Durham Community School requests an EdTech for grades 5–8 and $12,402 for summer MTSS support

Will Pitten presented Durham Community School’s budget request and enrollment projections, asking the board to reduce teaching roles at specific grades while adding one EdTech to support a multi‑tiered system of supports (MTSS) for grades 5–8.

Pitten said the school’s rising third grade would move from three sections to two (projecting class sizes of about 22) and rising fifth grade would move from three to two sections, which informed the staffing request. He told the board that the school’s administrative team prioritized supports and said the requested EdTech would allow the district to “replicate what we have in K–4 up in the 5–8 range.”

Pitten also requested $12,402 to continue a summer program that sustains MTSS gains for roughly 25 students; the summer program would pay two teachers and two ed techs for morning sessions in July. He described current kindergarten estimates as lower than typical—33 pupils this year versus a historical range of about 38–42—so enrollment is being monitored. Pitten noted the current eighth‑grade cohort is 37 students; the proposal shows an 8th‑grade planning figure of 48, so staffing scenarios remain under review.

Board members pressed on contingency planning. Board member Kelly asked what the school would do if more students arrived; Pitten said the team had contingency plans and would revisit assignments if enrollment grew, noting some flexibility when cohorts move through year to year. He added the principals and directors had worked on enrollment and staffing since November and would return with updated counts if the figures change.

The board did not take a final vote on Durham staffing requests at this meeting; Pitten’s presentation will feed into districtwide budget deliberations in March.