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DPS Moves Forward with Meet-and-Confer Process Plan
In a historic session Thursday night, the Durham Public Schools Board of Education and Durham Association of Educators came together to kick off a process meant to repair broken trust and build a new path forward while the district continues to deal with the classified worker pay crisis. The board brought in Steve Schewel, former…
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DPS Superintendent Resigns; Report Released
Superintendent Pascal Mubenga has resigned after seven years with Durham Public Schools, in the wake of turmoil spawned by confusion and frustration over classified worker pay. Bettina Umstead, chair of the Board of Education, announced Mubenga’s resignation after a closed-door special meeting. Deputy Superintendent Nicholas King is assuming the superintendent’s duties until an interim is…
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DPS School Board Tables Salary Decision to Next Week
After nearly five hours – a big chunk of that spent in closed session (again) – the Durham Public Schools Board of Education couldn’t reach consensus on any option to pay classified staff for February, let alone the rest of the school year. So, in the end, members voted on a motion to table the…
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Two Options on Table for Durham School Board
The Durham Public Schools administration is bringing two scenarios for the Board of Education to consider at a special meeting on Friday: Funding for both these options is available in the 2023-24 fiscal year budget. District administrators also considered adopting the experience steps as explored in the compensation study, but determined that the “options cannot…
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Multiple DPS Schools Closing on Wednesday
The Durham Association of Educators, dissatisfied with the rate of cooperation from the Durham Public Schools administration, is scheduling a protest Wednesday and currently expects 11 schools to be so short on teachers and staff. The district announced Tuesday night that all those affected schools will be closed Jan. 31. “Since the most immediate events…
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DPS Drivers Urge: Don’t Blame Us for Transportation Snarl
A rocky week for Durham Public Schools student transportation is wrapping up, with the district reporting that 60 out of 150 school bus drivers called out on Friday. But it’s still up in the air what next week might hold in store. “We have no directive currently regarding Monday’s transportation needs,” said Crystal Kimpson Roberts,…
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Pedestrian Safety, Teen Equipment Among Winning Participatory Budgeting Projects
Durham residents voted and now city officials are moving forward with five winning projects in the latest phase of the city’s participatory budgeting process. On Thursday, Durham City Council members received a presentation of the top five projects, voted on by residents 13 and older. The city has $2.4 million to spend in this third…
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Durham Public Schools Awaits Electric School Buses
Public schools in Durham are now on target to receive 38 electric school buses through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Jan. 9 announced the state will receive $26.7 million in EPA grants to purchase a total of 114 buses, and Durham Public Schools will get…
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Durham Wants Your Budget Priority Input
Residents of Durham are invited to share their funding priorities for Durham’s upcoming budget during January’s Community Conversations. The city government is hosting in-person and virtual conversations to inform the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget. Pre-registration is now open. Participants who are 16 and older are eligible for $50 gift cards. Those who attend in person…
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Meet the Candidate: Kendra Montgomery-Blinn
She’s only been on the job for a couple of months, but already District Judge Kendra Montgomery-Blinn is gearing up for the 2024 election. Montgomery-Blinn was appointed to succeed Shamieka Rhinehart, who was promoted to Superior Court by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. On Dec. 4, the filing process kicks off for the 2024 election season. Montgomery-Blinn…
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