Detroit school board to fill vacant seat of late member Iris Taylor ahead of November election

August 12, 2026

The Detroit school board is moving to fill a vacancy created by board member Iris Taylor's recent death, with interviews scheduled to begin as soon as next week. State law requires the board to make an appointment within 30 days, or the responsibility shifts to the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency. The board has selected two candidates to interview: Sherisse Butler, who finished fourth in the 2024 election, and another unnamed applicant from a previous 2025 appointment process.

Who is affected

Iris Taylor (deceased board member whose seat is vacant)
Sherisse Butler (candidate being interviewed; senior vice president and executive director of City Year Detroit)
One unnamed candidate being interviewed
The Detroit Public Schools Community District board members
LaTrice McClendon (board chair)
Steve Bland Jr. and Bessie Harris (current board members appointed last year who are running in November)
Monique Bryant, Ida Simmons Short, and Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (referenced as 2024 election vote-getters)
Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency (would fill seat if deadline missed)
Detroit Public Schools Community District students and families

What action is being taken

The Detroit school board is interviewing two applicants to fill the vacant seat
A third-party law firm is tallying scores from written responses and interviews
The board will vote on appointing the highest-scoring candidate

Why it matters

This appointment is significant because it ensures continuity of governance for the Detroit Public Schools Community District during a critical period. The 30-day legal deadline creates urgency, as failure to act would transfer the appointment authority to another agency, removing local control over board composition. Additionally, the appointee will serve through 2026, giving them substantial time to influence district policies and decisions affecting Detroit students, even though the seat will also be contested in the upcoming November election.

What's next

Interviews will be conducted as early as next week (specific dates not yet publicly posted)
A third-party law firm will tally the scores from written responses and interviews
The board will vote on the appointment based on the highest score
The seat will be up for election on November 3

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com