[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6077374,"mediaKeyId","2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72","parentId",2964747,"title","Board adopts new Meet‑and‑Confer policy after months of negotiations; vote 4‑3 follows tense debate over threshold for ERO representation","audioSeconds",8843,"startMs",2342000,"endMs",11185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72&start=2342&end=11185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72/thumbnail_2342000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077374/North-Carolina/Board-adopts-new-MeetandConfer-policy-after-months-of-negotiations-vote-43-follows-tense-debate-over-threshold-for-ERO-representation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077374-1dc53fa60b755016f7c1979b5fd66b24/orig.mp4?Expires=1770502301&Signature=Ccp8UOvKHc2V2oY~JTxznjFoPC4dt8tB6bfpluZ1RoXH4jY7sNU4xSvKb9yFqJr~LCgeu4qct35-ssbJIRsOMPA4Ozh9aXzv5TuhEOxCvlgXpZYaKiZOovy5IDpZKKq10MhVbtwGdu5M~12NdZR13wr8jkeJH21l3DcCwQZqpwc8WwKKUzaFUsFoAUmDxehZYGc949~wCsBvXQRF5Tf4JUYLgAN-E4tvMbSCT1BiOerVPlLZx3OKXJjEJ8texGZhC0xlEAKOR2Vr-OxQP7r10D7Y~aR8Q0ne-NxdJV4S-TPEFvbZkMhSsPjwg2yUD6hHslzRcDHt~jnB-QRNjzxwKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-11T02:54:46Z","article","The Durham Public Schools Board of Education, following months of meetings and public testimony, voted 4–3 on April 7 to waive a second reading and adopt a meet‑and‑confer policy intended to formalize how employee representative organizations (EROs) participate in collective discussions with district leadership.

The policy and the process leading to the vote were a focal point of public comment and debate. Micah Tweetmeyer, president of the Durham Association of Educators (DAE), told the board the union had worked for 14 months on a policy and that DAE \"does not approve of the policy on your agenda tonight\" in its then‑form; he said his organization preferred a higher level of worker inclusion and a different threshold for recognized EROs.

Superintendent G. Earl Lewis summarized the district's negotiation timeline and the administration's draft. Administration representatives said they met repeatedly with DAE and that the draft before the board reflected compromises from those meetings. The superintendent and district counsel said the administration sought a policy that was \"legally defensible\" in light of North Carolina statutes prohibiting public employers from entering into collective bargaining agreements and restricting preferential treatment of one employee group over another.

A central point of contention was a numerical threshold that determines which EROs qualify for representation under the policy and how many representatives each qualifying ERO may seat. DAE's earlier proposal included a low threshold (6%) intended to allow representation by smaller organizations; administration negotiators argued higher thresholds reduce legal risk given state statutes. Board and legal discussion referenced the North Carolina statute cited in transcript (N.C. Gen. Stat. \u0000\u0000) that bars public employers from granting preferential procedural advantages to one labor group.

After extended debate and unsuccessful attempts to amend the proposed threshold at the dais, the board adopted the superintendent's amended draft. The final roll call recorded four votes in favor (Chair Rogers, Board Member Carter Auton, Board Member Umstead, and Board Member Beyer) and three opposed (Board Members Chavez, Harrell Goff, and Tabb).

Board members discussed next steps. Several suggested the administration and DAE continue to refine implementing procedures, and some asked for the work to be recorded publicly or mediated so there would be an auditable public record of negotiations.

Ending: The new policy takes effect immediately per the board's action; the board and the superintendent said they expected additional procedural documents and implementation details to follow and that attorneys on both sides would continue to advise the district as the new process is implemented.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Work Session | 4/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Durham Public Schools Board of Education adopted a new Meet‑and‑Confer policy 4–3 after months of negotiation and a contentious public debate over how to define which employee representative organizations qualify for participation.","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},6077379,"Durham superintendent presents recommended budget outlook; board adopts 2024–25 budget resolution",663,5138000,5801000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72&start=5138&end=5801","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72/thumbnail_5138000.jpg","/articles/6077379/North-Carolina/Durham-superintendent-presents-recommended-budget-outlook-board-adopts-202425-budget-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077379-1420c390545946f0222554c2b0ee00c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770502301&Signature=AJqiPv7Abv-vL2v7-TViwG~FpW-eGUlHvZVhMRnzvLSuO~UJFtrR5AXtHwaEclOW8g7a4~KbhGU4GNcgLd5V2AFywvrnpNhroFQGJ6HFaDhyLgFBrEd61K7J5tSF6TAQ-DDU0MhtcvKpwA1oM4jFMoV3Ei1BZhw72QzmPQv2WgxqpRJzFRjwnCF6gWZROhz44-QMk3P5u7KwTf9nEhDDvtikt6Si3O2WxOz2IGbgrXEd0x1K4QRjK442E4AoFsL4GhPYNNA-kUHAVAogVhV6JnXeamzXe6Mu3n2pyyMQCKsPezQ6Ec90l-EmJKI5Y0LxJd0Z8RQnqhCIHPmxJYnQHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent G. Earl Lewis and Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Teeter presented an updated view of Durham Public Schools' budget work and recommended priorities for the 2025–26 cycle, including a review of staffing allotments, bus driver pay options and an explanation of the staff position counts and allotment methodology.

Teeter told the board the administration rebuilt budget documents inherited by the superintendent's team and said the district was \"extra cautious in how we developed this draft document for this year to make sure that we did not have a repeat\" of last year's shortfalls. He said the district recreated allotment and staffing spreadsheets and was reviewing feedback from principals ahead of final allotments.

On bus driver compensation, Teeter walked the board through the current scale and a possible adjustment. \"The current bus driver scale that we have in place in Durham has a starting point of $19.43 an hour,\" he said, and later presented a modeled alternative with a starting rate of $20 per hour. Teeter said a district‑level adjustment to lift the minimum toward $20 would cost roughly $88,621 including benefits in the example he circulated to the board.

Teeter also described the process behind the proposed changes to allotments and staffing ratios. He said the district continues to apply some local practices that differ from state allotment formulas (for example K–3 and lower grade ratios) and is aiming to reconcile Durham's formulas with state allotment practices while keeping some local cushions in place to avoid being forced to scramble at school start.

Board members pressed for detail on several issues: the precise effect of moving closer to state allotment formulas on school positions, a one‑page summary of the master's‑pay proposal and which certified roles would qualify, and more transparent documentation of where positions were added or omitted in prior cycles. Teeter said those materials would be provided to the board before the next meeting and that the district planned a July start for a broader classified pay review.

After discussion the board approved a budget resolution to convert Durham's interim budget into a permanent 2024–25 budget. The motion to adopt the budget resolution was made by Board Member Byers and seconded; the board approved the resolution by unanimous vote.

Ending: Teeter and the superintendent agreed to provide the board with follow‑up documents, including detailed allotment formulas, a breakdown of positions and the bus driver cost artifact presented at the meeting. The board also asked district leaders to begin a classified pay review this summer to better address compression issues across classified roles.","Superintendent G. Lewis and CFO Jeremy Teeter reviewed the recommended 2025–26 budget priorities, allotment methodology and proposed changes including bus‑driver pay scenarios and classroom allotment adjustments. The board unanimously approved the district's 2024–25 budget resolution to move from an interim to a permanent budget.",{"_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},6077384,"Durham librarians urge board to protect second high‑school media coordinator as board proclaims April School Library Month",4415,713000,5128000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72&start=713&end=5128","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72/thumbnail_713000.jpg","/articles/6077384/North-Carolina/Durham-librarians-urge-board-to-protect-second-highschool-media-coordinator-as-board-proclaims-April-School-Library-Month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077384-e940277b48a3f9b9d7d644fa94d67a73/orig.mp4?Expires=1770502301&Signature=gLQTO5D~xmpdzr~P~stHqrc8i13emCYHAFh9QZ6i3-TTmOxoUnoPYsO6yncH-oisSw7zUF6CRNN9b0e63QAURlIKFxAjv1wr08osu~Adv2W7n5KaG3OCmfv17Siq9BFVzsy3SJkcVYJMCAc7ouMrbc-o1h1zlaMJ7lZ9PdOEj1iRUxWcPQYLknP0E-VbBEkIJJ8vdLY5Z0xhJEm0thubOEKDlrzSPlx4mp9013R9A6uTPKIB-aOWuT0hQDS9wb8xUfKtc2vG3F-n1QH2wiHROIV-kKk~eXyUy6R91jUPKixx35v571F56MbSlD7EiCTGqFoMHHeDngwEbrJYrjWtzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Durham Public Schools media coordinators, students and parents urged the Durham Public Schools Board of Education on April 7 to preserve a second media coordinator position at large high schools and to protect library budgets.

Speakers at public comment described libraries as hubs for literacy, technology support and student well‑being and warned the proposed budget would force libraries to close during instruction, reduce lesson time and leave schools without an adult to supervise students. \"With only 1 librarian, we would not actually be able to have any sort of a library program,\" said Rebecca Stacy, a teacher librarian at Jordan High School.

The plea continued with specific examples from multiple schools. Tara Gold, a teacher librarian at Riverside High School, said cutting the second position would \"result in at least a 50% decrease in direct student instruction\" and would force the library to close when the librarian is teaching or out on leave. Kim Gugino, the media coordinator at Durham School of the Arts, called school media centers \"living, breathing parts of every single school day\" and cited this year's circulation and technology support numbers to illustrate growing demand.

Parents and students gave personal testimony. Melanie Koech, an 11th‑grade student at Riverside, said the two‑librarian team provided a safe space and that losing one position would \"dramatically\" reduce programming. Speakers also noted the libraries' role in equity and multilingual supports: Club Boulevard media coordinator Elizabeth Husketh said careful curation of multilingual materials helped multilingual learners access curriculum after redistricting.

After public comment the board read a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as School Library Month. Gabby Hall, executive director of curriculum and instruction for middle schools, introduced the proclamation and Heidi Perez, media lead and literacy specialist, thanked media coordinators for their work. Board member Miss Byers read the proclamation; the board moved and approved the proclamation by voice vote with no opposition.

Board members and district staff said they heard the public comments and that staffing allocations remain under review as part of the allotment and budget process. Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Teeter told the board the district is \"processing the feedback that we've gotten\" from principals and staff before any final allotment decisions are made for next year.

The public comment period also included student remarks asking the board to preserve a school dance program at Club Boulevard Elementary. Parents and students described the program's social and emotional benefits. Board and district staff later said the Club Boulevard dance program had been extended for one additional year during a curriculum transition and that longer‑term program placement would be addressed through planning processes.

The board did not vote on staffing changes during the meeting; district leaders said any final staffing allocations will be published with the budget and allotment materials to be shared with the board in follow‑up reports.

A number of media coordinators offered written contact information for further follow up and asked the board to maintain certified positions and a dedicated materials allotment district‑wide.

Ending: District staff said they will continue to collect input from principals and media coordinators as the budget process proceeds and will provide more detailed allotment and staffing documents to the board ahead of the next meeting.","Dozens of Durham Public Schools media coordinators, students and parents urged the Board of Education not to eliminate second high‑school librarian positions proposed in the superintendent's budget. The board unanimously approved a proclamation declaring April 2025 School Library Month.",{"_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},6077370,"Durham board adopts resolution honoring the life and legacy of Dr. John Harding Lucas Sr.",717,4004000,4721000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72&start=4004&end=4721","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964747-e3be2e7066156f71db2ee2e90a93fa72/thumbnail_4004000.jpg","/articles/6077370/North-Carolina/Durham-board-adopts-resolution-honoring-the-life-and-legacy-of-Dr-John-Harding-Lucas-Sr","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077370-16916be78a327af6fa612643b1949cab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770502301&Signature=edqFLmbECjAcDw7q1u8oBHV~n64NejKmvnqwAt~nOg8TxLpEG4NfZ~OmQ48IHd9UR8VOMW9AxkNI2KRKZUHALCbtWMBSYtJdfD0r-2WVKePY5HT3BrupIo35N6Suo9wS85QGDsP88LjA1w6BnJAfQw~eXaljUbSNndDLA9NbOxtW4V3IOs-00XPoR11PUrdpo7J5p27chZE44vTfc8EMTWZ1xYsCQv0ovEW4hPenoKuq6F3e-NmGzMzyQePlCqEkpEr~xlYUG-YBY972w57wX0DXU8rOnNU-fFb3blhKDUPkzk2uWSVdvgs-FhjV1mr28u-mXuW901D6hG9M7RUrwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Durham Public Schools Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Dr. John Harding Lucas Sr., who died March 31, 2025. Board members described Dr. Lucas as a longtime principal, educator and civic leader whose work in integration, school leadership and higher education left a lasting imprint on Durham.

Board member Mr. Tabb introduced the resolution, noting it had been prepared for the Lucas family. Board member Baez read the prepared text, which cited Dr. Lucas's career at Hillside High School and other civic roles, and noted the naming of district facilities and awards in his honor. Members shared brief personal reflections at the meeting and the board moved and approved the resolution by unanimous voice vote.

Superintendent Lewis announced that a celebration of life for Dr. Lucas would be held Saturday, April 12 at 12 p.m. at White Rock Baptist Church.

Ending: The resolution was entered into the district record; board members asked staff to share the text with the Lucas family and to publicize the celebration of life.
","The board unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the life and contributions of Dr. John Harding Lucas Sr., a longtime educator and community leader, and announced a public celebration of life event.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts new Meet‑and‑Confer policy after months of negotiations; vote 4‑3 follows tense debate over threshold for ERO representation

Durham superintendent presents recommended budget outlook; board adopts 2024–25 budget resolution

Durham librarians urge board to protect second high‑school media coordinator as board proclaims April School Library Month

Durham board adopts resolution honoring the life and legacy of Dr. John Harding Lucas Sr.