[{"_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",6227292,"mediaKeyId","3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990","parentId",3493704,"title","Social workers, bus monitors press board for retroactive pay; budget tool shows board and cabinet aligned on pay and EC funding priorities","audioSeconds",13494,"startMs",4445000,"endMs",17939000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990&start=4445&end=17939","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990/thumbnail_4445000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227292/North-Carolina/Social-workers-bus-monitors-press-board-for-retroactive-pay-budget-tool-shows-board-and-cabinet-aligned-on-pay-and-EC-funding-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227292-f48a3663707392318a7035e7d7532c77/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989695&Signature=Y-khRboIOsqYGJGaTqMfMud4pHo4kjwrbexZhRtosSF618ImhU~iYLWub4ELuDwxJxdke0BCMc1h4D3f94PdCEtm8JRZPoE7Et11ZVrjvqG9AGOesCeKx3nJyzidnl-MCtD3xUbZmgfR2Q868yThqW5cNXQRU46lO0V41XdD7kHXCWBHbrsBP0GOxSekNACiUXOucYvoCq~fcJjq60u4MeyqzmeMRMBzj2wGcRgWO96mbh5kbyGEo4dlgBEzSl84moTMXzjgeNKOUR66AWqTTexgzk512nVUGBBemWy-3gt5idHASIvTZy9begxPMzxL0kQ4sgcRcN3iLHV85CYYMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-24T16:04:55.327Z","article","A group of Durham Public Schools social workers and supporters urged the school board during public comment to use available fund balance to provide retroactive master's pay for school social workers and to fund bus‑monitor supplements, saying the district made and then reversed promises earlier in the year.

\"It's been six months, half a year later, and still no fulfillment of that plan. I'm gonna be honest, harm has been done and trust has been broken,\" school social worker JB Allen said, describing repeated promises that were not delivered. Multiple speakers asked the board to provide retro pay estimated by speakers at roughly $80,000 for social workers and a bus‑monitor supplement estimates ranging from about $130,000 to $200,000, paid from the available fund balance.

DAE and social‑work advocates framed the request as restorative practice. \"If we're truly a restorative district, we must also address the harm that was caused,\" social worker Bridal Frost told the board and asked members to approve back pay for the current school year. Several speakers warned that failure to honor the disputed pay would lead to attrition and loss of critical student supports.

Later in the meeting staff presented a prioritization tool and two iterations of a proposed local budget recommendation. Jeremy Teeter, who led the presentation, said the county manager had proposed an additional $10,353,550 for the district; approximately $6,353,550 of that would fund continuation items and the remaining roughly $4 million could be allocated to expansion priorities. Teeter explained the cabinet and the board each used an interactive prioritization exercise to allocate available funds and said both groups landed on similar priorities.

\"Out of the $4,000,000 that was above and beyond that, in the recommended funding stream for Durham Public Schools, we're required to share $840,000 of that with our charter schools,\" Teeter said. Among the items that found broad support in both the board and cabinet exercises were a bus‑driver supplement (modeled at $2,000 per driver per year), an expansion of local master's pay for certified positions, and increased funding for exceptional‑children (EC) services. The board’s chosen teacher supplement in the exercise was modeled at $300 per year; cabinet and the board aligned closely on many items, Teeter said.

Board members said they would continue to press for the state restoration of master's pay but also wanted locally feasible options. Several board members said they favored expanding local master's pay to include school social workers and other certified staff if funds permit. Board and cabinet agreed to return with additional modeling; staff said they would rerun the tool with updated options and provide those results to the board before final budget submissions.

Ending note: Public commenters asked the board to prioritize immediate restorative payments from the fund balance; staff said the district would continue iterative modeling of the county budget recommendation and present updated scenarios in June.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Meeting | 5/22/25","oneSentenceSummary","Social workers, bus monitors and their supporters pressed the Durham school board to use fund balance to pay retroactive master's pay and bus‑monitor supplements, and a staff budget exercise later in the meeting showed close alignment between the board and cabinet on pay priorities including a bus driver supplement and expanded master's pay.","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},6227297,"Consultants report nearly $1 billion in 10‑year facilities needs; district unveils learning environment guidelines",1397,15175000,16572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990&start=15175&end=16572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990/thumbnail_15175000.jpg","/articles/6227297/North-Carolina/Consultants-report-nearly-1-billion-in-10year-facilities-needs-district-unveils-learning-environment-guidelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227297-3844ea6576ac603a22ea2b04551b645f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989695&Signature=jJ5ETesLeJ2YTTmlbtBDPwXWKNTE-4TYNmwQ~ADVqgPKVuSids9S1OQHWCk3ONm3ishjmHdUsl7L0bOfUVaxc89jqslpQeRChCMJyDlGi28gfMnzYHntW9hdnwLMTXH4P2jpEmMAzXyy68f64VkSi-lihwVlUmXnGXwthWlSTy3UD5qd8W04kt-zSGBL0Hx8xkc5CkUVmHw3MbAmtg~YXBTiCTDvKyPZV1pQ3yyBSiG~o~bbvkh3XAQA0gElau2vvDO~L~WlfXmpfi~GdZ1KdYZr-2m53GQZzHMI6mdbfvQ3w4n7kXDHHvkfmHvhlvKN6CxQYdeWs6Z4f9tW0R9Vjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultants from Turner, Townsend & Heery and DLR Group presented the results of a comprehensive facilities condition assessment (FCA) and a new learning environment guidelines (LEGs) guidebook to the Durham Public Schools Board on Thursday.

\"Based on our assessment, Durham Public Schools facilities have a total 10‑year facility need of nearly $966,000,000,\" Jessica Killian, vice president at Turner and Townsend Heery, told the board. She added that about $539 million of the need is a current requirement: systems that have already exceeded expected useful life.

The consultants said their team walked every square foot of roughly six million square feet of district facilities and compiled the observations into a living Microsoft Access database the district can use for capital planning and project prioritization. The database includes system‑level inventories, remaining useful life estimates, priority ratings and cost estimates. Killian said the analysis factors in escalation (5% for the first three years, 7% thereafter) and that the $966 million figure represents total project costs for needed systems and installations.

Consultants presented several ways to view the condition data: background replacement costs, a 10‑year profile of needs by year, and facility condition index (FCI) scores by region and school type. They reported that many elementary and secondary buildings have immediate needs that represent more than half of their 10‑year replacement value. New Northern High School, by contrast, has a very low FCI because it is recently built.

Julie McLaurin, who led the district engagement work, said the LEGs were grounded in nearly 3,000 inputs gathered through student focus groups, principal interviews, educator surveys (more than 800 respondents), community surveys (about 1,700 responses), and subject‑matter workshops. Key principles that emerged include maintaining all schools in good condition, expanding hands‑on and real‑world learning, designing inclusive and universally accessible spaces, and improving restroom design and location for safety and dignity.

The LEGs provide model space programs for elementary, middle and high schools, adjacency diagrams, and room data sheets with finishes and equipment guidance. Consultants said the LEGs are intended to be a \"North Star\" for future capital projects so that new and renovated facilities are consistent with district values and community priorities.

The consultants said next steps include using the FCA database to produce a school‑by‑school capital improvement plan, grouping projects to achieve economies of scale, and coordinating with the county on funding strategies. Board staff said they will provide the full FCA database and the LEGs guidebook to the board and make both publicly available.

Ending note: The FCA and LEGs give the district a data‑driven starting point for capital planning; board members asked administration to break out immediate safety and life‑safety items for urgent attention and to return with a draft capital improvement plan.

","Consultants hired by Durham Public Schools reported a 10‑year capital and repair need of about $966 million, half of which they said reflects systems already past useful life, and released district‑wide learning environment guidelines based on input from roughly 3,000 stakeholders.",{"_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},6227302,"Students, parents and alumni plead with Durham school board to keep School for Creative Studies high school open",3814,2529000,6343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990&start=2529&end=6343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990/thumbnail_2529000.jpg","/articles/6227302/North-Carolina/Students-parents-and-alumni-plead-with-Durham-school-board-to-keep-School-for-Creative-Studies-high-school-open","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227302-6ce0661ef5a04a3fd98e56c5faf8f838/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989695&Signature=E0ACun~hJhu2vEeLfEPkxLMF08RIKtzP7Bsm38wSstIRacu6rNhiTjwvNp-CdBpK8cK3EBDtIWtSLbgm7YCpgEQMAdbzEx0icdU~2ZR3yWoOcch73S64tyP6HkdVBFQo4jwtF-dA13SVsGSgg9P7q~iH6m3oGQjmKeTDzgvIrb5gHaSESopVejY0J6KJbTdwNPoJNG1H~c9TLYH6WTrZMUyMpVM6xRlDI54~rGi4o2MMeSdQoLLuGGSvB40NNBBSd-hDjj0U5VDP3FXtLqndKopEMndf42gb9I69Wp9qOhnsuKR6QjXAhwEKL3m~gUZiCOfSEL68ku74oMyr6OOA2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","More than two dozen students, parents and alumni of the School for Creative Studies urged the Durham Public Schools Board on Thursday to reverse a plan to end the high‑school program, saying the proposal would dissolve long‑standing mentorships, erase career pathways and harm vulnerable students.

\"Our school is shutting down the high school section,\" Abigail Hedgepeth, a junior and student‑council vice president at the School for Creative Studies, told the board during the public‑comment period. \"I couldn't imagine myself at any other school. I couldn't imagine any other relationship to have formed the way it did here at creative studies.\"

Speakers described the school as uniquely supportive, citing small class sizes, long teacher‑student relationships and programs such as Young Male Achievers that mentors younger students. Former student Samuel Earl Dixon said his experience in middle‑and high‑school mentorship programs at the School for Creative Studies shaped his college success and service: \"This program is built to shape and introduce young boys into manhood. It provided me with older guys to learn from, seek advice from, and ultimately bond and have fun with,\" Dixon said.

Teachers and staff—who also addressed the board—said a phased closure announcement had reduced enrollment and undermined stability. \"When I was called in about my possibility of losing my position due to the loss of so many students, I was crushed,\" said Lakisha Holiday, an English teacher at the school. Parents and alumni said the proposed change would force students to choose different high schools and disrupt ongoing arts, theater and career programming. One parent said students with disabilities would particularly lose a consistent support structure.

Students described practical consequences: disruptions to extracurriculars such as cheer and theater, transportation challenges and loss of the school’s small‑school culture. Several speakers said the district's enrollment assumptions were flawed and asked board members to visit the campus and consider alternatives. \"If the foundation is not broken, please don't break it,\" said parent Joseph McMillan, who has two sons who attended the School for Creative Studies.

Board members did not take an on‑the‑spot vote on the school's future during the public‑comment period. The item is tied to wider facilities and enrollment planning and will be considered later in the district’s capital and program reviews. The public comment concluded when the board moved to the consent agenda; the record shows widespread and emotional opposition to the proposed phasing out of the high‑school program.

Ending note: Speakers asked the board to pause the plan, examine enrollment and transportation data, and hold more community meetings before any final administrative action.

","Scores of students, parents, alumni and community members urged the Durham Public Schools Board of Education to reverse a plan to end the high‑school program at the School for Creative Studies, saying the small, year‑round arts school provides vital supports and continuity.",{"_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},6227305,"Durham school board approves modified meet-and-confer policy with 11% threshold and third‑party certification option",8118,6385000,14503000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990&start=6385&end=14503","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493704-885109090ba5fefdffbdd04f6def6990/thumbnail_6385000.jpg","/articles/6227305/North-Carolina/Durham-school-board-approves-modified-meet-and-confer-policy-with-11-threshold-and-thirdparty-certification-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227305-f647633aa2d8d2b24d83258c451b0a5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989695&Signature=WBsuRVn9Kse4dyxhdjy6P-Y04gPNTeR3LHd5GnjluKUJSDVgxj-OMpEMYo6CH6rkHCnfQNa3XoHd3qCekMaEDxMeeBR~c9gq0Un102HSDtZZGNdK6ymn~m1jvq8qbt3gNsrNPbdDG-C8v66xgeLpm9CdlbUyElGR-K7OpBQyB9HUw1jOlLkHOrffLxjRhhOXhnM8zyJKRq9WnQtKoAP7HnhJp3~-04EqVJ~MvgCQ7jva7WacbeZYTX0ULr3pkiHFvxbm-zawc~wPjIqeXyuxRr6sN1d9b-amPshqQzWgC-bN0~sU5K95zCoxUUODUuIB9qQVpLesBJN0SJ7Q8obPCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Durham Public Schools Board of Education on Thursday approved changes to policy 7215, the district's meet‑and‑confer rule, adopting an 11% representation threshold for employee representative organizations and language allowing certification through the district or a mutually agreed third party. The motion to adopt the modified policy passed 4–3 after lengthy public and board discussion.

Supporters of the modified policy said the changes were intended to repair a breakdown in trust between the district and employee organizations and to provide a clear process for participation. \"An ERO may choose to be certified by the HR department of the district or through a third‑party certification process,\" Board member Jolena Chavez said while presenting the edits, noting that an ERO choosing a third party would be responsible for any associated cost.

Board members and the district attorney flagged legal and practical questions during the debate. Board counsel Malone cautioned that lower thresholds are easier to defend and said, \"We feel really comfortable at 6%; as you go up from that, it gets a little grayer. 11 does not significantly concern us, but I can't tell you that 11 is absolutely defensible.\" Malone also said she had concerns about wording in the appendix that promises confidentiality for lists provided to a third party and recommended further legal review of that confidentiality claim.

Discussion focused on three specific changes that proponents said would restore collaborative bargaining: (1) raising the threshold for recognized organizations to 11% of non‑administrative active employees, (2) adding a brief definition of an employee representative organization (ERO) as an employee‑only organization open to employees and independent of the district, and (3) specifying a certification process that allowed either district verification or third‑party certification agreed by the superintendent and the ERO. The final motion removed a detailed certification appendix from the policy text and directed administration and counsel to continue work on procedural language.

Board member Kelly Carter Otten moved a friendly amendment to require the ERO and the superintendent to agree upon a third‑party certification process; that amendment was accepted and incorporated into the policy. Several board members said they supported meet‑and‑confer in principle but were uncomfortable with the 11% threshold; Board member Michael Tabb explicitly said he would not support the policy at 11% and noted legal counsel’s preference for a lower percentage.

The board attorney confirmed there is no controlling case law setting the precise threshold and said the district would vigorously defend whatever number the board adopted, but that lower numbers create a clearer defense. She also said the legal team would continue to review confidentiality language and related appendix material with the superintendent and that the board could expect follow‑up legal memos. \"That part made me a little uncomfortable,\" Malone said of the confidentiality language, \"because I'm not sure that information provided by NCAE or DAE to this third‑party consultant would in fact be maintained confidentially.\"

The motion to adopt the modified policy, presented as the \"May 22, 2025\" version with the additional edits, passed by voice vote, 4 in favor and 3 opposed. The board made clear the policy will be implemented with procedural details to be finalized by administration and counsel and that the certification appendix would be resolved collaboratively.

Going forward, administration said human resources will be responsible for producing the baseline employee census used to calculate membership thresholds and that the superintendent and EROs should work to finalize a mutually agreeable certification procedure. The board also indicated willingness to revisit the threshold and appendix language if legal review or subsequent events warrant further edits.

The board’s action formalizes a meet‑and‑confer pathway for employee organizations, but leaves procedural details and confidentiality clarifications to legal counsel and administration. Board members and the attorney said they expect continued conversations over the coming weeks to finalize the certification steps before the policy is implemented.

Ending note: The board directed staff and counsel to return with any clarifying procedural language and legal analysis; the policy as approved provides the framework and authorizes final procedural work by the superintendent and the Board's attorney.

","After weeks of negotiation and a contentious public debate, the Durham Public Schools Board of Education voted 4–3 to adopt a revised meet‑and‑confer policy (7215) that recognizes employee representative organizations meeting an 11% threshold and allows certification either through HR or an agreed third‑party process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Social workers, bus monitors press board for retroactive pay; budget tool shows board and cabinet aligned on pay and EC funding priorities

Consultants report nearly $1 billion in 10‑year facilities needs; district unveils learning environment guidelines

Students, parents and alumni plead with Durham school board to keep School for Creative Studies high school open

Durham school board approves modified meet-and-confer policy with 11% threshold and third‑party certification option