Vitti exploring superintendent job in Detroit

Duval County's leader contacted by national search firm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County could be losing its public schools superintendent to Detroit.

Dr. Nikolai Vitti, a Detroit native, announced this weekend that he is exploring the opportunity to become superintendent in his Michigan hometown.

Vitti released a statement Saturday saying he had been contacted by a national search firm about the job for the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

The Detroit public schools district was recently split into two separate districts – the old Detroit Public School District to pay down debt, and the new DPSCD to focus on educating students. The changes came with a controversial $617 million state-aid package. The law also restored control to a school board and added additional financial oversight.

Currently, the DPSCD is being run by interim superintendent Alycia Meriweather. Vitti is among three finalists for the position. The others are Derrick R. Coleman, superintendent of Detroit's River Rouge District and Orlando Ramos, regional superintendent for Milwaukee Public Schools. 

Vitti, who has served as superintendent in Duval County for over four years, said he will pursue the opportunity but will not allow the prospect to affect his current responsibilities.

Dr. Vitti’s statement:

It has been an honor to work in a district and more importantly on a team that has been recognized nationally and statewide for our work with the shift in standards and curriculum selection, innovative school programming, leadership development, community engagement through a strong communication and marketing plan, expansion of the arts, narrowing the achievement gap, supporting overage students, and improving low performing schools.
Over the years, I have been asked and recruited to consider opportunities in other school districts, charter networks, and in the private sector. I have not considered those opportunities for over four years. Most recently, I was recruited by a search firm to consider returning home to serve the City of Detroit as its superintendent. Right now there are few, if any, challenges on a national level to traditional public education more than in Detroit. It was too difficult to walk away from this challenge and opportunity. Detroit is, and will always be in my DNA. I feel a sense of responsibility to explore the opportunity to determine if there is a match between the newly elected school board and me.
As those who know my work ethic and focus, my attention to my current responsibilities as superintendent will not be ignored as I explore this opportunity."

Duval County School Board member Scott Shine said Monday that he doesn't want to lose Vitti and will do what he can to keep him in Jacksonville.

“I'm concerned. We've had a lot of progress in the school district. Academic achievement is up. Graduation rates are up. Teacher morale has increased, so he's made a positive difference,” Shine said.

Fellow board member Warren Jones echoed those sentiments in a statement released Monday:

“Even though I'm a newly elected board member, I have enjoyed a good working relationship with Dr. Vitti. I consider Dr. Vitti a 'change agent' for our school district, and under his leadership, the district has made improvements in several areas. Our graduation rate has improved and the district has closed the achievement gap, just to name a few. Our prayer is that Dr. Vitti makes a decision that is best for him and his family, if he is offered the position. Personally, I hope that he stays and continues to address the many remaining challenges of DCPS.”

Former Jacksonville mayor and current City Council member Tommy Hazouri was on the school board that selected Vitti in 2012. 

"He will do an outstanding job if he is selected. He will be missed in Jacksonville, in Duval County, no question about it," Hazouri said. "It's difficult to find a really good superintendent for a size district like ours."

Lori Hershey, the newest member of the school board,  said she is delighted Vitti has an opportunity to return to Detroit.

“He is dedicated to improving education and is passionate about making a difference. I am confident he will remain focused on the work at hand here in Jacksonville as this process unfolds,” she said. “I am also confident that our board will work together to ensure that education in Duval County continues to move forward.”

Vitti's announcement comes nearly six months after an open letter was sent to him from Duval County School Board chairwoman Ashley Smith Juarez asking him to, "use his talents elsewhere."

The controversy began when News4Jax was told by Shine that an emergency board meeting Smith Juarez called for was to ask the board to terminate Vitti's contract.

Smith Juarez, now the vice chairwoman, did not immediately respond to questions about the meeting, but later released her letter to Vitti in which she said he had not incorporated recent suggestions from the board and has not "come forward with a plan to accelerate improvement."

At the time, she said it was not her intention to call for Vitti's resignation. She could not be reached for comment Monday.

News4Jax asked Shine if the dust-up last fall might play a role in Vitti's desire to leave for Detroit.

“I think this situation is unique,” Shine said. “Detroit being his hometown, I think that was a driving factor in his decision to apply and interview for this job. I think any time you're working as a superintendent with an elected board, you're going to have challenges, and that's why we have seven board members not one.”

READ: Vitti's contract | Vitti contract amendment

Vitti’s contract isn’t up until June 2019, unless the board agrees before then to an early extension or termination.

Shine said it’s too early to consider looking for a new superintendent, but he said if Vitti leaves, the board will be prepared to do what’s best for the students. He said he thinks the board will be in good shape no matter what decision Vitti makes.

Vitti, born in Detroit, was selected as superintendent of DCPS in September 2012. Prior to being named the superintendent, he was the Chief Academic Officer of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Detroit is expected to hire a new superintendent by the end of the March.