The Detroit school board on Tuesday postponed a vote on proposed changes to its policy regarding public participation in school board meetings to give the public more time to learn about potential changes.

The board will now weigh in at its December 10 meeting.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Board policy would remove people’s ability to comment publicly When attending board meetings virtually, it requires those who wish to speak in person to provide more information than is currently required and allocates more speaking time to speakers who need an interpreter or have disabilities.

The proposed changes came before the board for first reading at its regular school board meeting in October.

Misha Stallworth West, who chairs the board’s policy committee, previously told Chalkbeat that the proposed policy ensures that current practices are put in writing, as well as “helping to ensure that there is no confusion between the board and the public about what’s going on and how it happened.” .”

But Stallworth West suggested Tuesday that the board table the proposal by the December meeting to give the community more time to learn about the policy.

“We will ask for support from the staff regarding social education activities and related platforms,” ​​he said.

Concerns about the policy were raised during the public comment period by former school board candidate Aliya Moore. He called the proposal “shameful” and accused the board of being afraid of the public.

“How can we try to thwart, restrict, restrain, turn back the public opinion that put you all in these positions on a second reading and we didn’t have a policy meeting in September or October,” Moore said. The policy committee actually met on October 1.

“Shouldn’t we have had at least one meeting discussing this in a committee meeting before it went to a second reading? Let’s be realistic, board of directors.”

School board candidates Nicole Conaway and Tabrian Joe also spoke, saying the proposed policy is part of the district’s challenge to maintain a positive climate and culture and that Detroiters’ voices deserve to be heard.

“We have leadership that doesn’t respect the people of the community, and they’re rushing into these meetings and holding closed sessions to try to alienate people,” Conaway said. “That’s the problem with climate and culture, and money isn’t going to solve it. “We need new leadership for this.”

Meanwhile, Joe said the board needs to be accountable to the community and that should be on the table until new school board members Monique Bryant and Ida Simmons Short begin their terms.

“The board is accountable to the people who come here every day, speak out and advocate for Detroit students,” Joe said. “Detroit deserves a board that is accountable to the public, and the only way people can hold them accountable is through public comment.”

Board approves contracts of multiple union groups

The board also approved contracts for paraprofessionals, food service workers and noon aides at Tuesday’s meeting.

Two-year contracts were approved for members of the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals, the Detroit Education Office Employees Association and the Organization of School Administrators and Supervisors.

Here’s a closer look at what workers will earn by 2025:

• Professional trade union members, which also include school culture facilitators, school culture facilitators, food service workers and lunch aides, will receive a 4% salary increase retroactive to July for the current school year and a 3% increase for 2018. will receive a salary increase. 2025-26 school year.
• Office workers union members will also receive a 4 percent pay increase retroactive to July. Salary increases for the 2025-26 academic year will be 3%.
• Members of the managers and supervisors union will receive a 4 percent pay increase for the current year, retroactive to July, and a 3.5 percent pay increase for 2025-26.
• The retention bonus in December is also part of the DFP and DAEOE agreement. A $2,000 bonus will be given to employees who are hired in the district by February 1 and continue to work actively through November 1. If they are employed from February 1, 2025 to November 1, 2025, they will receive an additional $2,000 bonus next year.
• OSAS members will receive a $1,000 “boost” to their base salary if employed from February 1 to November 1 this year, and another $1,000 during the same period in 2025.
• Members of each union will receive longevity bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.

Micah Walker is a reporter for BridgeDetroit. You can reach him at: [email protected].