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

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.