Op-Ed by Bishop Corletta J. Vaughn, Ph.D.
President, Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is alive and well! As the new Board President, my expectations for the 49,000 plus students being educated in our schools, are rooted in a firm commitment to our strategic plan laid out by Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti, and the investment being made by parents, teachers, principals, vice principals, cafeteria workers, maintenance, security and all of our support staff. I could not be more hopeful as I see our students taking mastery of core curriculum courses and growing in the arts, sports, and extra-curriculum activities.
Our first meeting of 2025, two new board members were officially sworn in; Dr. Ida Simmons-Short and Ms. Monique Bryant and proceeded to elected new officers, marking the continuation of strong and capable leadership by a locally elected governing school board.
We immediately went to work with a productive Board retreat to review our roles and way forward as leaders in the transformation work. We govern the city’s and state’s largest urban public school district and there are several proud wins, however, there are several critical challenges and threats that are in part unique to our community; such as inequitable funding, poverty, mental illnesses, absenteeism, technology access, safety, homelessness, and much more. Yet, everyday students, teachers, and staff are seen making impressive effort to not let these negatives outweigh the positive achievements happening in our schools.
This week, during his State of the Schools address, Dr. Vitti, outlined the four primary goals aligned to priorities at the State of the Schools. Attendance, pushing a higher level of proficiency, graduating future ready students, and assuring sustainability and continued progress.
One of the major highlights of our progress is the Facility Master Plan (FMP). Detroit will see new school buildings erected in the upcoming two years. This long-term initiative is about more than just updating school buildings—it’s about creating modern, safe, and inspiring spaces where students can learn and grow. Over the past year, we’ve made significant strides in renovating classrooms, upgrading HVAC systems, and improving energy efficiency. These investments are part of our broader effort to ensure that every DPSCD student learns in an environment that fosters success.
Strong academics continue to be a priority as a Board. On the recent release of the Nation’s Report Card, the District narrowed the gap in performance with the State of Michigan in reading and math, while outpacing improvement with the national public and large urban school district averages in several areas. Recent state assessments demonstrate DPSCD is performing at its highest levels in decades and narrowing the gap between the District and State. Our Literacy Lawsuit funding has added over 250 academic interventionists to work with students in grades K-2 in small groups and one on one during the school day to reduce the “catch up” in earlier grades.
The District opened Health Hubs in eight DPSCD high schools to ensure behavioral, medical, mental, and social services are within practical reach to schools and accessible to our families. All services are at no charge to District students and their families. Appointments are recommended to ensure that you receive the time and services that you or your student require. Click here to view location details and contact information.
But, now more than ever, we need involvement from every sector of Detroit. Be our ambassadors of good news. Attend monthly board meetings, our meetings are open to the public, and it’s a great opportunity to hear directly from us about the progress we’re making and how you can get involved. See more here https://www.detroitk12.org/boardmeeting. Volunteer, help with literacy through “Let’s Read” program, attend PTA, or Parent Academy. There are many avenues that the community can assist with wrap-around services. While the new Administration in Washington DC is threatening key resources that currently help our students, this is the time to get invested and involved with training our young scholars to be future leaders and excellent citizens.
The future of our DPSCD is bright! Together we will ensure every child has access to quality public school education; Because when students rise, we all RISE.
Bishop Corletta J. Vaughn, Ph.D.
President
Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education
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