran downstairs, and on the other side of Mr. worden, was Miss Gaines holding these men back from getting our students. So as a reason why Miss Gaines is very diligent about the safety. All right. Last I want to say we have high standards and big expectations at 30. And Bear realistic that's very difficult. Given our current academic standings as a district on the whole level. This is a difficult task in the face of our high rates of chronic absenteeism. We're trying to build a going to school culture. That's what I was told. So why would I drop a kindergartener? No, I'm gonna keep trying to get this kindergarten kid to come back. Because I don't want to give up on these kids. Where else are they gonna go? So no, we didn't drop a certain students that might be considered a problem. Last but not least, is gonna take people who don't want to just do their job to make these numbers go up where we want him to go is going to take people to be about a mission. And if we continue to focus on our differences and issues we We'll never come together to get a students there just do. That's all I have to say.
Thank you Mr. Alan Kelly Thompson.
Good evening. Good evening. My name is Kelly times L and I am the math master teacher at third co rather than attack my co workers or speak about their inadequacies. Let me share some of the wonderful things that are going on if our school has moved off the closure lifts list since our principal has arrived. Our school is now data driven. Our school focuses on a push for proficiency. School Leadership is approachable, transparent, and democratic inner leadership. Majority of our staff believes in the school leadership. School Leadership keeps staff students and families safe. Never at any time since I have arrived at Circle, have I witnessed any hostile situations with school leadership? We are doing amazing things and amazing work ethical. I believe in our leadership, I believe in this board. Thank you.
Thank you Miss tonsil. We have Portia young and Mackenzie Campbell to one mic and to wine McGrady and our taro Wilson to the other mic, please. Portia Young. Go ahead, Miss Miss Porter.
I am a third school parents. I have three beautiful children that go to third school. They started off rough and ever since I've been at Circle. Miss Stephanie Gaines has been nothing but up most helping my children. I have been I went to school and I've never known a middle school to give uniforms and supplies. I'm here to support her and the things that she have done for my children. That's it.
Thank you. Thank you, Miss Young. We have Mackenzie Campbell. And then the one McGrady and Arturo Wilson. Good
evening. My name is Mackenzie Campbell, and I am a master teacher at thermal elementary middle school, I joined that staff of dpscd in the fall of 2020. So in the middle of the pandemic, and one thing that drew me to my school was that we actually were open during the COVID with, of course, appropriate protocols for student learning when many buildings were not. And I really appreciated that I was a young rookie teacher, I was second year teaching. When I started at third goal, I have made all kinds of mistakes. And I don't know a single educator who can't stand in front of you, and say that they have done everything perfectly, because teaching is hard. It is. But one thing I appreciate is that when I interviewed with dpscd, I knew I was interviewing for a person not a position, because I worked previously for a principal that I didn't see eye to eye with. That's okay. Not everybody is for everybody. That's okay. That's not personal. We don't have to make it personal. Some people will, unfortunately. But it doesn't have to be that way. I would also like to point out just the amount of safety protocols that we have in place at thermal. Our students. Bags are checked every morning, because we know that schools across the country, not just here in Detroit, are dealing with massive safety issues. We know that educators across the country are concerned for our own safety and the safety of our classrooms. One reason I continue to come to work every day, is because I know that thermal is safe. And I know that I don't have to worry about something crazy happening, like what some others have mentioned, because things are being kept safe. Also, I would like to talk about the push for proficiency outside of dpscd. Before I came to the district, I had never heard anybody talk about student growth. It was only about the number that number of students we had who were proficient. And unfortunately, I think it is an a massive inequity that we don't push for proficiency that we talk about growth. Growth is great. Don't get me wrong. But when we talk about applications to competitive high schools, to competitive colleges, those kinds of schools are looking at proficiency. They're not looking at growth. Thank you very much.
Thank you. We have dwama Grady Arturo Wilson. Do is Allen Jr.
Good evening board members, Dr. Vitti and community leaders. My name is Duan McGrady, and I'm on the executive board member for the Detroit Federation of Teachers. I am coming before you tonight to inform you of two concerns facing our early childhood population. first concern, there are too many undiagnosed special needs students in our general education, early childhood classrooms. Many of these children have not been tested. Due to understaffing within our district. We have a shortage of speech therapist, school psychologists and paraprofessionals. When our students go undiagnosed, a cause many causes many issues. Early identification allows for the implementation of specialized interventions tailored to the specific needs of individuals targeting social communication, language development, and behavior challenges. Furthermore, early diagnosis enables families to assess appropriate support surfaces, educational resources and community programs, thus, facilitating a better coping mechanism, reducing parental stress and increasing adult independence. The longer we wait to give students the proper help, the more we hurt our children. The teachers have these undiagnosed students are having to deal with tasks such as toiletry needs, keeping students from running out of the classroom, and calming array children. These children often become dangerous to themselves or others around them. Our educators are having difficulty and providing the needed level of support to these students in the general education classroom, while also meeting the needs of their other students. My second concern, early childhood teachers are not being paid extra for extra work performed during the summer months, teachers were paid an hourly workshop the for rolling students over the summer. But with stipulations, teachers had to contact the parent in order to make an appointment prior to the date of the appointment. Then teachers had to meet the parents at the school to enroll the child. Assuming everything went well, the clerical staff at the school would enter the student into PowerSchool. Teachers would then be paid one hour per student enrolled. The problem was this. The rule was, the child had to be rolled into PowerSchool for the teacher to be paid. For example, my colleague made three appointments one day, one for nine, one for 10 and one for 11 o'clock. Her nine o'clock appointment did not show up her 10 appointment. 10 o'clock appointment went well. Then her 11 o'clock appointment showed up, but the parent did not bring any documentation, child's birth certificate, shop record, etc. Despite my colleagues directions, that child could not be putting into parents school that day. Therefore, the cop my colleague, that will that worked, she worked three hours
Thank you. Thank you, Miss McGrady. We have Mr. Wilson and Mr. Allen Jr.
Good afternoon guys. How you guys doing today? My name is Mr. Arturo Wilson, I was called upon via the LSAT, Student Advisory Council to come speak about the phenomenal things are taking place at Emerson Elementary Middle School today. So about in January. We had Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State come in and demonstrate a mock election. We also had Dr. Martin Luther King mural on behalf of the Alpha men revealed to our students the only embody the excellence of black America and how far Dr. King dreams actually become. We also under my leadership formed the student council. We invited the state representatives of legislators Stephanie young and Natalie Price who came assistant and ADRs children on the importance of voting and how the demographic system allows our students to grow up strive and thrive to become an excellence there was men and female. We also spoke about the importance of literacy and diversity within our community. And we formulated ideas and we looked into writing grants to get funds allocated back into our school. We also invited Councilman Tate within the same love to come talk to a third grade class in the fourth grade class. We also invite all parents within the community to come engage with Councilman Tate to help allocate funds and shake hands and rub shoulders with some city councilman which they will never or ever have the opportunity to come and do. We also started up a best teacher award throughout the community and within our school when we had the student council vote and display their best teachers within the school and we were teaching them leadership discipline, and tenacity and consistency amongst our young people, because for the most part, they have no idea how it looks and how it's displayed. So we're going to take that step of leadership and display those characteristics. Also, we had an award ceremony for eighth grade students who were accepted to contest schools. We had a big phenomenal parade down the halls on both elementary school side and middle school side, showing that do tenacity and perseverance you can become what you want to become. I'm just here to shine a bright light on Emerson Elementary, Middle School and the leadership of principal, Alonzo Terry, it's all I have to say.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Wilson. We have the oldest Allen Jr. and then community partner.
Hey, my name is. My name is Dr. LaSalle, and Jr. I'm a college professor. I teach business at Wayne County. But in my past, I've been an academic dean, I've been a director of education. And some people don't get it. Leadership is hard. It's easy to criticize people when you don't sit in their seat. I'm here because literally, I grew up in thermals district, I grew up off 12th street and Lee place. So when I come in, to help with the after school program, and meet Miss games, all I see is humility and professionalism. I understand that people can have different perspectives. We all do. Well, that's my humility and professionalism. If you are, I am sorry. If other people have a different perspective, that's okay. But I think we should all believe half of what we see, and none of what we hear. We all have built in filters. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Allen. We have community partner and Saeeda Rizvi please correct the pronunciation of the last name. Raise me okay.
All right.
Appreciate it. It was a Sunday night in 2022. I received a phone call around 9pm. The phone call I received was from a principal telling me that one of her former students have ran away from home the student was at a gas station on eight mile and grassy at nighttime. The principal is no longer that students principal. But the principal was passionate enough to make that phone call because she saw that student as a person. She caught me she caught the students current principle caught the mother caught her auntie just so we can rescue that young lady. Now that's not going to show up in any data calm. Most people aren't even gonna even know that story. But that lady is Stephanie games, that third group. Sometimes numbers don't necessarily reflect a person's passion. One of the things that's missing in many communities is that we don't find people that's passionate about disenfranchised people within the city of Detroit. somebody that cares about a student enough to drop everything they're doing, and reach out to the community to save and rescue that child, which we did. Those are stories that you won't hear. Those are stories that exists as a partner, in a person that volunteers with different schools. I see plenty of people within a district that are passionate. But I can honestly say Stephanie Gaines is literally one of the top individuals that's passionate about helping young black girls make it to the next step in life. I can tell you plenty of stories of us driving on Joy Road, trying to find some kid that you know suffers from, you know, like some type of like special needs, and she's searching for him trying to help that mother trying to help that family. I fully support Stephanie again, she asked to stay in many programs at Thurgau Elementary. She has fought for her students she has fought for many individuals within that community given different opportunities at that particular school, including various programs that's led by Detroiters, when people that's from Detroit, I think that, um, it's a lot of pressure doing that particular job. But she always takes pride in that she take pride in the fact that this is the for a 206. And it's a neighborhood that's coming back. And she always say it's a circle thing. Meaning that is not necessarily a thing. It's the kids that sit in that building that push that community. And even though that there's a lot of changes going on in that community. One of the changes that she wants to happen is, is that the perception of the young black kids in that community will be of a certain ilk, and they deserve excellence. Thank you for your time, and I truly appreciate it.
Thank you. Miss Rizvi, and then we have mama Redman and Miss Alia more
peace and blessings to Dr. Booty board members and all attendees. October 18, the first PTC around 7pm After 12 hours of work handing the sign in sheet and parent later in office. Principal gains threatened to write me up for using teams and IQs T platform for providing simulation videos and science assignment to parents. In November my computer card was taken from my room regardless of assurance from Superintendent Dr. Reddy and assistant superintendent for its return by November 27. It was not returned till early March. Four months later, due to absence of computers. A student pulled his phone to look up vocabulary word principal threatened to write me up again. In March I attended a meeting with principal Akina as a result of email warning and safety concern. I was interrogated for closing my door, while all my peers have been closing the door for the whole year. And nobody received a warning. Just me going back to threats of being written up, led to meeting in November in that second meeting in March after second set of threads. First she labeled me of aggression for students who have no parents. That is not true. second meeting she labeled me again, with different accusations with no baby says, I lost my father, when I was eight, had my mother and my sisters not being supported by grandparents, and extended family members. I don't know where I would be. I joined dpscd where the intention of being like those caring adults to receive to provide care to underserved population that I received in my life. I am not those labeled, that principle is labeling me with no basis and her preconceived notions. I am learning now that she retaliated to this by reporting me negatively to public relations department during same time in November, when we were having dialogue with Dr ability to return the computer car to the science classes and meaning return to school because I was cleared by Wayne County Health Department and Henry Ford, instead of supporting the teacher from different background and different culture. Principal gave us an everyday event of chronic defiance, vandalism and threat made by a student for their teacher and made a dishonest comment to public relation department. Her dishonest statement led to a blemish on my record impacted my livelihood and added stress as an educator. And just as a note, my grandmother's served in education for 50 years and 35 years consecutively. And in addition Excellent
thank you Miss Rizvi. We have mama Redman and Miss Alia more. And at the other mic if we can have my kill Lee and Niomi Dunson White
Thank you. Good evening board and board members. I just have a few questions that I may need your assistance with. One I was trying to figure out can you guys help referring Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, a kindergarten teacher, as well as a gym teacher that we're still kind of in need of also says our plan is to move in June, from our prior school or to whatever building you got As our we're moving to for our, by our building being torn down, would it be possible if we can get more staff assistants to help with the move also?
Thank you.
Thank you, Mama Robin. Miss Alia more and my kill Lee is Michael Lee at the other mic. Oh, okay, I'm sorry. It's incorrectly typed in here. Okay, Michelle Lee, and Naomi done some white. Go ahead, Miss Moore.
Good evening board. And Dr. Vidi. Just a few questions before I go into my comment. What is the fate of Cooley High School? I know I remember something about it being a sports arena or practice place. But what is the current status of Cooley, as far as the beautiful donation of washers and dryers? Now that we have them? Will it be a financial issue of installment and when is installment exactly to take place for all of those washers and dryers at our schools? As far as let's read, you know, we're a struggling program. And we need the board support. You know whether it's literacy, whether it's finances, whether it's policy, we need somebody to make some less read videos, so we can post them on this website. And we can post them on social media so people can take it serious if the board is taking a series. As far as the Southwest program the summer school, I'm glad that you are thinking of noble, but let's keep in mind that people are filled out permission slips and petitions were signed. So that means that they want their babies to get it. So y'all make sure that happens in one way, shape, or form. But as far as southwest, didn't they get a grant or something last year for their summer school for the pre K I mean for the elementary or middle school experience. So justify that in and make it one approval, but not the other. As far as I got so much, y'all but the downtown magazine from Birmingham, Dr. Vitti was quoted saying as far as the cell phone contracts that were under the Emergency Management School Board, what was the Emergency Management School Board. And also as far as the next renewal for four of these short contracts between 2024 and 2025, what you're about to do, as far as we know, I'm gonna use my last minute to just first say Dr. Beatty, you you compare and contrast to a district that had a board but didn't have power before you got here, we went under state control. So if you want to blame something not being in place, you need to blame mistake. But I will use my last 48 minutes in county to address a lecture by an anonymous person that came to my home, letting me know that they have been watching me and following me for the last 10 years and advocating for these children and this district, but you're gonna try to tell me how to advocate. You watching my social media posts. You got you know that I have nicknames for the majority of his board. Let me just tell you all. I'm not nobody to be intimidated by. I'm a parent that you asked for engaged involve and come with solutions that are doable. I'm not just talking out the side of my neck. So anybody that wants to see me, y'all can see me but don't right next to my house. And if you're right
Thank you, Miss Moore. We have Michelle Lee and Naomi Dunston white to one mic. And Mama Helen Moore. Good to see you back. We'll have you out the other mic.
Miss Lee, go ahead. Hi, my name is Michelle Lee and unprecedented have asked me local 345. And I just want to address some problems that we're having throughout the district about people illegally videotaping people, and then turning it into the principal and then without being asked what happened or you know, given their side of the story they put in, as he called it the teachers jailed or the detention center or whatever you want to call it. I'm just wondering, isn't that illegal for you? You know, someone to videotape you without your knowledge. Okay. Anyway, Thurgood Marshall was where it happened. And what the problem is, it's not that the problem is with the staff with the staff at the prom is that they have no change in tables. They are at the school to change the students. So one of the young members she was changing the student on the floor and someone was in a stall videotaping her. Okay, so my thing is the problem is not with this staff. Be and videotape too much I'm worried really about why isn't there changing tables in that dog gone school? Tell me that if that should have been a big concern of the principal instead of sin and my my member over to the teachers jail without giving her an explanation as to why she's there. Why do they not have changed and tables compensated if that was my childhood was been changed on the bathroom floor, I will have a damn problem. I'm gonna tell you that right now. The parent probably don't even know. And she has six seven students that she changed in the ladies restroom without any help. Okay. So what the principal's should have been concerned about is what is that OSHA problem or something? You know, having the kids on the floors is inexcusable.
Can you please address that? ASAP.
Thank you. Thank you, Miss Lee. We have Naomi Dunson white, and Mama more.
Yes, thank you to the school board for giving me the opportunity to speak. My name is Naomi Dunn. Some why I am a children's book author. And I would like to speak for a couple of minutes in support of the parents are heroes program. I was honored last year I'm very grateful that one of my books was selected for the program. I write books for children of color because every child should be able to see themselves in the books that they read. I believe that every child has a gift within them. But it's up to us the adults in their lives to help them discover it. The parents are heroes program showed me that the DPS community district staff believe it too. They realized that parent participation and support are critical to student's success. What I witnessed was from the moment that they arrived, parents were welcomed and treated as honored guests. They were seen, heard, appreciated and valued. One of the first things that happened was that superhero capes were tied around their neck. And the smiles on their faces were heartwarming, it almost brought you to tears to just see that they were starting to realize that this was going to be something special just for them. In addition to being treated to the beautiful surroundings of the Renaissance Center ballroom, the outstanding speakers, educational materials, motivational information, workshops, resources, free books for their children, and thank you gifts. Were all just part of the encouragement that parents received to do all they can to participate in their children's education and academic success. This type of affirmation builds parents up and that type of confidence can be passed down to their students, as a former educator, and foster care specialist, and now someone who uses her words to speak into children's lives. I see the value of the parents are heroes program. And I hope that the board does too. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you Miss Dotson white, Mama Moore, and Mark Davis and Donald row. Well, Davis
Good evening. The first thing I like to do is compliment the board for looking so nice. Your hair looks so beautiful. And Dr. VD although you don't have any hair, your head looks real nice. Okay, now, so I'm trying to make a joke. So everybody can laugh because we need to laugh at a time when things are so serious with our children. Board members. Do you know what your job is? I got a chance to stay at home because my children two of my children's car broke down so they had to use my car. But I was able to go back in history and check all my files and find out how far we've come and what you've done for our children. And I hate to say this to all of you but you have done nothing for our children but you've done a lot for yourself. You've given yourself $250 on meeting and even with that, and it's our money. I don't see why some people always late or never come to meetings. You know you're checking us Doctor VD and board. But we're checking you because time is coming for any election. And there are going to be three positions for the board. Word, we have to get rid of some of you because you really aren't doing the job for our children. Any time we do an investigation on how you check your testing and everything and find out that approximately 11% of our children are at grade level, what about all the other children that are not making it in this district that are brilliant, and when I say brilliant, I'm talking about the children that I tutor at the Barton school. I got a child that everybody thought couldn't read and was very dumb and stupid because he was sleeping in class. That child is so brilliant, he reads encyclopedia to me. What are we doing for our children? And you all need to get into schools more than you're doing? You need to set up some more meetings with parents and students together. Because guess what, we're going backwards. I can say that because I've been involved over 55 years. I've been an activist for over 55 years I've seen that the school board and the schools were in they were at the top and I've seen it at the bottom when it's taken over. We have not gained the progress that we need to gain after all this time you just gave Dr BD another extension contract. And you all are you reaping all the benefits of our money like the 94th out million dollars I don't know what you're doing with that. But you got to start looking at the truth and the truth shall set you free.
Thank you, mom, Mr. Mark Davis and Donna roll. Well Davis is and if the other mic, Mary Wright, juris Mickens and the last public comments are in person is Lynn Huddleston.
Good evening. My name is Donna Raul Davis and I'm a school nurse at Charles R drew Transition Center. And so my question is I filed a grievance. And July 17 of 2017. I mean, July 17, of 2023. And the grievance was because I was wrongfully terminated from the ascender year program. I had a prove absence put into a tenant conference. And I was terminated and I filed a grievance. And I haven't heard anything I've written and written to see what's going on. I haven't received anything about that grievance. In addition to that I filed the HR complaint against my supervisor, and I haven't heard anything about that. And it seems that it's being swept under the rug. So I was just wondering if you could could tell me where what's going on with my grievance process for being wrongfully terminated from the extended year program at Charles R Drew. And then secondly, what's going on with my human resource complaint against my supervisor. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Miss Redwall. Davis is Mark Mark Davis. Okay.
Good evening, board members, Dr. BD, Mark Davis, noble. I want to thank McClendon for coming by to visit us the other day. And also a couple of quick items. One, I want to thank the board for getting summer school back in operation last year was with the grant and I'm hopeful that this will continue because last year was not acceptable where many of our young people except outside of eighth grade and high schoolers were able to go to summer school. With that, I'm gonna turn things over to some of my colleagues.
Good afternoon or good evening. I am Tiana Johnson. I'm the ELA master teacher at Noble. First of all, on behalf of the noble staff, the community and the parents, we want to say thank you for at least a hearing to the petition that we sent out taking the time. McClendon and President Mayberry for coming to Nobo to speak with us to hear our concern about why we wanted to have summer school at Lenovo. And again, we thank you for hearing us because I've been at Noble for 11 years. I'm one of the only teachers that's been there. This long I was there when we had I'm a school in the heat. And I've been there when we've gone to other summer school and other buildings and our students don't come. So when the opportunity came for us to write that grant, I sat in on it because I had experienced I know why parents don't send their kids to other schools for summer school and why we bought into the parents at Noble, they jumped on it immediately, because that's what they wanted their kids to go. We put in a place up in our plan of what it is that we would do for our students. But we were aware of that noble was not fully air conditioned, partially. I worked at a summer school that was partially air conditioned. And I saw how they did it there. I didn't see why we couldn't do the exact same thing. At our school. I got the email from Chief Ashby today sounded positive, but then I read the last line and we kind of felt defeated again, I asked again of the school board and Dr. VD to reconsider Nobel for having Summer Learning Academy.
For the last 30 seconds, good evening, my name is Steven lead. I did come in last month to speak on behalf of noble and summer school and I just want to say thank you to the board. Thank you to Dr. Vitti thank you to Chief Ashby. They were very responsive. They came in and they're working on a plan for noble. So everyone, stay tuned. Thank you so much. Appreciate you. Thank you board.
Thank you.
Mary, Mary Wright is next do we have Mary right? Okay. Just one second could juris Mickens and Lynne Huddleston also make their way to the mic as well. Thank you, Miss Wright, you
can go. Good.
Good evening, my name is Mary Ryan, and I am an AI thermal. Let me say I enjoy my staff. They work well with me. However, I am an AI with a master's in teaching. And I don't get to do my job as an AI because we can't get any subs in the building. And that's very difficult to teach students or try to teach students who refuse to listen and learn. I am a I've been in leadership all my life in church, and my former jobs, I've been an administrator in the group home in California leadership, the staff or any member of anything cannot go as high as the leadership. If the leadership is staffing us, the staff is not going to work. When students are so disruptive. And they're throwing chairs and they're fighting. That's the problem. As an AI, I've been in every room in that building. And I do like what I do, however, I don't get to do it. I can't teach the curriculum. Because my fault, I'm not certified. But I do have that degree. However, if you guys are gonna make a difference, I know you have to get you got to stop blaming the teachers. You got to get the parents involved. Because just like when I grew up, and I'm old, I'm not young, I'm over 60 closer to 70. And just like my mother taught me, I am your first teacher. And you represent me when you walk out these doors every day. If we don't get these parents involved in to our schools, and in our children's learning, we have failed a generation. And it is up to you all as a board. And now I'm putting on my preacher voice. It's up to you as the board to get it together so that our children don't go to the jail house from from the schoolhouse to jailhouse because that's where they're going. When I worked in California. That's exactly what I saw children going from the schools to the jails because they were not educated properly. You have got to step with us and help us to educate our children. Thank you.
Thank you Joe Reese Mickens Jared, Jared Jericho. Okay, thank you. Sorry, Jericho Mickens. And then LAN Huddleston.
Hello, I'm not Jeric and against that is my wonderful co worker Jerrica but I missed the signup and she graciously let me take her spot. My name is Imani Foster, I'm currently the communications and research director at four A two forward. I know y'all know before he before where it is, if folks in the don't in audience don't you can just do the number four eight to the word forward and check out our website, we fight for education justice for all students in Detroit. I'm also a graduate of Renaissance High School 2018. Go Phoenix. I just recently graduated from college at Northwestern University. And what I've been doing since I got back from Northwestern, thank you is extensive research on the literacy problem in Detroit. I've been listening to community members listening to researchers at Wayne State and University of Michigan doing a deep dive. And what we found is that $94 million is not going to matter if we use it for Band Aid solutions. It's not going to work, it's not going to work well we know is that if students aren't reading at grade level by the first grade, by the time that they're in the third grade, it's already too late. There are statistics that say that 81% of first graders who don't read by grade level on the first grade will never catch up. What that means is we have to meet our students where we're at. We know we live in a state where you don't have to go to school and pre K or kindergarten, you can start in the first grade. What that means is we have to get to the students when their first teacher doesn't when they can, when there are barriers. And so we know that y'all are going to be voting very soon, on April 15. If y'all didn't know, on what's happening with this $94 million at 42. Forward, we are urgently asking you not to use the funds for Band Aid solutions, we know that there are students who are in need right now. And there are students that are going to be in need in the future, if we don't already invest in the ones we're not researching. If we don't already know, we're not testing them, right, they don't take the M step until the third grade. We don't know what's going on. But if we step in, if we don't wait till this time for interventions, but create a system in a classroom that is well funded from the start, what I think we can show the state is if you give Detroit more money, we can do this and all of our classrooms, we can use it as a test, I think and so I'm here to represent for you to forward to represent my research team to represent the students, the parents, the teachers, but ex principals, the teachers who had to walk away the teachers who just could, I'm here to represent all of them and say that we need to make sure that we're not just using this money to do something that will fix the problem this year. Or maybe next year, we need to do something that is going to create long term solutions for the city of Detroit, because there's no way that the first year I did research was in Swain. 22. And it said that 9% of dpscd students were illiterate. dpscd third grade students, I apologize. We're literally that was what the data said to me in 2022. And I'm not sure what it was say in 2024. But I know if we use the money the right way, we can create a long term solution. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss Foster. Thank you. Welcome home. Welcome home. Lynn Huddleston, our final public comments are in person.
Thank you. Good evening to the board and Dr. VD, I to Emma DPS colleague, product. I went to Delfield Elementary, I went to Whitney Young middle school, and I too, graduated from Cass Technical High School in the year of 1989. I said that because I wanted to again express our concerns at thermo Elementary. So our exposure of what's happening at thermo, was not brought out as a debate on whether or not some good things have happened in our building. Nor was it brought out because some are disgruntled about losing our former principal, nor is it personal. The purpose of our letter was due to the fact that as a Union Committee, the majority of our current staff are fearful and feel intimidated due to the hostile work environment. And as the assistant union rep. Our responsibility is to stand for and represent the staff of which elected us to support them believing devil and telling their stories, which are not fictional, nor without names. We presented incidents and statements of current and former staff, parents and even community partners who in fact endured everything that was written. I am not here to argue about what we as a committee know is currently going on. Instead, I am here to present the facts and hope that the investigation of what was presented continues until a resolve has been found. So I end with this Facts are facts. Number one, all of the Terkel staff sitting here, under the sound of my voice was interview. So I beg to differ. We have over 20 staff signatures and over 32 witness statements. So again, let's continue the investigation of the facts. And if you need proof of the facts, all you have to do is ask, because we don't do inadequacies over here.
Thank you. Thank you Miss Huddleston. So the time board is now 733. We started public comments at 633. So the chair if the desire of the board is to extend public comment for the motion for remaining public commenters online. There's a motion on the floor to extend public comment to accommodate the for online. It's their support, support. It's been properly moved by member Mays properly supported by member Vaughn, all those in favor of the motion on the floor to extend public comment to for the four that are online signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. I will turn it over now to miss Drake.
Deanna, do you have Dugan please go ahead with your public comment,
Dr. VD and the esteemed board. I hope I can still call you that. Detroit Public Schools has never been more of a mess than I stand here before you today and say you have made a mockery of my life of my children's lives. Find a collecting investigation that I put forth before you regarding dpscd PD. Specifically Nate Coleman llibre Jackson for not returning any of my phone calls public commenter, Ron Johnson, Lieutenant Harris, public commenter, they are unchecked and unaccountable for any of the actions that they did to me on April 29, when I reported Dr. VDS, top cop for sexual harassment. She was asking me for an Academy, and I did not want to one can
we give her a call? Can we give her a call back? Thank you so much, because she's mentioned her names and there was a lawsuit involved. So we can't, we can't allow that. But we'll give Miss Dina a call back after the board meeting. Please get her phone number so we can call them back right after.
To be clear. This is the second time that we've done this because there had been multiple investigations, and her allegations have been unfounded. So to allow to allow her to make these statements that have no factual support exposes the board and the district to a libel and slander claim against by the people who she's naming. So this is why I've asked that she be stopped. Thank you. This is the second time I've done.
Thank you. Miss tre can you go to the next public comment, sir, please?
Hi, wisdom Institute. Please go ahead with your public comment. Thank
you. My name is Cecily Allen. I'm co Executive Director of the wisdom Institute, a grassroot community organization that provides civic engagement programming, which includes developing and distributing a coloring book called voting is a superpower. Voting is a superpower is a coloring book really is a tool used to educate students about the importance of participating in our democracy, with the hopes that they would discuss voting with their parents, really to improve voter turnout. Principle gains invited the wisdom Institute to provide coloring books to several students at Circle and facilitate a class about the importance of voting. Throughout the process, she demonstrated that she cared about the students, you know, educating the whole child and that she was willing to put in the extra time and effort required. When you are collaborating with community and involving community in the education process. A principal gains has really shown that she has a spirit of collaboration, and that she understands that when you allow the community to help educate students, it enriches the educational experience and promotes community involvement, and just supports the overall development and success of students. She has requested that wisdom Institute come back. We would do it in a heartbeat. Her leadership has just been stellar. And she's constantly looking for ways to invite community into the space to engage our students. Thank you
Stacey J.
Please go ahead with your public comment.
All right, good evening. Can you hear me? Yes. All right. So Good evening, I'm here to talk about attendance Edgenuity career tech and personal curriculum. So when the Department of Ed decided to add personal curriculum, it was to increase interest in school increase enrollment and Career Tech, and allow students to earn credits in math and other core subjects by taking skills in their career. Like at a career tech, if we allow students to enroll in a program that is of interest to them, then we can engage them in ways that may get them to attend school. Another barrier that we have is this Edgenuity with our high school students, so this is all about attendance and getting students to come as well as engagement. So we'll be talking about as you notice the credit recovery. Many students are intentionally and deliberately missing classes so that they can go on Edgenuity because it's faster. I believe that we should move to a system that restricts or limits the access to Edgenuity and justify why they should be on there such as maybe they have a transportation or some other beer. But we have to start requiring students to attend school on a regular basis, because it's it affects the flow of the classroom, the teachers instruction and how much information students are gaining. Lastly, as I mentioned at the last board meeting about the closing of Golightly Korean Technical Center on the east side, one of the benefits of having a career tech is that students from various schools can attend and learn a new skill that is not offered at their home school. We even accept students from our district and that our homeschool students at our current tech centers, one of the first ways that we began to restrict access is by closing access. We are restricting access and opportunities for students in Detroit. If we close the Career Tech Center, we cannot allow them to close. We have to show this initiative and trying to address these problems. We are failing as a district we are failing the families we serve was stuck in a jaded educational framework, and we have not moved forward. It is time to find leadership that is forward thinking and progressing the future of the city, someone who has the foresight that the world is changing around us and willing to prepare the students of the city for the post secondary educational attainment. Now lastly, Dr. Vitti I heard you mentioned training principals and school staff about dealing with anger and yelling that students I had the pleasure to attend a council workshop with recently we had a few of our schools counselors presented. One of the presentations was on trauma and understanding that not only are students traumatized, but the staff are traumatized as well. Their experiences being that this districts we deal with a lot consider having her present at the next PD school and Pullman starts with self improving and we need healing as a district.
Thank you.
Janet Simms, please go ahead with your public comment. Oh, that's a very board members and VPs CD family. I graduated from Detroit Red for high school is without a FireWire. We're tracking for this later on DC. After high school I moved away during the army and what's going on over the almost 18 years I've been to Paris. And I'm also volunteering to coach track and also play volleyball our way across country. So I tried to help out with all those other sports. I credit my use of experience, you know, things that I'm giving back into to DPS. I have family members that live in Detroit and work for the district and enjoy hearing their stories about the excellent that you all continue to do. Thank you
Darrell Clark, please go ahead with your public comment.
Darrow Clark, please go ahead with your public comment.
Yes,
go ahead with your public comment. Yes, my name is Pastor
some is trying we can't we can't hear him. Mr. Clark, can you please speak a little louder? Can you hear me Mr. Clark and I just call to support Stephanie chains. The Church of Christ Church that pastor, Sunday school students, so I know her very well. During those times I worked with her at first. She, it seemed like her it was people drowning in suspicious, efficient administration. But you held it together to help. Teachers want to complain. And some of them I've wanted. But Stephanie gays, she's a fighter. She's an educator, I talked to her when she put the allegations were made, I talked to her. She was determined to keep on doing what she's doing. Educated, educated, I saw them, I see the respect as you have, that will be built over the children. And they come first we cannot afford to meet them. But she tries her best. She tries her best. And we all make mistakes. We all want to be misunderstood. But no one will have a one principle at first. She got some achievement above and beyond, above and beyond as a principle that the young man said, Sometimes we're gonna have to do more, we're gonna have to be more teachers, we're gonna have to be more of a teacher. And as a teacher, I've experienced teacher that just want to come in and leave. You can't. We can't, we got to do more than that. And sometimes principals expect more than that. You're not going to make decisions that's going to please everybody. Sometimes when I have to make decisions, that's one of the keys the students to make sure they get what they need. And that's from Stephanie Gaines is that's who she is. I've known her all my life. And I talked to her again, because of this situation. She doesn't want to run from it. She wants to fix it. She wants sees that. I want to hear what the staff say. She said I want to hear because it will make me a better administrative domain make me a better person. So make her a better person. So as that you remember this, you have a one principal at circle. And she's going to get it together because she's a fighter. And she has people praying for her and people that support her. Thank you.
Michelle, please go ahead with your public comment.
Hello, thank you doctor MIDI into the board. And all the families represented here. All the staff that go above and beyond for this district. I just want to say thank you for having the high school Expo level of Expo. This weekend, I brought my daughter and she was really excited. She got the talks of one of the principals I wanted to school she's thinking about going to she felt really special standing out talking to the principal. The principal asked her name and just kept dressing her by name. And she was visited a few of the schools and I just heard so many parents just being grateful. And I talked about it to my friends I live out of the state of Michigan and live out of the city of Detroit. They would just say that their child has one school to go to or depending on what side of town you live on, what school they can go to. So I'm just very grateful that Detroit for the school students have an opportunity to explore different things. Now I heard the lady earlier say how she learned so much and was able to join army from something that she learned from Detroit Public Schools, and just a lot of things I heard someone's talking about a parent conference, just a lot of things that other dishes aren't going to be doing. We don't have the resources here and have more students. There's not as many resources but we do a lot more so I just appreciate that. Thank you
Leon Logan, please go ahead with your public comment.
Leon Logan, please go ahead with your public comment
can we try and get in contact with Mr. Logan and get his comment or question please Miss Drake. Sure. Thank you. So Dr. BD, there were a couple questions that came out of public comments, some comments, but there were some questions that came out that I would like you to address. I'm sure you have questions as well. And as always, I will remind you if some have been omitted,
thank you agree with the commentary about the need for healing and trauma informed professional development and just overall continued conversation. It's we have invested in that but not necessarily at scale and consistency. A good example of increasing the conversation and thoughtfulness around that is obviously providing the mental health support, through contracted services to all schools and students. But after the pandemic, we did create social emotional lessons that were embedded in the curriculum. We are looking to adopt a curriculum to specifically empowers teachers to use lessons to talk about trauma, which could then one allow students to talk about the challenges that they're dealing with or have dealt with. But it also allows for trust to develop between students and teachers. So that's something that we're looking to implement next year or the following year throughout the district at all grade levels, want to clarify that recess does take place at Circle. However, there has been examples. As for a particular classroom, where recess did not always occur, that the statement was that no recess occurs at circle. That is not accurate. There is one vacancy at Paul Roberson, Malcolm X as a master teacher vacancy, the principal did have discretion at the beginning of the year, to use the budget differently for different positions. If the principal still makes that decision, then teacher positions are used differently. If he doesn't, then those positions will be there. But there's one vacancy currently in allocation to master teacher. We will have contractors move the materials, furniture, books, anything that is school owned, will be moved by contractors to the former CMA. As the new build the current building is demolished and the new building is built outside of personal things anything personal, that belongs to a staff member, then that would not be moved, but anything related to the school books, furniture, materials, manipulatives, etc, will be moved, computers will be moved by contract to staff Cooley right now, our plan is to raise philanthropic dollars or to receive federal or state dollars to create a an athletic compound or complex and Nikoli building for dpscd students. We have roughly given a timeline of the end of next fiscal year to raise that money or to receive it at the federal state level. And if we're not able to do that, then the board and I will reconsider the future use of Cooley, washers and dryers are going to be installed throughout the district. Through GE, they're not only paying for the washers and dryers, but also installation. We're waiting for the contractor to be identified and a scheduled installation to be defined going into the summer and next school year. There is a proposal currently in the literacy Lawsuit Funding to better support let's read. There are limitations on how the dollars can be used when you talk about marketing and general materials to promote the program, but there are going to be recommendations to expand and enhance the Let's Read program through literacy Lawsuit Funding. There was a school in southwest Detroit that was used for summer school last year. That was in order to run the on the rise Academy program. Again, a reminder that those are the teachers that we're developing to work in the district. And so in order for them to be developed, they had to work with children in the classroom. And that happened this summer at Clemente Elementary. I agree with the comments or in the questions around just expanding career tech opportunities. Although the Golightly will eventually be demolished the programs that go lightly will go to other schools. The programs will not be eliminate He did. And this in the next couple of months we will be submitting to the board on high school reform plan, which calls for the expansion of career tech education and college going type classes like advanced placement, and dual enrollment. And so we are looking to have juniors and seniors throughout the district in the years to come to spend their junior and senior year more on college campuses and accessing career tech classes at colleges and and also experiencing more externships internships, like the coop model that was used in the years prior to emergency management. As far as the employee was concerned from Charles Drew, the grievance was addressed at the school level through a level one grievance that was closed. There. The commenter also talked about concerns with the manager, based on the presentation that I gave earlier. The manager in this regard is Alicia Merriweather. So if you reach out to her, she will review your concerns about the manager and tension between you and the manager. I believe I've addressed all the issues but for chair. Yeah.
So the other thing that I know it was mentioned about the literacy lawsuit, and so during announcements, we were announced that on the April, yeah, April 15, we will have a board retreat where the sole purpose of that conversation is around literacy lawsuit, we do have the recommendations from the task force. And board members have weighed in as well. It's gone through committees. So we will have additional conversation at that board retreat. That is the only purpose of entry. So I do want to lift that up to Miss Smith. Again, the email was recent. It was sent on February the fifth responded to so it should be at the top of your email. If you're listening Miss Eileen Smith, we want to make sure that that did not get overlooked. And then Dr. VD I think the other one? That was the last question. The so the if we could bring forward I know we've talked about cell phone towers and the renewal if we can bring that information forward, just to remind the public what the renewal process looks like when the expiration dates are and how we move forward collectively with that, as a board. I know there's been a lot of discussion around the funding that is generated from that and where it goes. So if we could do that at the next board meeting, that will be appreciated. Is there anything else from the board before we move on to next item on the agenda? Okay, thank you. I have a number 11 administrative terminations, those were all for job abandonment. I know the board got an opportunity to review for Java ban. Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Vitti, the one the one that was outstanding was around the fence request at Emerson to address the stray dogs that are coming on property.
Through you, I'll look into the status of the fence. One thing that we are committing to long term is to have secure fencing with every building. Obviously, that's an issue of funding. But I'll look at what the plans are. We have been repairing fences and installing fences throughout each year based on money that's not spent with one time money. So I'll get an update and I can send an email to the principal about the status of fences and I can share that with the board as well as an updated and follow up to today's meeting.
Thank you. Item number 11.01 administrative terminations all were for a job of abandonment. Is there any discussion? If not the chair entertain a motion for the ones who for individuals to accept the superintendent's recommendation for job abandonment administrative terminations.
Motion to accept the superintendent's recommendation.
Is there a support support? It's been properly moved by member Mays properly supported by Dr. Taylor for item 11.01 to accept the superintendent's recommendation for administrative terminations for job abandonment. Is there any discussion? Board Member Support? Oh, that I'm sorry. Was you Okay, I'm sorry. The support was member Vaughn for the notes. Okay. Any discussion? motion on the floor? All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries item Thank you number 12.01. Notice of consideration of non renewals per MCL 380 point 1229. We know that this comes before us every year and it is a state mandate. Is there any discussion required for this action item? If not the chair entertain a motion to accept item 12.01. Is there support? Support? It's been properly moved by Dr. Taylor and properly supported by member vomit. Any further discussion motion on the floor? If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item number 13. our consent agenda items that all went through committee so we have item 13.01 through 13.17. I have gone through finance and academic committee, the chair entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda items. Is there a support has been properly moved by Dr. Taylor properly supported by member McClendon to approve the consent agenda items 13.01 through 13.17. Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion on the floor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. We now move to item number 14 policies. So these are all first read so they will go back through the policy committee. Is there any comments or edits requested for 14.01? Visitor possession of weapons? Visitor possession of weapons
so I only have one. And I know the chair is not here. I don't think Dr. 10 Are you on that committee for policy? Okay. The one comment I was wanting to add is around tasers. So the the fourth paragraph talks about the type of weapons that are not permissible. So I don't know if tasers fall under one of those other categories? If not, I would like to add tasers to that paragraph as another weapon that is not permissible on school grounds. Thank you. Anything else around? This policy? Just
a question. I know the chairs in here. But do we have a chance to consult with our like law enforcement to make sure that we're covering all bases as far as how we buy weapons?
No, I'm sorry, I didn't hear Dr. Taylor. What was that?
Okay, okay, so we do have law enforcement.
So this is defined by statute, so we will take a look to see if Taser isn't.
Okay. So it's defined by statute. Okay. Any more questions or comments around? Weapons for visitors? Okay, so we'll now move to the next item. So this will go back to the committee. For a second we will move to the next item. Amendments of policy 754 0.03, Student Technology acceptable use and safety. Is there any questions or comments as it relates to this on the first three? Okay, item 14.03. technical correction to policy at 305 Information Security. Is there any additional comments or questions around policy 14.03. Remember, these are all first read so we do not vote on them. But if you have a question or comment that you would like to present to take back to committee, as the policies go back to committee now will be the time. If not you can contact any member of the policy committee with your concern final item 14.0 for approval of policy TBN for three public safety and this proposed new policy. So this is around our public safety department. Any comments or questions? Okay. Thank you to the policy committee will now move to announcements item 15.01. Bishop I know you have an announcement. I do. You don't know I don't know. You usually do.
And someone making fun of
my voice is a little Oh your voice okay. Okay, our
our family and community engagement. We have the heroes luncheon full day experience for our children. That's coming up. And I think that there is quite a bit of information going out of that. That's our super parents. That's on April this 16 That's downtown at 8am at the Renaissance Center, that's all day. And this particular session is going to focus on our exceptional learning students. And so it's going to be a really good day. And that's all all parents. Super parents heroes day. That's April the 16th. That's my thank
you. So a couple more announcements. Again, a board retreat is on April the 15th. At the Fisher building at 530. The annual Tyrone Winfrey come home event is scheduled for May the 11th for all alarm, so check the website for more information in round tickets. Round three of applying for application schools opened on yesterday and runs through May the third additionally, round two of our exam schools is currently open and it runs and is open until April the 28th. So please check the website for more information. report cards will be distributed on Thursday this Thursday and can be viewed on power school parent portal. facilities master planning session tomorrow and South Eastern at 5pm. So facility's master plan tomorrow, South Eastern 5pm. The parents are heroes was mentioned already parent listening session April 23 at 11. There's also a master facility masters planning session on Wednesday, April the 24th. And that's that David's aerospace at 5pm. So again, April to 24th Davis aerospace 5pm There's a parent and public safety partnership dinner on Thursday, April the 25th at 330 at DPS EDS public safety headquarters, so please make sure you check our website for this information. And lastly, I know our youth board member ambassadors just left they have school tomorrow but board member Michael West has a birthday on April 23. and board members Sonia Mays has a birthday on April 14. So happy birthday to you all. If there is nothing else the chair.
Yes. Okay, go ahead. Just to save an email, Emerson is slotted to get a new fence around the playground for next year.
Thank you so Emerson will receive the fence to address this stray dogs. Anything else? If not the chair entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Somewhere Without objection. Thank you so much. Thanks, everybody. We appreciate you be safe.