COMPLETING YOUR RETIREMENT FORMS

DFT unit members planning on retiring at the end of the 2022-2023 school year should complete all of the forms related to retirement by May 1, 2023.  These forms include:

1.  A Separation from Service Form (SFSF) found on the District's Hub. 

Please remember that in order to be paid for illness days upon retirement from DPSCD, eligible employees must submit a SFSF to the District's Human Resource office (HR) no later than May 1, 2023 and retire effective July 1, 2023 (or August 1, 2023 if working during the month of July).

The SFSF should be emailed to HR (hr.records@detroitk12.org) by May 1, 2023. The "effective date of separation" on the SFSF should be listed as June 30, 2023 (or July 31, 2023 if working during the month of July.

Eligible employees meeting the May 1, 2023 deadline will be paid $45 for each unused illness day in their bank for days 1 to 100 and $65 for each unused illness day in their bank for days 101 to 200 for a maximum payout of $11,000. Payout of illness time upon retirement does not include a payout from the catastrophe bank. (To calculate the number of illness days in one's bank, divide the number of illness bank hours by eight [8].)

2.  The pension application forms found on an employee's miAccount with the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (michigan.gov/orsschools).  (Click on the menu item "Ready to Retire", then the box that says, "Apply for Retirement", and then follow the instructions.)

3.  The application forms for Social Security (if eligible) and Medicare (if eligible) found on Social Security's website (ssa.gov).  (This website is separate and unrelated to the Michigan Office of Retirement Services' website and an employee's miAccount.)

Questions about retirement can be directed to the DFT's retirement counselor, Patrick Falcusan, at the union office, 313-875-6783. at any time during the year.

Here are the results of the DFT Election which were announced at the end of the March 2023 General Membership Meeting. 

one (1) vacancy on Executive Board

• Gavin Buckley 26
• Stephen Conn 22
• Rachele Green 39
• Kwesi Matthews 4
• Kimberly L. Mitchell 69

Kimberly L. Mitchell was declared the winner in this race. She will be sworn in at the April General Membership meeting.

three (3) positions on the Election Committee

• Cheryl Constantino 21
• Hope Gibson 42
• Theodosia Gulley 21
• Tamika Merchant 87
• Jacqueline Robinson 93
• Queen Watkins 102

The three members who were elected to the Election Committee are Queen Watkins, Jacqueline Robinson and Tamika Merchant. They will be sworn in at the April General Membership meeting.

The DFT was proud to be a part of this special event: the film premiere at the Detroit Institute of Arts about the life of Rosa Parks.  After the screening AFT National President, Randi Weingarten, was part of a special conversation  moderated by the film’s executive producer Soledad O’Brien with Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, the film’s directors Yoruba Richen and Johanna Hamilton, the book's author, Dr. Jeanne Theoharis and Lonnie McCauley, Rosa Parks’ grandnephew. 

You are invited you to a celebration of The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks on the anniversary of her birthday, Saturday, February 4th, 2023. Please join us for a screening of the first full-length documentary about the life and legacy of Rosa Parks, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. After the film, stay for a special conversation moderated by the film’s executive producer Soledad O’Brien with Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, the film’s directors Yoruba Richen and Johanna Hamilton, the book's author, Dr

We have been made aware of an IT issue with our email system. We are currently unable to receive emails to our DFT inbox. We have reached out to our IT department and they will provide us with an answer soon. In the meantime, if you need to contact a DFT staff member please call on Thursday to our Office Assistant, Mae Winters at 313-875-3500. She will be available to take messages. We will update when the issue has been resolved.

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Metro Detroit Labor Day Parade: Monday, September 2, 2024.  Our section will line up at Trumbull and Michigan starting at 7:00 a.m. At 9 a.m., we will march to Roosevelt Park (Michigan Central train station) where there will be a labor program. After the parade, AFT Michigan members and families are invited to stop by our building (2661 E. Jefferson) for an informal BBQ before heading home. ​The DFT will be participating in the parade and we will be carrying our banner.  Join us in solidarity and wear your red DFT t-shirt.