Durham School Board Farewells, Justice, and Right-Sizing
The Durham Public Schools Board of Education marks several departing members with reflections on justice, equity policies, student-centered leadership, and the role of local journalism, while wrestling with how to guide future decisions on school right-sizing and a new meet-and-confer labor policy without boxing in the next board. 10mins
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Original Meeting
Thursday, June 25th, 2026
17837.0
#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Meeting | 6/25/26
Video Notes
#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Meeting | 6/25/26
In This Video
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Board Member Beyer reflected on the symbolism of a new civil rights-inspired sculpture at the Obama Presidential Center and connected it to 16 years of service on the board, emphasizing collective efforts toward justice and recalling being sworn in just before a major political shift in the state legislature.
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Outgoing Board Member Jessica Carda-Auten reflected on efforts to center vulnerable students through evidence-based, collaborative work grounded in integrity, and expressed optimism that the district was in a stronger position and moving in a positive direction under current board leadership and the superintendent.
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Board Member Chávez celebrated accomplishments advancing staff–union collaboration, LGBTQIA+ and gender supports, and more equitable discipline, reflected on representing Latin and queer communities on the board, and urged the district to deepen Black and brown solidarity through expanded African American and Latin American studies curriculum.
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Chair Umstead reflected on individual students whose lives illustrated generational change through public education, emphasizing the need to be intentional with every minute of students’ school years while highlighting board accomplishments such as shifting from in‑school suspension to restorative practices, expanding Black and Brown participation in advanced academics, adopting a racial and educational equity policy, growing scholarship and career opportunities through a partnership with Durham Tech, and building new state-of-the-art schools.
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Board Member Carda-Auten cautioned against boxing in future boards or consultants to past plans while favoring a ‘crosswalk’ comparison, and Board Member Beyer responded that existing Growing Together work and community promises—such as long-term commitments tied to specific school projects—needed to be explicitly analyzed so they were neither ignored nor abandoned without clear consideration.
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Chair Umstead outlined guidance for the right-sizing consultants to analyze the feasibility and costs of implementing the board’s Growing Together initiative, including potential adjustments to preserve its goals within budget, while keeping expectations open-ended and explicitly referencing existing work in the RFP and on the district’s website.
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