What are the biggest challenges that you're facing right now, whether it's short term or long term, as you look to the future?

Well, I think to answer that question, I'll talk externally and internally, externally equal and equitable funding.

You know, I think Governor Whitmer and and the current legislature have made strides in improving per pupil funding, increasing more grant funding, concentrating funding on at risk students.

That has helped.

But we're still talking about a formula that's outdated and unequal.

And I think that it has to be solved.

I mean, we cannot go to another conference.

We can't hear another get another report about Michigan funding still being inadequate when it comes to public education.

So not only is the funding generally still low when you look at comparison to 50 states, but it's still unequal.

So the formula has to change by not relying on local funding to initiate the funding process and then getting that equitable where we're funding students in need at higher levels so that they have more resources.

If we don't fix that problem, then DPS will always be challenged with facilities not having enough money to deal with special education, not enough funding to deal with transportation costs, and really not enough funding to create equal opportunities.

When you look at poverty and the history of race internally, chronic absenteeism.

You know, we've improved, but, you know, our data is clear.

If a student misses nine or fewer days, they're 3 to 5 times more likely to be at an above grade level.

State assessments and college ready on tests.

And so, you know, and beyond that, just I would say the other challenge is just continue to improve climate and culture.

You know, we have schools that are fantastic.

You can feel the energy.

You know, we do something with students called Math Challenge in Prepared.

And we have students take a survey where they answer questions about whether they feel love, challenge and prepared.

And we have schools that are above the national average.

And then we have other schools that are significantly below the national average.

And it's just chipping away and getting the right leader, developing the right future leaders, you know, recruiting and retaining teachers to make every school where students still love, challenge and prepare to above the national average.

And that doesn't happen overnight.

So that's why the sustainability, I think, in my leadership, in the board's leadership is important.

So you can just chip away at the problem and scale excellence.

You made some news this month.

You sent a letter to Governor Whitmer, Mayor Doug, in some other state and city officials.

It addressed your concerns about marijuana use, particularly edibles and vape pens among students.

What's going on?

Like, why?

Why did this become such a big deal that you needed to to send this message?

Well, just didn't feel like a lot of people were even aware of the problem.

So, you know, one one reason for the letter was to gain create more awareness.

From a policy level, state and you know, city locally, but also use the media to talk directly to families so that they could be more aware of this problem that's happening.

Obviously, we inform parents when we have an incident like edible or vape pen, more edibles.

So, you know, the feedback has been positive that, one, parents have greater awareness of the problem, talked to some, talked to the governor's staff and some city council members about maybe rethinking the state law around marijuana and maybe thinking differently about ordinances.

But and I said we're definitely supportive of the legalization of marijuana.

I think it's just about evolving and understanding.

What are the new challenges that were created with legalization.

And I think maybe the letter sparked more different conversations and greater awareness about what we could do differently moving forward.