Detroit school board enters closed session to discuss superintendent evaluation and legal matter

The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education voted Aug. 18 to enter a closed session to consider the superintendent's evaluation and a written legal memorandum under the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

During public comment, Mother Helen Moore asked, “Why are you having a closed meeting today?” and warned of the possibility of a state takeover. Legal counsel responded that under the Michigan Open Meetings Act two reasons applied to the agenda: “to discuss an attorney-client privileged legal memorandum” and “to discuss the personnel issue if the employee requests that it be discussed in closed session,” and added that the superintendent’s contract requires the discussion be held in closed session.

The chair moved to go into closed session pursuant to MCL 15.268(h); Secretary Vania Moore called the roll and the transcript records affirmative responses to the roll call. After the roll, the chair stated the board had evaluated the superintendent for 2024–25 as “effective” before the meeting proceeded into closed session.

The board did not take additional public action on the evaluation on the record prior to entering closed session; the motion and roll call to convene the closed session were the formal items recorded in the public portion of the meeting.