McCoin, Patti - Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Are you an incumbent?
Yes
Brief Intro of Candidate
I am currently a classroom teacher in DPSCD. I have 2 adult children who attended public school from kindergarten through high school graduation and then graduated from public universities. I have lived in the Plymouth-Canton Community for the majority of my adult life, briefly in Canton and then in the city of Plymouth. I have a BBA from Eastern Michigan University and a MAT from Wayne State University.
Endorsements
MEA, Moms Demand, Canton Democratic Club, Plymouth Democratic Club, Dayna Polehanki, Matt Koleszar, Melissa Daub, Ranjeev Puri, waiting for AFL-CIO, UAW, Fems for Dems, Emgageuth Democratic Club, Matt Koleszar, Dayna Polehanki, Melissa Daub
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
Canton Democratic Club, MEA
Pattiforpccs.com
How would you engage and include parents, caregivers, community members and students in decision-making in your district around things like curriculum, budgeting and district policy?
This is an ongoing discussion on the board. At the current time we have community members and students who sit on the board subcomittees/ The committees are policy, finance and operations, student performance and achievement, and student voice in action. The president of the teacher's union and the co-chairs of the student voice in action have seats at the board table during meetings. We have had several forums around the dynamic plan of the district to engage community members and participate in coffee hours with the superintendent around the district.
What are your thoughts on school discipline and the way it is exercised in your school district? What are your thoughts on restorative practices?
The district has spent considerable time and resources in adopting restorative discipline practices in an effort to make sure that discipline is equitable and not negatively impacting some students. An example of a change the board championed was to have specific definitions around some of the vague language in the student code of conduct such as aggressive behavior since that seemed to be very subjective.
I have also been a member of the board expulsion panel and we make every effort to keep students in school while also providing consequences that are appropriate. Our stance is that this is an opportunity to make positive changes in the life of a student who is more than the unfortunate choices that brought them in front of us.
We had multiple subsstantive discussions around having SROs in the buildings and crafted specific language in the agreements that require extensive training on their part which includes restorative practices.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
The needs of students are increasing while at the same time there is a significant lack of providers. The district has a mental health fair each year that is open to the public and has become very well attended by both community partners and community members. The district has a family and student engagement department who has the mission of providing services to the whole child and their families, this includes mental health referrals. I have advocated to elected officials for increased funding of student mental health services and also increased funding for training and retention of providers.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
Curriculum needs to be culturally responsive to the students and their needs. Targeted assistance needs to be provided for students who are clearly struggling. Resources need to be equitably provided to provide the education that students need. Staff and resources need to reflect the demographics of students. The district needs to be welcoming and all students need to feel and be safe physically and mentally.
What are your thoughts on how to ensure that all students and their families, regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, disability, religion, income status, etc., feel safe and included in your district?
This starts at the top and has been made very difficult by having a moms for liberty school board member who consistently uses her platform to denigrate the work being done in the district around diversity, equity, and inclusion. One of my current opponents is also a moms for liberty candiate who does not believe in equity and equality.
What are your thoughts on how to recruit and retain staff, particularly staff of color, in your district with regard to pay, benefits, and working conditions?
Compensation needs to be competitive and the schools (staff, administration, families) need to be welcoming. Staff needs to reflect the demographics of the community and this is difficult given the demographics of education professionals in Michigan which are skewed to white women. There has been significant work with the DEI director to provide support for minority staff as well as making sure that recruitment is reaching a large diverse audience.