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11/4/2024 Tribute to Patrick Falcusan

Member Spotlight, Patrick Falcusan

Tribute written by President Emeritus, Keith R. Johnson

A SALUTE OF GRATITUDE TO PATRICK FALCUSAN 

From the day that Patrick Falcusan came to the DFT office 30 years ago to help President Emeritus, the late John Elliott, ascertain and assess the financial situation of the Detroit Public Schools (DPS), and our own roles, he has been an indispensable and invaluable asset to the DFT and our membership. One of the first things Patrick was able to ascertain was that DPS was still budgeting salaries and benefits for DFT members who were retired or even deceased. This was the precursor to unraveling the perpetual blend of fiscal mismanagement which inhibited DPS from delivering the level of education and support to our then 190,000 students. This ultimately led to the proliferation of charter schools which over time led to a mass exodus of students which has now brought us down to our current enrollment of approximately 50,000 students. While many in our community were demanding a forensic audit of DPS, Patrick was doing his own forensic audit, allowing us to bring indisputable facts to the bargaining table during negotiations. He proved to be an invaluable asset to us as we continued to negotiate contracts which could attract and retain the best teachers and maintain programs throughout DPS. As Patrick’s knowledge increased, so did the responsibilities he took on. One of the most important was advising our members as they prepared for retirement. Patrick had the uncanny ability to calculate almost to the penny, how much our members would receive in their pensions upon retirement. He would advise DFT members who were thinking about retirement that their service time would not give them their full benefits. Back around 1996, he advised many of us, including me, to buy five (5) years of time while that window was open, and to switch from the basic retirement plan to MIP, which would guarantee them a 3% increase every year to their pension upon their retirement. So many of our members who are now enjoying retirement owe a debt of gratitude to Patrick for the advice he gave them either personally, or in his detailed articles in The Detroit Teacher newspaper. Patrick’s value was not only measured in dollars and cents, but in his humanity and decency. I can say without fear of contradiction, that Patrick is one of the most beautiful and kind people I have ever known. His passion for our members, his patience, his kindness, and his great story telling while addressing an issue could calm even the most frustrated member. His humor and compassion for others could bring light to the darkest circumstances. In my 22 years of service to the DFT as Labor Relations Administrator, Director of Operations, and President, I heavily relied upon Patrick to give me information which helped me service our members. On behalf of every DFT President, from John Elliott to Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, I would like to congratulate and thank Patrick for his 30 years of service to the DFT and its membership. His service to us is how he chose to enjoy his retirement as a DPS teacher, and the DFT is grateful that he did. Thank you, Patrick, you’re one of a kind, and simply the best.

Video tribute to Pat: Tribute to Patrick Falcusan 

10/28/2024 Official List of Candidates for 2024 DFT Election

official list of candidates

President

  1. Nicole Conaway--EON/BAMN
  2. Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins--UTR

Vice President

  1. Robin Jennings--UTR
  2. Jason Posey--UTR
  3. Ingrid Rivers--EON/BAMN
  4. Marcus Walton--UTR

Recording Secretary

  1. Elena Brantley-Phillips--UTR

Treasurer

  1. Rodney Fresh--UTR

Executive Board

  1. Lisa Card--UTR
  2. Frank Donner--UTR
  3. Samantha Hoskin--UTR
  4. Yolanda King--UTR
  5. Crystal Lee--UTR
  6. Dwan McGrady--UTR
  7. Kimberly L. Mitchell-UTR
  8. Marva Needham-Fletcher--UTR
  9. Sarah Niemi--UTR
  10. Meredith Summer--Independent
  11. Jeff Wasilewski--UTR
  12. Everette Whitfield--UTR

Trustees

  1. Cassandra Davis--UTR
  2. Mark Duffy--UTR
  3. Kimberly D. Mitchell--UTR


 

10/1/2024 Endorsements by the DFT

endorsement kicker cards for candidates

Political action is imperative for two reasons: To elect friends of public education (PK-12 and higher education) and to pass or defeat ballot proposals that affect education and our students, staff and members.

text vote to 69238

President and Vice President: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

US Senate: Elissa Slotkin

DPSCD School Board: Sherisse Butler, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Boyd White III

The DFT Candidate Screening Team has concluded its screening of all DPSCD School Board candidates who have requested endorsement by our union. After deliberation the team has selected three individuals who have stated they will stand with our union as a member of the school board. The three are Sherisse M. Butler, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, and Boyd White III. There are 22 candidates who are seeking a seat on the school board.

DPSCD Millage: YES

The district is also seeking a millage renewal on this fall's ballot. We are endorsing a YES vote from our community. For more information on this millage, please refer to DPSCD Proposal S Information. This is part of the ballot language Detroiters will find on the ballot: This proposal would restore and increase the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be levied by the School District of the City of Detroit for general operating purposes by 6.00 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempt by law, which would allow the School District to continue to retire its debt obligations.

Here is some literature that has factual information about Proposal S.

 Wayne RESA: YES

The Wayne County Regional Enhancement Millage provides important supplemental funding to our schools in addition to state funding. 100 percent of the funding is distributed equally per student to all 33 school districts and 90+ eligible public school academies in Wayne County. It includes strong accountability and transparency measures that are monitored to ensure it produces results for our students. If renewed, this millage will continue the less than 2-mill property tax each year for six years, beginning in 2028. This is not a tax increase. up for renewal in November: Wayne RESA Regional Enhancement Millage Information.

Local Races:  consult these sources

10/17/2024 AFT Plans Historic Partnership in Southeast Michigan

DFT and AFT

On Thursday, October 17, 2024 the DFT hosted AFT National President, Randi Weingarten, and Executive Vice President, Evelyn DeJesus, to create a historic partnership and grant between the Biden-Harris administration and Micron to bring Microprocessing Pathways to DPSCD's Career and Technical Education. Several people, including Detroit Deputy Mayor, Todd Bettison, Deputy Superintendent, Alycia Meriweather, White House Domestic Policy Council, Neera Tanden, along with Weingarten and DeJesus, toured Southeastern High School as part of their visit to Detroit. After the tour of the high school, about 30 individuals were invited to the DFT offices for a roundtable discussion. More information can be found here: https://www.aft.org/microtechnology-education-and-aft. This grant, which has been piloted in New York, is now coming to southeast Michigan and Minnesota. Stay tuned for more information.


9/12/24 DFT Election Calendar for 2025-2027 BIENNIAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES

Here is the calendar for the 2025-2027 biennial election of officers, executive board members and trustees: Click here to read the document.

  1. Please complete the nomination form in its ENTIRETY in print.  Here is the Nomination Form. The nomination form is not to be altered in any way.
  2. Once eligibility is determined by the DFT Office, each person who has submitted a nomination form will be notified as outlined in the Bylaws.
  3. If you have a grievance regarding the election process as outlined in the Bylaws and would like to present to the Election Committee, you must send an email to dft231ec@gmail.com by 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 4, 2024. You will receive an emailed confirmation with instructions. Grievance procedures are in Article V, Election Procedures, Section 12.
  4. The list of eligible candidates will be posted on October 31, 2024.

Please see Article V Elective Officers, Sections 1, 2 and 12 of the Bylaws in Key DFT Documents on DFT Website.

More information may be forthcoming from the DFT Election Committee.

AFT votes app

Be on the lookout on the Take Action tab under the Actions and Events Menu bar in the red navigation bar up on top each week for volunteer opportunities for activists like you!

We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us the next two months, but like Michelle Obama told us: “If we start feeling tired, if we start feeling that dread creeping back in, we’ve got to pick ourselves up, throw water on our face, and what?—DO SOMETHING.

We are riding high off the energy of the Convention. Let’s keep up the momentum—can you sign up today for a volunteer shift?


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