You’re invited: Detroit school board virtual candidate forum

Join Chalkbeat and WDET as we hear from the candidates vying to oversee Detroit public schools.

A promotional image for an event displays the title, “Detroit school board virtual candidate forum” in black against a purple background.
Chalkbeat Detroit and WDET are hosting a virtual school board candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Design by Lauren Bryant)

Two former board presidents, a few former educators, four incumbents, parents, and a recent graduate are among the 18 candidates running for four seats on the Detroit school board in what could be a consequential election for the city school district.

​​The seven-member board oversees and sets policy for the Detroit Public Schools Community District, which educates nearly 49,000 students. With more than half of the four-year seats up for election on Nov. 8, any new board members could affect Superintendent Nikolai Vitti’s plan to address pandemic-related enrollment losses, chronic absenteeism, and poor academic achievement.

Chalkbeat Detroit and WDET are hosting a virtual school board candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

RSVP to join us as we hear from candidates vying to lead Detroit public schools.

The forum will be held over Zoom and split into two panels with a short intermission. This event is free to attend, but you must RSVP to receive the Zoom information. You can also let us know what questions you have for the candidates when you sign up.

Panel 1

  • Corletta Vaughn (incumbent)
  • Deborah Hunter-Harvill (incumbent)
  • Jamaal Muhammad
  • John Telford
  • Patrice Douglas
  • Richard Clement
  • LaMar Lemmons
  • Ida Simmons Short

Panel 2

  • Angelique Peterson-Mayberry (incumbent)
  • Monique Bryant
  • Regina Ann Campbell
  • Bessie Harris
  • Aliya Moore
  • Ridgeley Hudson
  • Iris Taylor
  • Latrice McClendon

Incumbent Georgia Lemmons and candidate Reba Neely have not yet responded to an invitation to attend.

Caroline Bauman is the community engagement manager at Chalkbeat.

The Latest

Colorado ranks third in the nation, after Washington, D.C. and Vermont, for the share of 4-year-olds served in its state-funded preschool program.

Backers of a proposed religious charter school argue that charter schools are more private than public. The Supreme Court case could upend the charter sector, with implications for funding, autonomy and more.

The Illinois legislative session is scheduled to end on May 31. Lawmakers are considering several education bills and negotiating the fiscal year 2024 budget. Here is what Chalkbeat is following.

Advocates warn that transferring federal special education oversight to another department could weaken enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other disability rights laws, while jeopardizing funding, research, and implementation.

Some districts invested pandemic relief money in instructional coaches and increased time spent on math. Test scores suggest that strategy’s paying off.

For decades, these clinics have provided a wide range of health care to students, offering vaccines, teeth cleaning, or help for mental health struggles, all at no cost.