News

The DFT Election Committee announces that the following members will be serving a two year term on the Election Committee-

1. Tameka Merchant
2. Jacqueline Robinson
3. Taneshe Vernon

Crystal White was nominated to fill a vacancy on the Election Committee.

Tracie Diggins was elected to the Executive Board Vacancy.

The changes for both the Constitution and the Bylaws were approved.

Protect Our Kids Resolution

Whereas, the federal government plays a crucial role in providing essential services, ensuring and maintaining the nation's infrastructure and public welfare; and

Whereas, recent initiatives led by President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Elon Musk’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), and Linda McMahon (Department of Education) and their administration, have proposed arbitrary and capricious reductions in federal spending and workforce that undermine the effectiveness of federal agencies, including those responsible for education, environmental protection, and public health; and

Whereas, The Department of Education supports 7.5 million students with disabilities—roughly 15 percent of students—with special education services and specialized teachers and therapists; and

Whereas, Title 1 helps over 25 million of our most impoverished students, many in the city of Detroit; and

Whereas, the Department of Education provides supports for lowering class size, providing mental health supports, career and technical education and financial aid; and

Whereas the Department of Education offers funding for free and reduced lunches after school, early childhood and extended year programs; and

Whereas, The Detroit Federation of Teachers participated in the National March 4 Education National Day of Action with the American Federation of Teachers by wearing “red for ed”, celebrating students by clapping students in and out of school, by providing parents and community stakeholders with important literature regarding the benefits of the Department of Education; and

Whereas, On March 4, 2025, The Detroit Federation of Teachers held a Virtual Citywide Teach-In with students, teachers, parents, legislators, and community members and provided a digital toolkit of information and actions; and

Whereas, The Detroit Federation of Teachers will continue to collaborate and organize strategically with verified community and labor allies to fight the cowardly attacks on the working- and middle-class Americans by the Trump, Vance and Elon Musk administration; and

Whereas, on January 30, 2025, AFT National held an urgent town hall, “We Protect Kids” to provide sorely needed information to members worried over immigration policy changes that are instilling fear and trauma in their schools and healthcare facilities; and

Whereas, on February 19, 2025, AFT National held an urgent town hall, “Protect Our Kids” to deliver an urgent call to action on March 4, to stand up for our schools, fight for our communities, protect our kids, in response to the Trump administration’s threat to cut the Department of Education and the funds that go with it—a move that ultimately amounts to a large-scale attack on the nearly 50 million American children who attend public schools; and

Whereas, on February 24, 2025, AFT National is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit to stop the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management to stop sharing private data with DOGE affiliates; and

Whereas, on February 25, 2025, AFT National held an urgent town hall “Immigration Town Hall” to discuss the latest changes in U.S. immigration policies and how we can best defend faculty and staff at colleges and universities; and

Whereas, on February 25, 2025, AFT National filed lawsuits against the new policy threatening to withhold federal funding from educational institutions that teach accurate history and lessons about slavery, diversity, and inclusion; and

Whereas, on March 4, 2025, the National Day of Action, with more than 2,000 actions across the country, to fight back against attacks on public schools by calling on lawmakers to protect our kids and take a stand against actions that will hurt millions of students to fund tax cuts for billionaires; and

Whereas, the prioritizing of billionaires over 99% of Americans continues by attacking every system we depend upon: Education, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Veterans Affairs, Immigration, National Institute of Health, along with the lies and fiscal irresponsibility due to thousands of layoffs in the Education, Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Energy, and their sub-agencies:

Now, Therefore Be It Resolved that the Detroit Federation of Teachers, along with verified community and labor allies, will fight for safe, welcoming and fully funded public schools and colleges that prepare and support our young people for college, career and life.

Be It Resolved that we will fight for a functioning government that works for Americans and that we will fight for the funding and policies that help people as we fight against cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, education and the other social service programs to subsidize tax cuts for billionaires.

Be It Further Resolved that we will fight for freedom and opportunity for all, which only comes with a real democracy, and provides vital safety net programs for people providing opportunity, dignity, respect and a better life for us all.

Therefore, be it resolved that we place a copy of this resolution in the archives of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, a digital copy shared with members and a copy published on the Detroit Federation of Teachers website.

The DFT Election Committee has released the results of the 2024 DFT Leadership Biennial Election. President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins and her slate have been reelected to a second term. Serving alongside her as Vice Presidents will be Jason Posey, Robin Jennings, and Marcus Walton. Recording Secretary Elena Brantley-Phillips and Treasurer Rodney Fresh will continue in their roles. Eleven Executive Board members, of which nine are incumbents, were elected to serve on the leadership team:

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

The three trustees elected are Cassandra Davis, Mark Duffy, and Kimberly D. Mitchell.

You can view the final certified results from Survey and Ballot Systems here: DFT 2024 Election Results--Final and Certified. The DFT leadership team will be sworn in at the January General Membership meeting for a two year term.

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 

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

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.

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.

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.

• Fact Sheet Proposal S
• Talking Points 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

• https://aftmichigan.org/2024-endorsed-candidates/
• https://unionhall.aflcio.org/detroit
• https://miaflcio.vote/

DETROIT—Today, leaders of the 1.8 million-member AFT embarked on a cross-country, multicity election bus tour to get out the vote and highlight the pivotal issues facing America this November.

Union members are “all in” this election season supporting candidates who support the values and actions needed to realize the promise of America; economic and educational opportunity for all; lower costs; upholding broad-based freedoms, including a women’s right to make their own healthcare decisions; and the strengthening, not diminishing, of our voice at work and in our democracy.

The AFT, which has 600