September 26, 2025

The regular Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education meeting was held on September 9. The Board introduced new student Board ambassadors, reviewed Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti’s evaluation, and recognized Operations staff and the principals of schools that have proven high academic achievement in the 24-25 school year.

Cass Tech student Alan Carlisle and Pershing student Ali Anderson were introduced as the new 2025-26 Youth Ambassadors to the Board of Education. Henry Ford student Anthony Pete will serve as an alternate.

The Board said Dr. Vitti received a rating of effective in his evaluation. He demonstrated a continued improvement in student achievement and graduation rates. Vitti also expanded Health Hubs, continues to be committed to communication and responsiveness with high ethical standards, strong cooperation with the Board. Lastly, the board acknowledged his leadership in the release of the ten-year academic and financial oversight from the U.S. and Michigan departments of education.

Areas Dr. Vitti can improve upon are improvement of District marketing, student achievement, student attendance, and District climate and culture.

Board Recognizes Exceptional District Staff

The Board recognized Operations Department staff Valarie Brown, Bryan Casteneda, Javeon Brinson, and Steven Duffy, for their tireless efforts in preparing school buildings for the first day of school and for ongoing Facilities Master Plan work.

The principals from the following schools were recognized for achieving the overall top five average student test scores and most improved test scores in each category:

• Top 5 in Students earning a College Ready Score on P/SAT: Cass Tech (EBRW and Math), Renaissance (EBRW and Math), Marygrove (EBRW and Math), DSA (EBRW), DIA (EBRW), Davis Aerospace (Math), Virtual School (Math)
• Top 5 Most Improved in Students Earning College-Ready Score on P/SAT: Davis (EBRW and Math), DIA (EBRW), King (EBRW), Virtual School (EBRW), Mumford (EBRW), FDA (Math), Cass Tech (Math), Renaissance (Math), Northwestern (Math)
• Top 5 in M-STEP and PSAT 8 Proficiency: Bates (ELA and Math), Edmonson (ELA and Math), FLICS (ELA), Marygrove (ELA and Math), Chrysler (ELA and Math), Ann Arbor Trail (Math)
• Top 5 Most Improved in M-STEP and PSAT 8 Proficiency: Ann Arbor Trail (ELA and Math), Marygrove (ELA), Virtual School (ELA and Math), Pasteur (ELA), Mark Twain (ELA), Edmonson (Math), Davison (Math), DIA (Math),
• Top 5 School in Growth for all Students: Davison (ELA and Math), Ann Arbor Trail (ELA), Neinas (ELA and Math), Nichols (ELA and Math), Bethune (ELA), Edison (Math), Bennett (Math)
• Top 5 Most Improved in Growth: Maybury (ELA and Math), Carver (ELA), Brenda Scott (ELA), Edison (ELA), Duke Ellington (ELA), Greenfield Union (Math), Cooke (Math), J.E. Clark (Math), Thirkell (Math)

During public comment, community members expressed concern over safety and professional training for paraprofessionals, concern over the effectiveness of leadership and climate and culture at Hutchinson, a lack of pay raises and pay equity for attendance agents, concern over poor relations between employees and supervisors, and concern over the pace of student growth in academic achievement.

Dr. Vitti said he intends to investigate the climate and culture at Hutchinson. He said 80% of paraprofessionals have been trained in crisis prevention.

Dr. Vitti said the overall percentage of enrolled students who have attended at least one school day in the first nine school days is the highest in six years.

Board Member Rev. Steve Bland remarked on the amazing learning experiences students were having on his visit to DPSCD classrooms. He urged the community to resist the growing movement to defund and reallocate federal education funding.

Contracts and Policies Approved

The Board approved contracts for legal counsel; building abatement services; staffing for non-District ESE student instruction; graphic design, video production, and digital marketing services; secure digital records storage, transcript and credentialing services, student records transfer, and legacy records digitization; and construction for Davis Aerospace and Communication and Media Arts high schools.

The Board approved a new policy that outlines the four diplomas and additional Seals of Distinction students may receive. Also approved were policy amendments regarding food services, conflicting employment, administration of medication, and financial compensation and term lengths and limits for Board members.