Detroit school board approves Vitti's contract

Dr. Nikolai Vitti's final day as Duval County superintendent will be May 21

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Detroit school board voted to approve a five-year contract for Duval County Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti, who was chosen last month by the board to be the next superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

Saturday morning, the following statement was released by DCPS Board Chair Paula D. Wright:

"On Friday, the school board for the Detroit Public Schools Community District has voted to approve Dr. Nikolai Vitti’s contract for Superintendent. As Chairman of the Duval County School Board, I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Nikolai Vitti on this next step in his professional career. I know that he will be passionate, dedicated, and committed to the children, families, and community of Detroit. As a result, we have been informed that Dr. Vitti's last day with Duval County Public Schools will be effective on May 21, 2017. As this transition comes to a close, new opportunities for leadership begins immediately. On Monday, May 15, 2017 at 1:30 pm, we will host a special board meeting to discuss the next steps in naming an interim superintendent, and the hiring of a search firm for a permanent superintendent. As a board, we are entrusted with governing a district through progressive policies that best serve families, employees, and most importantly, students. Our next superintendent will have a great opportunity to serve a wonderful community full of spirit and desire to see the youth of Duval County reach their full potential. All members of the Duval County School Board are looking forward to the next chapter in identifying and naming our next superintendent."

At a special meeting Friday night, the Detroit Board of Education voted 7-0 to execute its contract with Vitti, who will make $295,000 in his first two years in Detroit, $303,000 in his third year, $312,000 in his fourth year and $322,000 in the fifth.

"We are on a journey to excellence. Dr. Vitti is a strong leader and change agent who is qualified to move this district forward. The board is confident in the strengths he has demonstrated and he has a proven track record of success in Jacksonville and Miami. We are focused on providing the best education possible for students in Detroit," said Board President Iris Taylor.

The contract, which also includes $25,000 to pay for Vitti's moving expenses, will be ratified pending approval from the Financial Review Commission.

Duval County School Board Member Scott Shine told to News4Jax that Board Chairperson Paula Wright sent an email, saying Vitti's last day will be May 21. 

Shine said the next nine days will be bittersweet.

"I'm very unhappy about it. One of the reasons I ran for this seat and got a position with the school board was to work with Dr. Vitti, and he's become a good friend. I think he's one of the most significant people that I've known in my life and this, to me, is a big person lost."

As Vitti -- whose contract paying him $275,000 a year was extended by the Duval County School Board in 2015 -- prepares to head north, Shine shed light on school board's next steps in Jacksonville.

On Monday, Shine said, the school board will hold a special board meeting, during which an interim superintendent will be appointed. After that, the search will begin for the permanent superintendent. 

When Vitti came to Duval County in 2012, it was a nine-12 month process, which bodes that it could be close to a year before Duval County has a new superintendent of schools. But Shine said students, parents and teachers alike should not be worried. 

"(They) will not see any significant changes. But what we will be doing is, basically, reading off the same playbook that we've had for the past two or three years. A lot of folks will be ending the school year here shortly. They will graduate and then, over the summer, we will be planning for the next year," Shine said. 

Shine added that the board has several names in mind for who will replace Vitti, so he doesn't think they'll have any trouble finding the right person for the job.

After Friday evening's vote in Detroit, Vitti issued the following statement: 

‎"The DPSCD school board's vote this evening is bittersweet in that I have the opportunity to return to the city that I deeply love while leaving a city that has largely supported me and my family over past four years. I have accepted this great challenge and opportunity because it defines who I am as a leader and person.

"‎I am profoundly grateful to the DPSCD school board for granting me the privilege, honor, and responsibility to lead the city's new school district. I have stated from the beginning that there needed to be a match between the new school board and me. I believe that this connection was evident from the moment we started to know each other. We have the same passion and vision for the children of Detroit and we both accept the responsibility to ensure their success. I have no doubt that we will make the school district a leader in urban education once again by working as a team with children as our focus.

"It is important that I begin this work as soon as possible and therefore I will be starting the week of May 22nd. This is why I have been focusing on my current role as superintendent in Duval County since I was named a finalist to ensure that everything under my responsibility was handled with detail and strategy to provide for a healthy transition. I thank the Duval County School Board for their support throughout this process.

"I cannot thank my team enough for their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. This includes all district and school based administrators, support staff, and teachers. Our collective work has made a difference in the lives of the children we serve. I am especially appreciative to those in the business, faith based, and non-profit communities who were always ready and willing to assist in making the lift of change lighter.

"I leave the district knowing that it is in a better state than when I started. There is still much to complete and I hope the Duval County School Board will select a leader that will continue to make hard decisions in the best interest of children."

Vitti, 40, worked in Miami before taking over the Duval County district -- the 20th-largest school district in the country.

The Detroit school board on April 18 voted 6-1 to hire Vitti, who was one of two finalists for the position. 

He will now take over as the superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, which was created last year by the Michigan Legislature. It includes all of the students, staff and buildings from the failed Detroit Public School District, which was in financial crisis in 2009 when it was taken over by the state. Since then, more than 100 schools have closed and five emergency managers have run the school district.