Academic Committee approves student code of conduct, assessment calendar, evaluation system and several contracts

The Detroit Public Schools Community District Academic Committee approved a package of routine and capital items including the 2025'26 student code of conduct, the 2025'26 assessment calendar, the Thrive teacher/principal evaluation system and several contract increases related to construction work.

The committee considered action items 4.01 through 4.08. A motion to approve item 4.01 (the 2025'26 student code of conduct) was moved and supported and carried on a voice vote. The committee then approved item 4.02 (the assessment calendar) after questions about test windows and vendor constraints for the I-Ready product; the superintendent explained vendor timing restrictions tied to the assessment window.

Item 4.03, the recommendation to adopt the "Thrive for Teachers and Thrive for School Administrators" evaluation system for 2025'26, was also approved after committee members confirmed that the system had collaborated with local unions and that state rules determine a substantial portion of point distribution for evaluations.

The committee then moved and approved items 4.04 and 4.05 (district course catalog and continued use of a cooperative purchasing agreement with Oracle America Incorporated). For items 4.06'04.08, the superintendent described those as new work increases for Gilbane Building Company tied to the Southeastern CT annex, a new Southeast preK8 school in Southwest Detroit and work at the Drew Transition Center; committee members asked for additional contract details and MBE/WBE participation information. Motions to approve 4.06'04.08 were moved, seconded and carried on voice votes.

Where available the committee discussed implementation notes: assessment retake dates are constrained by vendor windows to protect predictive validity; the superintendent committed to report back to committees with more precise metrics and contract breakdowns.

Outcome at a glance: - 4.01 Student Code of Conduct: approved (motion moved by a board member; voice vote). - 4.02 Assessment Calendar: approved (discussion about vendor testing windows; voice vote). - 4.03 Thrive Evaluation System: approved (committee affirmed union collaboration and state-determined weighting; voice vote). - 4.04 Course catalog: approved (voice vote). - 4.05 Cooperative purchasing agreement (Oracle): approved (voice vote). - 4.06 Contract increase with Gilbane (Southeastern CT annex): approved (motion carried; members requested more procurement detail). - 4.07 Contract increase with Gilbane (new Southeast preK-8): approved (motion carried). - 4.08 Work at Drew Transition Center (entry/doorway/parking): approved (motion carried).

The chair closed the meeting after committee business and public comment.