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Statement by DFT President Ivy Bailey on Board of Education 7-0 vote to appoint Dr. Nikolai Vitti as DPSCD superintendent - April 18

"The Detroit Board of Education today voted to appoint Dr. Nikolai Vitti superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD.)

Last month, we respectfully requested that the board grant Interim Superintendent Alycia Meriweather a formal interview. That didn't happen, unfortunately. We believe that Meriweather, the first DPSCD superintendent with Detroit classroom experience since Dr. Eddie Green nearly 20 years ago, has provided much needed stability after an often volatile period in recent school district history. It is our hope that Meriweather remain an important member of the new superintendent’s executive team. Dr. Vitti should work side by side with Meriweather as Assistant Superintendent.

With that said, we look forward to working with Dr. Vitti. The district is faced with several important issues: contract negotiations with labor unions, the return of Education Achievement Authority schools, budget stability, retaining staff, and filling teaching vacancies.

At the end of the day, all partners are charged with working together to provide our 45,000 students with the best opportunity to succeed. In that regard, we remain committed to placing children first and look forward to meeting soon with Dr. Vitti in an effort to move Detroit Public Schools Community District forward.”


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