Board questions staffing formula as principals report stretched assistant-principal and dean roles
Summary
Board members pressed district staff about the staff-allocation formula, asking whether behavioral and safety needs are accounted for and raising equity concerns about how assistant principals, deans and security are assigned across neighborhood, exam and small schools.
Board members at the Detroit Public Schools Community District meeting questioned the district's staffing allocation plan and urged an assessment that accounts for school-level behavior and safety needs rather than enrollment alone.
A vice president on the board asked whether the allocation already factors behavioral incidents or other indicators that would justify extra assistant principals or deans at certain schools. "Have we identified the schools that could use that extra person?" the vice president asked.
Dr. Vidi said the formula differentiates neighborhood schools from exam or application schools and that neighborhood high schools typically receive more staffing to respond to greater behavioral needs. "We have an add-on process. So we look at last year's attendance data. We look at last year's behavior issues," Dr. Vidi said. She added that, in some cases, schools can request additional deans or assistant principals and that the district has added positions at individual schools to address unique needs.
Board members pushed on equity and small-school effects, noting principals of small K'5 schools often report heavier burdens when they lack an assistant principal. "Most principals who have concerns are the small ones ' 300 students or smaller," Dr. Vidi said, adding the district intentionally funds a dean for all K'8 neighborhood schools regardless of size. Board members also discussed the cost of restoring an assistant principal in every school, with staff estimating that adding APs districtwide would cost at least $1 million and likely substantially more because those positions come from general-fund dollars.
Security and clerical staffing were also discussed. Board members asked whether minimum staffing includes clerical coverage and security officers. Dr. Vidi said police coverage is assigned to high schools around arrival and dismissal, with some schools staffed full time; she also said the district had increased guard allocations in recent years. The district said principals may allocate school-based funds for additional security if they prioritize it.
Board members asked staff to return with more data on behavior incidents, staffing requests and survey feedback from principals so the board can weigh priorities against constrained general-fund resources.
