CFO Jeremy Vidito said capital debt is on track to be repaid by 2025. Concerned about a potential loss of federal funding, public commenters suggested if budget cuts need to be made at a district level, they should start with the superintendent’s $354,973 a year salary.
Hey Detroit! This evening I’ll be covering the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) Regular Board Meeting at 5:30pm for #DETdocumenters
@detdocumenters.bsky.social
12:49 PM Apr 8, 2025 CDT
Media partners:
Here’s the information on how to join the meeting virtually or in person, and how to participate in public comment: https://www.detroitk12.org/boardmeeting
Tonight’s agenda can be found here on BoardDocs
The meeting is called to order at 5:37pm.
There is some feedback from the mics that is addressed and fixed.
Former teacher Jo Dawkins is honored during the moment of silence.
Superintendent Vitti is not feeling well and not in attendance.
Next up are The Color Guards from Cody High School and “Star Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performed by Edward Duke Ellington at Beckham students
Looks like we have another night with high production quality video - with closeups on the speakers and other participants. This makes it so much easier to follow and to identify people - thank you!
Tonight’s agenda has been approved.
The following minutes have been approved:
Parents should contact school administrators about personalized curriculums for students with exceptional needs. Dr. Ida Short brought this information to the district. Contact vanya.moore@detroitk12.org
Next up CFO Jeremy Vidito does a finance presentation. It is very brief.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mi/detroit/Board.nsf/files/DFBPFY64797E/$file/April%20Finance%20Report.pdf
Next up is the Student Report from Naomi Babatunde and Mi’Kah West.
- Attendance rates have been rising
- Extracurricular events such as a blood drive
- Mi’Kah West expresses appreciation for board member Ida Short for coming to visit her school
Next, the board moves to Agenda item 10 - Administrative Action Items
All items pass unanimously. Gay-Dagnogo moves that 10.03 specifying that DPSC and JDF are collaborating, and that Wayne County be made aware, this amendment passes.
Next, they honor Jamir Gordon for excellence in winning the 2024 Michigan State Junior Chess Championship.
Continuing the recognition for Anika McEvans and Alisa Ruffin for excellence in being recognized as 2025 Skillman Visionary Award Winners.
Next up are items under 11. Consent Agenda, which have gone through committee.
They approve these items in a single vote.
Next up is item 12. Policies
These are ‘first read’ so there is no discussion, the chair encourages anyone to reach out to the policy chair with questions.
🚨Public Comment
- Wants an outside investigation in his termination, six months ago. The district has failed to prove the validity of the 20+ charges they raised against him. Testimony was uncredible.
- A tutor with Let’s Read at Roberto Clemente in Southwest Detroit. Has had a really pleasant experience with the students and teachers.
- Do we have enough money to keep schools going on next year, for summer school?
The board answers yes.
She talks to CFO Vidito off mic, he will get up and answer her questions.
- Teacher from Barak Obama Leadership Academy. Brief remarks, thanking for opportunity.
- Representing Capstone Academy charter schools. Thank you for extending their partnership for 1 year. Thanks board for the opportunity.
- Member of the National Action Network. Came to discuss the superintendent’s salary. Superintendent in NYC Public schools, with 912k students makes $105k, Dr. Vitti, with 48k students, makes $354k a year - why? (these numbers need to be fact checked, not sure I took them down accurately).
- Asked Dr. Vitti about college advisors. Consider having college advisors at every school, do a group workshop or event for students with questions.
ESC (Office of Exceptional Student Education) department is not being compliant, not following up. Dr. Vitti is blowing it off.
- cont - is glad Vitti isn’t here so she can directly address the board, he is ‘their only employee’ don’t let him continue his narrative.
- Re: Project 2025, Detroit has been experiencing that already since 1999.
Our educational systems can’t be the only resource we use to prepare our children.
Cites the SW Detroit flood, recreation centers, schools not providing swimming programs.
- Cont. - Re: Housing instability, school board needs to work with city towards home ownership programs.
- Teacher, school social worker, parent. Has seen the power of parent engagement at DPS.
They just had a conference for the parent engagement group - they have been really successful in empowering parents, helps children thrive. Workshops are such an effective way to spend resources.
- Wrote a book called “Keep Dreaming” for children to keep a journal and express themselves through creative writing. Thinks it would help with mental illness, self awareness, would like to partner with DPSCD to publish his book.
- He is not a vendor - he is a citizen of Detroit. Came through DPS. Has formed a bond with other DPS graduates, they are successful. Is concerned with the low test scores coming out of the district. Asks the board to be open to new ideas and policies.
- cont - White boys have a 1/23 change of becoming incarcerated, which is 1/5 for black boys. We need to do something drastically different, you need to change policy to get better results.
- Teacher and alum of DPSCD - how many librarians does the district have, what is the librarian/student ratio, why was none of the literacy lawsuit funds used for libraries.
With 3mil, district could employ at least 25 librarians. Partner with WSU’s MLIS program (hey! that’s where I went)
- (moving to virtual commenters) - His daughter is a student at Detroit International Academy of Young Women - is not sure why they schedule electives as one or the other (gym or animal science, not alternating days). His daughter wasn’t getting recess, after his comment at the last meeting she is
- Longtime Detroiter and advocate for public education. Re: the budget - wants to know what should be cut, when it should be cut, what will be cut. Will there be a discussion on cutting his salary? It is similar to a university president.
Are we still talking about a special election?
This concludes public comment.
They will be answering those questions later this week (not sure how to follow up on this, maybe on the website??)
Sherry Gay-Dagnogo wants to make sure a commenter (Mother Moore) receives her answers from CFO Vidito - she says that she did, but we don’t know what those answers were.
Next up the board votes unanimously to pass a motion for administrative terminations.
There is call for announcements, which there are none.
Without Superintendent Vitti in attendance, there is nothing else the board can do, and everyone is happy to end early.
Meeting adjourns at 6:50pm
Meeting adjourned at 6:50pm. This concludes the DPSCD Regular Board Meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for 5/13 For more meeting coverage, check out https://documenters.org.
