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Detroit School Board Race Sees Record Interest
A significant shift may be on the horizon for the Detroit Public Schools Community District as it witnesses an unprecedented number of candidates vying for board positions. With thirty-four individuals competing for five available seats, this election could reshape the leadership of Michigan’s largest school district.
This year marks the most substantial candidate turnout since the district’s formation in 2016 when over 60 hopefuls competed for board positions. Currently, two incumbents, Steve Bland and Bessie Harris, are seeking re-election, having initially been appointed last year to complete the terms of departed members.
Notably, Board President LaTrice McClendon and Vice President Corletta Vaughn have chosen not to pursue re-election, leaving their positions open for new leadership. Additionally, the seat of Iris Taylor, who passed away in July, remains vacant.
Among the candidates, 31 are targeting four-year terms, while Ijazz Jackson, Aliya Moore, and Shawn Vaughn aim for a two-year partial term. The diverse group of candidates presents various strategies to tackle pressing issues such as chronic absenteeism, enrollment increases, and the impending financial shortfall affecting academic interventionist roles.
Out of the 34 candidates, only 19 responded to a questionnaire distributed by Chalkbeat in July, offering insight into their proposed solutions. The responses, presented in the voter guide, remain unaltered in grammar or punctuation, reflecting candidates’ original submissions. For more details on the voting process, visit here.
Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
