18 | APRIL 11 • 2024
folks to let them know about
our program and seeing how
we can continue to support the
work that the Yeshiva is doing,
”
Santus said.
“The breadth of services,
the number of families they
support, the number of
professionals helping in that
program, I would say is far
and beyond what I’ve seen in
most private schools,
” he added.
“This symposium is helping
to build awareness, both for
schools and families as to what
resources and tools do exist.
I think the Yeshiva is doing
a great job of demonstrating
their awareness of these tools,
incorporating those tools, and
then showing the outcomes
with the children and the
families that they work with.
They’re setting an example.
But a more complex issue of
bringing this level of service
to children everywhere is
funding.
”
The symposium ended
with a panel discussion mod-
erated by Angelique Power,
President and CEO of the
Skillman Foundation. The
panel included Dr. Nikolai
Vitti, Superintendent of Detroit
Public Schools Community
District; Eric Haley, Associate
Superintendent of the Southern
District of Detroit Catholic
Schools; and Dr. Colleen
Allen, President of the Autism
Alliance of Michigan. Much of
the discussion focused on how
sufficient funding was an obsta-
cle for many school districts.
“Equity is often confused
with equality,
” Dr. Vitti said.
“Equality is about giving
everyone the same. Equity is
essentially giving more to those
who need more or have greater
needs. The danger is that too
many children who deserve
the same services offered at the
Yeshiva do not receive what
they deserve because of socio-
economic background, zip code
or race. It’s the traditional public
school system that is charged
with educating those children.
When I hear about schools
where those resources are not
present, I know it’s not because
people don’t care or because of
incompetency. It is a matter of
funding.
“It’s been interesting just
sitting in this room with people
that I know, that I’m never in a
room with, and I’m wondering
how do we get together more to
share best practices? I do believe
there’s an opportunity for more
collaboration and hopefully
others in the room can help put
that together and we can just
learn from each other. We have
to go beyond our own homes,
our own communities, and start
to advocate for children and
families and communities that
don’t have access to the same
resources,
” Dr. Vitti encouraged.
The Yeshiva plans a follow
up symposium for next spring.
You can learn more about the
Yeshiva and the Grosfeld Center
at www.yby.org.
continued from page 16
OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
“THE EDUCATION
OF EVERY CHILD,
ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHOSE POTENTIAL
MIGHT NOT BE
OBVIOUS, IS AN
OBLIGATION THAT
WE ALL SHARE. ”
— JAMES GROSFELD
Educators, policy
makers and other
stakeholders were
part of this well
attended gathering.
Jim Grosfeld spoke
passionately about
the obligation
to support the
educational needs
of all children.