Durham Public Schools Board Faces Bus Crisis and Master's Pay Dilemma

The board addresses pressing issues including the bus driver shortage, with a focus on implementing a rotational coverage plan and improving communication with families. Students and social workers advocate for stronger climate policies and fair compensation for master's degrees, while financial challenges and the need for fiscal responsibility are debated in the context of the Master's pay initiative. 35mins

Budget Climate Resilience Education Staff Transportation & Mobility
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Original Meeting

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Durham Public Schools Board of Education on YouTube
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
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Video Notes

#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Meeting | 11/21/24

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Alex Rosen
Durham, North Carolina
As the Executive Director of See Gov, I focus on how to best achieve our mission of expanding thoughtful and consistent participation in democracy. I develop See Gov's technology, work to grow our impact, and find ways to sustain our nonprofit. I live in Durham, NC and make highlight reels for Durham and other See Gov pilot communities.
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In This Video
  • Anna Long, a student from Durham School of the Arts, speaks on behalf of the Sunrise Club, advocating for climate action and inviting the board to a Visioning Meeting. 
  • Lucia Harrington, representing the DSA Sunrise Hub, discusses the need for stronger climate policies and actions by the school board, urging for comprehensive climate action plans. 
  • Anne Fields raises concerns about bus service inconsistencies, emphasizing the impact on vulnerable populations and advocating for better pay for bus drivers. 
  • Elizabeth Fields Jones requests consistent transportation for Bus 235, highlighting its importance for students new to the U.S. and the negative impact of its unreliability. 
  • Sonia Lopez introduces the issue of Master's pay for social workers, emphasizing the collaborative efforts to advocate for fair compensation and the importance of their roles. 
  • Megan Stillwagon recounts her experience with the promise and retraction of Master's pay, highlighting the impact on morale and the need for fair compensation for social workers. 
  • Amanda Sale shares her journey as a school social worker, the challenges of being underpaid, and the importance of being valued for her expertise and education. 
  • Natalie Gidney Cole, a licensed clinical social worker, advocates for Master's pay for social workers, highlighting their critical role and the need for fair compensation. 
  • Rebecca McDonald presents data on bus cancellations at Creekside Elementary, urging the board to prioritize lower-income students and involve principals in problem-solving. 
  • Matthew Palmer begins the transportation presentation, focusing on immediate action steps and the rotational coverage plan. He emphasizes the need for comprehensive communication and awareness. 
  • Mr. Palmer details the Phase 1 implementation of the rotational coverage plan starting December 2nd, 2024, explaining the shared community responsibility for transportation service. 
  • Mr. Palmer explains the current bus driver shortage and the plan to rotate bus routes to ensure coverage, emphasizing the importance of predictability and communication for families. 
  • Mr. Palmer discusses the need for time to update routes and ridership data, asking families to find alternative transportation for one day a week for three weeks. 
  • Mr. Palmer concludes the presentation, inviting questions and noting that the plan is a temporary solution to allow for longer-term fixes. 
  • Doctor Webb adds that a new coding system for student absences due to bus issues has been initiated to prevent students from being penalized. 
  • Board Member Carda-Auten asks about hiring and training updates for bus drivers. Mr. Palmer provides an update on training and DMV bottlenecks, emphasizing ongoing efforts to expedite the process. 
  • Discussion about the communication of the new rotational bus schedule. Miss Cooper explains the schedule's format and how it will be communicated to parents. Chair Rogers asks about the implications for parents with children at multiple schools. 
  • Chair Rogers introduces the next agenda item regarding the local Masters pay budget impact. Mr. Teetor begins his presentation on the financial aspects of the program. 
  • Mr. Teetor shares information about the number of classroom teachers benefiting from the local Masters pay initiative and the estimated costs for the current school year. 
  • Mr. Teetor addresses the challenges in predicting the number of eligible staff and the impact of salary gains and matching benefits on the budget. 
  • Mr. Teetor discusses the district's current budget management strategies, including the withholding of 15% of departmental budgets to address financial challenges. 
  • Mr. Teetor concludes the presentation with a summary of the financial implications and opens the floor for board questions. 
  • Board Member Beyer expresses concerns about the lack of clarity in the rollout of the Master's pay and the district's financial solvency. She questions the recommendation against expanding the program at this time. 
  • Board Member Harrell Goff and Mr. Teetor discuss the importance of honoring the original intent of the Master's pay promise to the community, despite financial challenges. 
  • Board Member Chávez expresses gratitude for the presentation and emphasizes the need to stop over-promising. She moves to provide master's pay to eligible staff starting in the 2024-2025 school year, including back pay. 
  • Board Member Beyer advocates for giving the new leadership time to assess the district's financial situation. 
  • Chair Rogers requests that board members address the board as a whole. Board Member Carda-Auten expresses frustration with the ongoing apologies to staff and emphasizes the need to rectify the situation by being clear about the master's pay policy. 
  • Board Member Umstead expresses concerns about the financial implications of moving forward with a motion without further study, emphasizing the need for clarity on funding sources. 
  • Doctor Lewis expresses discomfort with the financial situation and the need for fiscal responsibility, highlighting the importance of ensuring the district can afford the proposed changes. 
  • Board Member Carda-Auten questions the nervousness around the additional $300,000 expenditure, given the overall budget size, and seeks clarity on the financial situation. 
  • Mr. Teetor clarifies that the financial figures could change as personnel data is further analyzed, emphasizing the need for awareness of potential larger financial implications. 
  • Board Member Carda-Auten expresses appreciation for the financial clarity but disappointment in the impact on staff and schools. 
  • Board Member Chávez withdraws her motion and proposes a new motion to direct staff to present budgetary implications for Master's pay on December 2nd. 
  • A new motion is made to direct the Superintendent to present a budgetary solution for expanding Master's pay at the December 2nd meeting, which is seconded and discussed. 
  • The board votes on the amended motion, which passes unanimously, and then votes on the actual motion, which passes 6/1. 
  • Chair Rogers conducts the vote on the personnel report, asking for those in favor and those opposed. The meeting then returns to the agenda. 
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