34 Candidates Vying for 5 Seats on Detroit Public Schools Board Election

Unprecedented Candidate Pool for Detroit Public Schools Board Election

As the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) prepares for its upcoming board election, a remarkable number of thirty-four candidates are vying for five available seats. This marks a significant moment in the district’s history, as it is the highest number of candidates since the board was established in 2016. In that year, the competition was fierce, with over 60 candidates making their cases for a position.

The election takes on added significance because only two current board members, Steve Bland and Bessie Harris, are standing for re-election after being appointed last year to fulfill vacancies. With the current leadership, including President LaTrice McClendon and Vice President Corletta Vaughn, stepping down, new individuals are set to enter the board, including a seat that became vacant after the passing of Iris Taylor in July.

Of the thirty-four candidates, 31 are campaigning for four-year terms, while three candidates—Ijazz Jackson, Aliya Moore, and Shawn Vaughn—are seeking a partial two-year term. Candidates have been encouraged to share their thoughts on key issues facing the district, such as chronic absenteeism, enrollment difficulties, and the upcoming funding changes affecting support for academic interventionists.

The candidates' responses to a questionnaire circulated by Chalkbeat earlier this year were published in a voter guide, providing a glimpse into their proposed strategies and desires for the district. It’s notable that only 19 candidates responded to the questionnaire, and their submissions reflect a diverse array of approaches to the challenges at hand.

For voters looking to gather more information about the election and voting process, resources can be found here.

This article is based on contributions from Chalkbeat. For ongoing updates regarding Detroit's public school system and educational developments in Michigan, consider subscribing to Chalkbeat Detroit’s free newsletter.