May 28, 2025

During the regular Board of Education meeting on May 13, the Board recognized a number of exceptional staff, students, volunteers, and schools; approved several contracts, and addressed public comments.

Board Recognitions

Student board representatives Mi’Kah West and Naomi Babatunde were recognized for their dedication to the board. West, a graduating senior, plans to attend Howard University. West acknowledged four teachers who played a significant role in her success as she transitioned through high school. She presented Yolanda Gordon, Lisa Goode, Ucal Finley, and Shar Willis-Gregory with a token of appreciation and a bouquet of flowers. West expressed her heartfelt gratitude for their dedication and commitment, recognizing the invaluable guidance and direction they provided throughout her journey.

Rev. John Phelps C.Ss.R. and cofounder and CEO of Life Direction was recognized for his unwavering dedication for 52 years of service and volunteerism to the District.

Randolph educator Matthew Bracey received the inaugural Carhartt Skilled Trades Steel Apple Award for his dedication and service to career technical education. Breithaupt student Edmyer Malone was recognized for excellence in Culinary Arts achievements, including National Competition wins and multiple scholarship awards to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Manhattan, New York.

Davis Aerospace student Ciana Carter and Pershing student Jaya George won first place in the 2025 Ready, Set, Cook! student cooking competition, ensuring a spot next year’s school lunch menu for their culinary creations. More than 170 Let’s Read volunteers were also recognized for excellence in supporting students in building literacy skills and developing a love of reading.

The following schools were also recognized for academic achievement:

• Nichols: top five improved and overall percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in reading
• Bates: top five in percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in reading
• Neinas: top five in percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in reading
• Ann Arbor Trail: top five in percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in reading; top five in percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in math
• Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies (FLICS): top five in percentage of students meeting typical growth in reading
• Coleman A. Young: Top five improved for percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in reading and math
• Mark Twain: top five improved for percentage of students meeting typical growth in reading
• Mason Academy: top five improved for percentage of students meeting typical growth in reading
• Marquette: top five improved for percentage of students meeting typical growth in reading
• Catherine C. Blackwell: top five in overall and improved in percentage of students meeting typical growth in math
• Clippert: top five in percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in math
• Chrysler: top five in percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in math; also top five improved in percentage of students meeting stretch growth in math
• Barton: top five in percentage of students meeting typical and stretch growth in math; also top five improved in percentage of students meeting stretch growth in math
• Golightly Education Center: top five improved in percentage of students meeting typical growth in math
• Hamilton: top five improved in percentage of students meeting typical growth in math
• Bethune: top five improved in percentage of students meeting stretch growth in math and reading
• Davison: top five in percentage of students meeting stretch growth in reading and math
• Vernor: top five improved in percentage of students meeting stretch growth in reading
• Burns: most improved in percentage of students meeting stretch growth in math

Board Hears Public Comment

During public comment, commentors requested that Catherine C. Blackwell’s name be incorporated into another aspect of the District following the school’s closure in 2026. Several AFSCME union members expressed concern about a lack of professional training and undue punishments for staff working with student behavioral crises. Commentors also expressed concerns about proposed federal educational budget cuts.

As of now, Vitti said it doesn’t appear there will be major changes in federal funding for the 2025-2026 school year, as Congress sets educational budgets for two years at a time. The District faces greater threats to federal funding for the 2026-27 school year, when Title I funding faces potential cuts by the administration.

Vitti acknowledged challenges in finding the time to train ESE paraprofessionals, so the District will review training methods to ensure consistency and quality of training to ensure safe environments for both children and staff.

Contracts Approved, Attendance and Enrollment Rates Trending Up

Also approved were several contracts for classroom supplies, CNC equipment, utilities, transportation costs, facilities expenses and maintenance, construction costs, IT network and infrastructure, and miscellaneous technology.

Dr. Vitti said enrollment, re-enrollment, and student average daily attendance rates continue to trend upwards and chronic absenteeism downwards compared to this time last year. If this continues, these numbers are on track to be an improvement over pre-pandemic levels.