September Board of Education Meeting Highlights

During a regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 15, the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) Board of Education named new board members, recognized student and staff achievement, discussed District metrics and student achievement and conducted regular business, including approving contracts, policies and other items.

The meeting commenced with student performances from Northwestern High School’s color guard and singers from the John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy and Edward Duke Ellington at Beckham.

The Board introduced the new student representatives to the Board for the 2026-27 school year: Millie Harris, an 11^th-grade student at Cass Technical High School, Alaynah Johnson, 12^th-grade student at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, and alternate William Pittman, a 10^th-grade student at Henry Ford High School.

The Board also recently appointed Jeremiah Steen as a board member. He will serve through Dec. 31, 2026

The Board recognized the Cody High School and John R. King Umoja debate teams for earning first place in the Umoja debate tournament.

The Board also recognized Donella Young, Charles R. Drew Transition Center teacher, for receiving the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children Dr. William C. Morse Teacher of the Year award.

Superintendent Report

DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said District test scores showed improvements in most accountability areas, exceeding the state and nation’s average improvement. The few areas of decline in student achievement were at rates lower than state averages.

Chronic absenteeism at the end of the 2025-26 school year was the lowest and average daily attendance at the highest rate since the 2018-19 school year.

Vitti said currently, 56% of schools are air-conditioned throughout the entire building, and 25% have partial air conditioning. 

By the time the Facilities Master Plan work is completed in 2028-29, only 8 schools will have no air conditioning, and 11 schools will have partial air conditioning. The Board will continue to discuss budget solutions to move toward its goal of equipping all schools with complete air conditioning.

Until then, when temperatures are above 85 degrees, all schools will operate on a half-day schedule. Industrial fans will be placed in all classrooms without air conditioning, and portable air conditioning units will be placed where possible, depending on each classroom’s electrical infrastructure.

Several board members expressed concerns about what they described as low achievement and a lack of improvement in students’ average reading proficiency rates during a discussion on student achievement.

Contract approvals and public comment

The Board approved student travel and contracts for legal counsel and office space. The Board also approved on first reading a policy regarding emergency purchases and, on second reading policies regarding the capital project micro-bid threshold and the process for the superintendent’s annual performance evaluation. 

During public comment, speakers expressed concern over student substance use, student test scores, student achievement, high temperatures in classrooms, building conditions, paraprofessional and exceptional student education staff pay and school safety.

The next board meeting will be on Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Mumford High School, 17525 Wyoming St., Detroit.

Board documents and livestream information are available at detroitk12.org/board-of-education.