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Durham Public Schools administrators told the school board on Thursday they will not implement express stops for magnet-school transportation this school year and will continue with family responsibility zones (FRZs) while pressing to end rotational bus coverage in mid-January.

The decision followed a survey of families affected by proposed FRZs and express stops and a staff presentation that flagged safety, equity and logistical concerns voiced by parents, students and bus drivers. Transportation staff said express stops remain a possible tool for the 2025–26 school year but should not be rolled out this year.

Why it matters: The change would alter how many students are expected to walk to school or to centralized stops rather than use neighborhood bus stops. Parents, students and some board members said the proposal raised safety and equity concerns for families without cars, for working parents and for neighborhoods lacking sidewalks. District officials said the changes are intended to end the unpredictable rotational bus coverage that has left routes canceled or repeatedly delayed.

What staff presented
Transportation staff said the district surveyed more than 500 households identified as affected by proposed FRZs and express stops; 86% of respondents were parents or guardians and 15% identified Spanish as their primary language. The written responses, staff said, repeatedly cited safety risks walking to stops, greater traffic congestion, lack of supervision at centralized stops, and disproportionate hardship for low-income and single-parent families.

The district reported it had reduced the walking radius for no-transportation zones from 1.5 miles (the statutory baseline referenced in policy) to 1.0 mile when designing FRZs and said the average assigned distance for impacted students is about 0.7 miles. Staff noted, however, that a student’s route-to-school distance may be longer than a straight-line radius because of subdivision layouts and street patterns.

Dr. Webb, a member of the transportation leadership team, told the board: “We do not recommend implementing express stops this school year. However, we do believe that it should be implemented for the 25–26 school year.” Staff also said they were confident Durham Public Schools could end rotational coverage in mid-January; presentation slides referenced both Jan. 17 and Jan. 19 as target dates during different portions of the briefing.

Exceptions, forms and safety
District staff described an FRZ process that includes: school-level coordination of how students get to school; an independent-walker/biker permission form (pre-K students must be accompanied by a responsible adult); a transportation exception form for families seeking continued bus service; and a grievance path under board policy 6322 for denied exceptions.

On hazardous conditions, staff said certain recurring neighborhood conditions — such as people loitering or some reports of crime — are “generally will not qualify” as automatic exceptions but acknowledged the language allows review of extreme hardships on a case-by-case basis. The board’s discussion pressed administration to clarify who would adjudicate hardship claims and how principals would be involved.

Driver recruitment, retention and support
Administration described an active recruitment and retention push: streamlining licensing procedures for prospective drivers, outreach to past drivers, improved working facilities between routes and a career fair set for Tuesday, Jan. 21 (5–6:30 p.m.). Transportation Director Harris and other staff said they were exploring ways to improve drivers’ working conditions and to retain current staff; the presentation also noted ongoing route optimization and bell-schedule evaluation as ways to improve efficiency.

Public comments and board reaction
Parents and students who signed up to speak on Jan. 9 repeatedly urged caution. Parent Chad Heffley said, “School bus service in Durham is in crisis,” and warned that ending neighborhood bus service and imposing walk zones would “disproportionately impact families without flexible schedules.” Multiple student speakers and members of community groups likewise urged a slower, equity-focused rollout and suggested seeking federal funding for solar and efficiency work — comments that the board and staff received as part of the record.

Board members voiced a mix of urgency and caution. Chair Rogers urged the board to give administration a chance to implement a non-rotational plan and monitor the results: “We always intended to move forward with something other than rotational routes. And if it doesn't work … we won't know unless we try it,” she said. Several board members requested more detail on appeals criteria, community resources available to families, and localized safety reviews for proposed walk routes.

Actions and next steps
- Administration said it will not implement express stops this school year and will refine express-stop planning for 2025–26.
- Staff said they expect to end rotational coverage in mid-January (presentation referenced both Jan. 17 and Jan. 19) while continuing recruitment and retention efforts for drivers.
- The district will publish a transportation exception form and post related guidance on the transportation web page; principals will be part of the review and communication process.
- A career fair for recruitment is scheduled for Jan. 21 (5–6:30 p.m.).

What remains unsettled
Board members asked for clearer documentation of which conditions qualify as exceptions, a school-by-school inventory of community resources (carpools, partner organizations) to help families in FRZs, and a plan to regularly report recruitment/retention metrics for drivers. Several board members also urged additional outreach to bus drivers and community delegations before finalizing large-scale operational changes.

Ending
Transportation staff said they will continue route optimization and the recruitment/retention push and return to the board with more data. The district’s stated near-term goal is to stop rotating drivers across multiple routes and provide stable coverage while refining FRZ boundaries and the hardship-exception process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Work Session | 1/9/25","oneSentenceSummary","Durham Public Schools administrators told the board they will not implement express stops this school year and will continue family responsibility walk zones while working to end rotational bus coverage in mid-January.","taxTitle","Durham Public Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14087,"location","North Carolina","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6393985,"Durham board approves policy update, consent agenda changes and personnel report",6340,4020000,10360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104243-9ab32d26fd768fb7e95bec2abd0025aa&start=4020&end=10360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104243-9ab32d26fd768fb7e95bec2abd0025aa/thumbnail_4020000.jpg","/articles/6393985/North-Carolina/Durham-board-approves-policy-update-consent-agenda-changes-and-personnel-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393985-0d2629d2f1ca461df7800659d237940b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161670&Signature=XtJXCt0WHHCXVpiN~QO5LdvIhgpMuWDC6QExL-7HsX5REd5AhcTG8xHHQEzmab4sfa7kmMQ~xp5TvB6IFZWIk6VmLfAFXq1ROxl4WLLG4~M3SzQGZg7XVPwPCNmE5rvsSn4ZB-KIhIkwQMkgxWoqomjnZd-uLwd50XzCKrYbpr-bATzSfil7drBB57iE-yKFUZVRUV3jM4836VMjD0dlMtGvx7mvMccN6AcbPFbLa00zUZGNukUHdaSNbOo0ImPWMN9nEWWXle~CgyO~8RuEsgMb6MdsUIH-7T5bKbv~8wHA1bXbwZHUDj77F-wF-4SO9vZnZdju-9Tvn-dV-SNjFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham Public Schools Board of Education work session, Jan. 9, 2025

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education on Thursday approved a set of administrative and governance items including a comprehensive update to the district's classified-personnel reduction policy (Policy 7921), a consent-agenda amendment that moved a STOP grant update and contract to a later meeting, authorization to participate in twice-yearly joint city/county board meetings, and approval of the personnel report in closed session.

Policy 7921 (Classified personnel reduction)
Deputy Superintendent/lead staff presented an expanded draft of Policy 7921 to align procedures for classified staff with those used for certified staff in reorganization and reductions in force. The board approved the policy on second reading unanimously. Administration agreed to add a technical clarification about continuation of health benefits consistent with state law and return that minor edit on the consent agenda.

Consent agenda and STOP grant
Board Member Umstead moved to remove Item A (the STOP grant update and a contract for services with Lincoln Center) from the consent agenda and place it on the Jan. 23 board meeting. Chair Rogers seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The remaining consent agenda items were approved as amended; the list included restart reauthorization, vendor contracts exceeding $90,000, change orders for construction and IT projects, and a temporary electrical easement for the new Durham School of the Arts.

Joint city-county meetings
The board voted unanimously to accept invitations to twice-yearly joint meetings with the City and County; Ms. Umstead was designated as the board's third representative and Wendell Tabb named as alternate.

Personnel report
After an executive-session review, the board approved the personnel report (action taken in closed session). The board also requested a procedural change to reduce late-night staff burdens: when personnel approvals are the only remaining items, the board will consider an open-session vote that is not live-streamed so district broadcast staff and interpreters may sign off earlier in the evening.

Votes at a glance
- Move STOP grant update and Lincoln Center contract to Jan. 23: moved by Ms. Umstead; seconded by Chair Rogers; passed unanimously.
- Approve consent agenda (as amended): moved by Chair Rogers; seconded by Mr. Tam and Ms. Chavez; passed unanimously.
- Approve Policy 7921 (Classified personnel reduction), second reading: moved by Chair Rogers; seconded by Ms. Chavez; passed unanimously, with technical edit requested.
- Approve personnel report (closed session): moved by Chair Rogers; seconded by Ms. Chavez; passed unanimously.

Ending
Board members asked administration to bring the technical policy edit and the moved STOP grant item back on the Jan. 23 agenda and thanked staff for the materials and for agreeing to additional coordination with board members and community partners.","At its Jan. 9 work session the Durham school board unanimously approved a new classified-personnel reduction policy (Policy 7921, pending a technical edit), amended the consent agenda (moving a STOP grant item to Jan. 23), authorized joint city/county meetings participation and approved the closed-session personnel report.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6393990,"Durham Public Schools releases 2025–26 budget calendar and seeks earlier public input",1623,8762000,10385000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104243-9ab32d26fd768fb7e95bec2abd0025aa&start=8762&end=10385","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104243-9ab32d26fd768fb7e95bec2abd0025aa/thumbnail_8762000.jpg","/articles/6393990/North-Carolina/Durham-Public-Schools-releases-202526-budget-calendar-and-seeks-earlier-public-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393990-a88dd6dafa66375374bacc33a1da7db1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161670&Signature=isIYZB0~-mEji3uPzLttv9XhyBGaTp0RQslr5W57DaBN3RBhR2sclAHnfUJmUO1RrInmPn4jqujvXXVIoepSmLcAetYnM3kYXbglDyCYc9yrkKYDUH48J76O-TrCp9d5z2XBak4WhLXFIhb0ESr464znPwg~ICEQvCYKOYo-zCx71fsEEjhGgYHKZM1iFeVthKFxScslPCGfjJTKV8TiY3GkGOR673PImyFp3jbeEk5SMTK~aCoramEdclLyxuwLAja7GoZWmy-EpdpWD0e6ar9E8Ze8uewGMMuL0qX5jzzUiet5xwverdGb---ZAgMiEWJMAWBqtk9WmKP77pZZ~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham Public Schools Board of Education work session, Jan. 9, 2025

Durham Public Schools presented a draft calendar for development of the 2025–26 budget and the board on Thursday approved the timeline, adding an emphasis on earlier public engagement and information sessions for the community.

Why it matters: The calendar sets public and internal deadlines that drive school staffing, pay and program decisions for the coming fiscal year. Board members emphasized the need for clear, accessible public materials and an early community forum to explain how local, state and federal revenue streams shape the district budget.

Key points from the administration
Budget Director/Chief Financial staffer Mike Teeter (presentation lead) described the statewide calendar that drives local decisions: the Office of State Budget Management issues revenue projections that inform the governor’s recommended budget (historically released in March), which in turn frames the General Assembly’s appropriations. Teeter said the district plans to use the governor’s recommended figures to calculate continuation costs for existing district services and to prepare expansion scenarios for new or increased spending.

Teeter said the district expects to make the superintendent's recommended budget visible to the board and public by March 27, 2025, and proposed two public hearings: an earlier hearing focused on priorities (Feb. 20) and the traditional hearing after the superintendent’s recommended budget is released. He noted that the assembly process at the state level can vary in duration and that the district is working with county budget staff to align local timing.

Board action and requests
The board voted unanimously to approve the 2025–26 budget calendar. Several board members asked administration to:
- Hold an explanatory community meeting about how the district budget is constructed (local vs. state vs. federal share; major spending categories such as salaries vs. operations).
- Run targeted outreach so the hearings and meetings reach audiences beyond those who typically attend board meetings, including Spanish-speaking residents and working families.
- Provide comparative data on absences and tardiness tied to the recent rotational bus coverage (administration said it will provide available data but cautioned it is imperfect and may require interpretation).

Quotes
Budget staff said the district was at an early forecasting stage: \"We are currently at the crystal-ball phase of the state budget development process because we have no idea what revenue is going to look like for them, and we have no idea what the governor is going to recommend,\" the staff presentation said. The presentation also recommended using governor figures for initial continuation-cost estimates.

Next steps
- Administration will provide attendance/absence analyses related to last fall's rotational bus coverage and will prepare materials for the community meeting requested by the board.
- The superintendent's recommended budget is scheduled to be available to the board by March 27, with additional board work sessions planned through April and May and a request to county commissioners in late April/May as to the local funding request.

Ending
Board members approved the calendar and asked administration to schedule a community meeting and to focus outreach and translation so the budget process reaches a broader cross-section of Durham families.","The district presented a proposed budget calendar at the Jan. 9 work session that adds an earlier public hearing and requests the superintendent's recommended budget be visible by March 27; the board approved the calendar and asked administration to schedule community education and engagement sessions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6393993,"Students and university groups press Durham Public Schools for a districtwide climate action plan",1657,889000,2546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104243-9ab32d26fd768fb7e95bec2abd0025aa&start=889&end=2546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104243-9ab32d26fd768fb7e95bec2abd0025aa/thumbnail_889000.jpg","/articles/6393993/North-Carolina/Students-and-university-groups-press-Durham-Public-Schools-for-a-districtwide-climate-action-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393993-7d3923fc476df250e8584f88e0ef7b43/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161670&Signature=oM4Q3GwgXbZT4hg5FtHxOKV7kNI5KS9CH3eNs9zuPxacEQc89sISPzhEFQh43qWAKrZFH3l1y3v-2IX8Zme3Szvb3zk9zrVVcGcOek~M7j6GdkKAzTpZDzsBnWFTR8hqH4oMn4KEPP0oCxJ74u1swOIMpFtUjPqzoFJKL54YdGNNIT22jfiraJfoLe8hr-wX1T0vhy5VIBHPMUwhhEYh8CV5itB0d-RNrplw4wJ9CpSBlr~2OZ15AYnWDgdN0NKXUGm6TO9FCCknZ9WmQQ76OAdVtzOiadU49lP~8kuj4HZnGz8mIm6suCqRiNG7JD9tM0k1o7bSl2XIWN6EX1cnEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham Public Schools Board of Education work session, Jan. 9, 2025

Students, a high-school science teacher and representatives of local university groups urged the Durham Public Schools board on Thursday to direct staff to develop a formal climate action plan to meet targets laid out in the district's 2021 clean-energy resolution.

Why it matters: Speakers said a clear plan would help the district reach its 2035 goal to reduce nonrenewable energy use by 80%, protect student health and unlock federal funding for clean-energy and efficiency projects.

Who spoke and what they asked
Rachel Owens, a science teacher at Northern High School and a member of DPS’s Energy Advisory Council, told the board: \"We appreciate good intentions. What we need is action, a climate action plan.\" She urged the board to direct the district's energy-conservation staff to draft the plan and to report back on current efforts.

Multiple student speakers — including Miriam Masamba (City of Medicine Academy), Mathias Matthew (Northern High School) and Edmund David Hester (junior at Northern High School) — described learning experiences in school climate clubs and regional summits and said that implementation choices must focus on equity, so that improvements reach older buildings and low-income communities.

Representatives of the Duke Climate Coalition and Duke University student groups also offered support. Fisher Mallon, speaking for the Duke Climate Coalition, referenced national examples and federal funding opportunities, saying the Inflation Reduction Act and other federal programs offer money for schools that invest in energy efficiency and clean energy.

What staff and the board said
The public comment portion consisted entirely of speakers asking for a district-led climate action plan and offering to assist. Board members thanked the students and invited continued collaboration; staff did not announce a formal action at the meeting to produce a plan but heard repeated requests to proceed.

Requests and resources
Speakers asked the board to:
- Direct district staff to prepare a formal climate action plan aligned to the 2021 resolution and the 2035 target.
- Provide a public update on current energy-efficiency projects and on which district buildings have retrofit needs.
- Explore federal financing opportunities and technical assistance available to school districts for solar and efficiency projects.

Ending
Board members thanked the students and community groups for the presentations and said they would continue to solicit input from students and subject-matter partners as the district considers next steps.","More than a dozen student speakers, teachers and university volunteers told the Durham school board on Jan. 9 they want the district to move from a 2021 clean-energy resolution to a formal climate action plan, citing health, equity and financing opportunities including federal incentives.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Durham schools pause express-stop rollout, keep family-responsibility walk zones after community survey

Durham board approves policy update, consent agenda changes and personnel report

Durham Public Schools releases 2025–26 budget calendar and seeks earlier public input

Students and university groups press Durham Public Schools for a districtwide climate action plan