White III, Boyd- Detroit Public Schools Community District

Are you an incumbent?

Brief Intro of Candidate

Hello, Detroit and 482Forward!! Thanks for the opportunity to answer this questionnaire. First, I'm a Detroiter! I'm from here and I live here. I grew up on the west-side (8 Mile and Lodge, Schoolcraft and Southfield.) For the past 15 years, I've lived in the 7 Mile and Woodward area. I've been married for over 20 years to a pretty girl from Joy Rd. We're parents of 4. Professionally and mission wise, I'm a former prosecutor, experienced trial attorney, partner at a Detroit based national law firm and lead pastor and founder of The Ark Detroit. Additionally, I'm a former college admissions counsellor who worked primarily to admit Detroit students to U of M-Ann Arbor. I'm a 2002 grad of U of M-Ann Arbor and I'm also a proud grad of DPS (CT, 97, Beaubien Jr. HS, Vandenberg Elementary and Winship Elementary). Finally, I'm 45 years old and ready to get in this fight.

Parent, Pastor, Trial Attorney, Former College Admissions Counselor, DPS Product. Let's go!!

Endorsements

So far, I've been endorsed by AFL-CIO, The Black Slate, The COGIC PAC, Council of Baptist Pastors and Vicinity, The Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington, Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy, Pastor Marvin Miles, and more to come.

Top financials Contributors

Website and social media links

So far, we've received donations from 100 individuals representing various portions of the Detroit community. I'll update this question as we get closer to November.

boydwhiteiii.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?

During this process of running for office, I've talked to scores of parents, community leaders, students and educators to hear their perspective about how we can improve the District. A lack of communication between the District, the Board and the community and the problems that emerge from such lack of communication has come up in nearly every discussion. To solve this problem as a board member, I would work with other board members to conduct an assessment of what the District is already doing to include the community in various decision making protocols, and then work to improve any such procedures. I look forward to discussing this in more detail.

What are your thoughts on school discipline and the way it is exercised in your school district? What are your thoughts on restorative practices?

candidate not asked this question

What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health

Again, I would join other board members to assess what the District is doing, determine if its processes and procedures are working, and if not, address it. And, I wouldn't be putting anything in place by myself, per se. I would always be working with the other board members to propose policies that improve mental health, and support the board's decisions in this regard.

What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?

By most accounts, black boys are at the bottom on this achievement gap. This issue a piece of why I'm running for this seat. I can speak to what it's like to grow up in Detroit as a black boy, attend DPS schools from start to finish, to navigate those real Detroit perils and then achieve a modicum of success from a perspective that no other board member can. I'm committed to being that person. And I'm confident that as this campaign unfolds, Detroit will see that I'm the BEST person of the 22 who are running for this seat to make this case. Adding to that everything I discuss above, ie safety, attendance, etc, applies here to close this specific gap. Making school a place where boys want to attend is also a strategy.

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?

See above.

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?

I think the District as made great strides in this area. Pay for starting teachers has greatly improved and working conditions are improving. With that said, as a board member, and as a pastor and parent, I would be interested in the morale of the teachers. Do they feel like they are being respected, properly trained, equipped and heard? THE DISTRICT IS NOTHING WITHOUT ITS TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, SUPPORT STAFF AND ATTENDANT PROFESSIONALS. NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT THEM. I'm not sure that any District will be ever be perfect in this regard, but we have to make sure that we are the best we can be. As the spouse of a career educator, this would DEFINITELY be a focus of mine.