Mixed Feelings About District's Meet and Confer Policy

Last Thursday, a divided Durham Public Schools Board of Education passed what may be North Carolina’s first school district meet and confer policy.

But the Durham Association of Educators, which mobilized for the policy and negotiated with district administrators during the past year, considers the outcome “imperfect.”

Further, according to a statement posted by DAE on their Facebook page on Monday, “the way it was finalized without workers at the table was inexcusable and extremely disrespectful.”

Policy 7215, approved 4-3, is described by the school district as a “groundbreaking policy (that) establishes a framework for enhanced collaboration between the district administration and staff, marking a significant shift in employee relations for North Carolina’s public education sector.”

Board members Emily Chavez, Wendell Tabb, and Joy Harrell Goff voted no on the policy as presented, wanting the administration to collaborate more with workers before passing it.

The policy lays out:

Recognition of groups meeting a threshold of at least 6% non-administrative employee membership. Such organizations, including DAE, are given until May 31 each year to certify membership and submit notarized certification to the superintendent.
The committee formed by the policy, made up of appointees from EROs and the school district, will meet regularly to discuss salary, benefits, and personnel policies.
Superintendent or a deputy superintendent serve as chair, while majority ERO president or vice president is the vice chair.
Meetings are open to the public with agendas shared in advance.
Committee can suggest policy changes to superintendent, who can share them with the board.
The Board of Education holds final authority.

“This policy is a significant step towards fostering open dialogue and cooperative problem-solving within our school system and I am ready to work,” said DPS Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis.

“This vote to approve Policy 7215 represents a historic moment for Durham Public Schools and potentially for North Carolina as a whole,” said DPS Board Chair Millicent Rogers. “The Meet and Confer policy provides an alternative framework for honoring workers’ rights and voices and creates a structured platform for open dialogue on critical issues affecting our staff and students. It demonstrates our commitment to fostering a more inclusive decision-making process and recognizing the vital perspectives our educators bring to the table. We believe this policy will not only enhance employee relations but also contribute to improved educational outcomes for our students. As we implement this groundbreaking approach, we hope it may serve as a model for other districts in our state seeking to strengthen communication and cooperation within their school systems.”

For DAE, the current policy is a start, but two critical elements remain in dispute: the ERO threshold and the certification process, which the union decried as “anti-democratic.”

“Make no mistake,” the DAE statement reads, “we will not stop fighting to change those things.”

But the group is savoring what amounts to at least a partial success:

“Most sections of the policy were hard-fought victories for our union: meeting topics, meeting frequency, information sharing, committee leadership, and the employer representatives are all areas of the policy that were significantly improved through our collaborations and compromises with Dr. Lewis since September. Through this campaign, we have shown the entire state how much is possible when workers are united as a majority. We have the power to improve district policies – including this one. We are committed to improving upon this policy so that it guarantees the integrity that our community deserves.”