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.

