Detroit voters reshuffle school board with mix of veterans and critics
Five new members took office on Tuesday, including a longtime superintendent critic, as the board faces budget pressures and a looming decision on Nikolai Vitti's contract.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Voters in Detroit elected five members to the Public Schools Community District board on Tuesday, selecting a group that includes two former board members, one incumbent, and two new faces. The election results will determine the direction of Michigan's largest school district for the next four years. Unofficial final results confirm Georgia Lemmons, Jameel Smith, LaMar Lemmons, and Bessie Harris won the four-year terms. Aliya Moore secured the two-year partial term.
The ballot included 31 candidates for the four full-term seats and three candidates for the two-year seat. Thirty-one names appeared on the list for the four-year positions, while three ran for the shorter term. Terry Whitfield, a nonprofit consultant, missed a four-year term by 56 votes. Three other candidates, Natalie Bien-Aime, Henrietta Ivey, and Darious Morris, had previously announced they were withdrawing from the race.
LaMar Lemmons served on the board from 2012 to 2018 and has publicly criticized Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. He voted against Vitti's hiring in 2017 before changing his vote to offer unanimous support. He recently opposed the accelerated closure of small schools. His wife, Georgia Lemmons, served on the board from 2017 to 2022 and voted against extending Vitti's contract in 2020. She is a retired teacher.
Jameel Smith works as a director of psychotherapy services at Henry Ford Health. Bessie Harris, an incumbent, was appointed to the board in October 2025 to replace a resigning member. She is a retired special education teacher and principal. Aliya Moore, a self-employed parent, is a vocal critic of Vitti and has called for his removal for years.
The election tested Vitti's nine-year tenure amid growing board dissatisfaction with student performance on state and district exams. While two new members critical of Vitti won seats, his most vocal opponents did not. It remains unclear if Vitti will keep his job, as not all candidates or sitting members have stated their positions clearly. The board has the power to vote on hiring or firing the superintendent, but the Detroit Financial Review Commission must approve any termination.
Voters expressed concern about academic progress and school conditions. Elizabeth Gist, a voter, said she researched candidates extensively because she heard little from the campaigns. She focused on the need for critical thinking and basic skills. "Children are the future … and I’m concerned. Because critical thinking seems to be a lost art. Even basic phonics, reading, arithmetic," Gist said. Brian Spooner, who voted at the 7th Day Adventist Church on the east side, cited literacy issues and school closures. "You have to go so far out to get a school of good quality," Spooner said.
The new board must manage a district with high costs for small schools and a shrinking literacy lawsuit settlement. They will also work to reduce chronic absenteeism. Nichelle Williams, a home healthcare worker, voted to "shake things up" after decades of low literacy rates. "They need a change when it comes to reading, a lot of students are really far behind where they have to be and can’t read," Williams said. Katherine Jackson, a retiree, admitted she voted for names she recognized due to a lack of information on the many candidates.
The board will govern the district ten years after its creation. Statewide races for governor and State Board of Education seats will also impact Detroit students. The new members will take office to address spending, curriculum, and policy decisions in a district facing complex financial and academic challenges.
