Ethan Bakuli
Reporter, Chalkbeat Detroit
Ethan Bakuli covers Detroit public schools for its students, parents, and teachers. Previously, he covered race, education, housing, and inaffordability as a reporter for the Burlington Free Press in Vermont. Prior to that, Ethan spent nearly two years as an intern instructor at New England Public Media’s Media Lab program, where he taught student journalists to report on topics such as food insecurity and mental health.
Christian Young talks about how he brings current events into his lessons, and the advice that he holds on to.
District is urged to rethink how it supports students’ mental health
The district will spend COVID relief funds to rebuild five schools, renovate buildings and reopen previously closed school buildings.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti cited opposition among union members but signaled he would go ahead with lifting the mandate on July 1.
The district will share the updated proposals at the May 10 school board meeting.
Earlier opening would allow more time to recruit students for enrollment ahead of Count Day, superintendent says
Detroit is one of the few school districts in Michigan requiring universal testing for all employees, students and contractors.
The teacher challenged the Detroit school district’s requirement that most teachers work in person, citing medical conditions that put her at risk of acute COVID-19.
The new policy, if approved by the board would requires all employees to disclose their COVID vaccine status.
Detroit is among the few remaining school districts in the state, along with Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, that still have a mask requirement.
In recent years, students across the country have challenged their school dress codes, citing disparate impact on some students including sexist enforcement toward female students.
Chalkbeat Detroit, Bridge Michigan, and The Detroit Free Press held a discussion Wednesday to discuss how schools can support students with mental health needs.
The district is investigating the death of a veteran school employee who intervened in a fight near Henry Ford High Thursday afternoon.
As the Detroit Public Schools Community District has committed to improving the program, families are finding that being enrolled in the district’s virtual school is not easy.
The Detroit school board addressed its vaccine mandate and compensation for its members at its Tuesday meeting.
The people who showed up to the first of seven community meetings were receptive to the district’s plan to rebuild, renovate, or close some schools.
During her tenure as Detroit deputy superintendent, Iranetta Wright oversaw the daily operations of the district’s 107 schools, including managing principals, counseling services, discipline, public safety, and athletics.
The statewide graduation rate was 80.4% for the Class of 2021, a decrease of 1.6% from the previous year. Graduation rates have fallen nationally after years of progress.
Staff members had until Feb. 18 to be fully vaccinated.
Over the course of the next two months, the Detroit school district will hear from students, staff and families about its current building proposal.
The school district will wait for a recommendation from the city health department, even as other Michigan counties have lifted their mask mandates.
To get vaccinated on campus, students will have to provide signed parental consent. The Detroit district plans to open clinics at all its 107 buildings by June.
The money would come from one-time federal COVID relief funds, but is only a fraction of the estimated $2.1 billion needed for building issues in the district.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District is requiring all employees to get vaccinated by Feb. 18. Until then, the district has required unvaccinated staff to undergo weekly testing.
School board members want to raise their meeting stipend to reflect an increasing workload and be on par with national school boards.
Detroit Superintendent Nikolai Vitti informed parents last week that the district had used all six of its forgiven days this school year for health and safety reasons.
The last day of January marked the first day of in person learning for thousands of Detroit students since Dec. 16.
As Detroit students return to school Monday, the deadline looms for parents in DPSCD to consent to COVID testing for their children.
Across the nation, many schools have returned to in-person learning after the winter break. But not Detroit.