Durham Schools Tackle Bus Crisis and Meet & Confer Policy

The board addresses the ongoing transportation crisis, highlighting the critical role of bus drivers and the challenges they face. Discussions also focus on the meet and confer policy, with differing views on union representation and employee inclusion. The board votes on family responsibility zones and express bus stops, aiming to improve service and end rotational coverage. 56mins

Education Staff Technology Transportation & Mobility
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Original Meeting

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Durham Public Schools Board of Education on YouTube
Thursday, December 19th, 2024
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Video Notes

#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Meeting | 12/19/24

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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
  • Superintendent Lewis highlights the critical role of bus drivers, sharing a story about a bus driver named Miss Peaches who went above and beyond for a student, and discusses ongoing efforts to resolve the transportation crisis. 
  • Superintendent Lewis thanks the Durham Association of Educators for their advocacy and discusses the meet and confer process the union is advocating for. 
  • Superintendent Lewis reflects on approaching 100 days as Superintendent, plans to share a post-entry plan for district improvement, and discusses the impact of North Carolina's House Bill 10 on public education funding. 
  • Superintendent Lewis addresses concerns about potential changes to the United States Department of Education, providing reassurance about the continuity of funding for key programs. 
  • Jocelyn Dawson, PTA president, discusses the importance of bus services for families, especially single mothers, and requests crossing guards for safety. 
  • Larry Dixon, a school bus driver, shares the challenges faced by bus drivers and monitors, including mental and verbal abuse, and requests a meeting with the Superintendent. 
  • A parent of a kindergartner at Creekside Elementary expresses gratitude for improvements in the bus crisis and requests prioritization of low-performing schools. 
  • Sarah Smith, a working mother, discusses the challenges of the new bus plan and its impact on families without local support or access to vehicles. 
  • Rita Daniel Ruth, a veteran bus driver, discusses the transportation crisis, the ineffectiveness of the rotation plan, and demands for better working conditions and inclusion in decision-making. 
  • Shameka Graves speaks about the lack of respect for the transportation department and the need for inclusion in decision-making and bonus pay. 
  • Liliani, a parent, describes the negative effects of transportation issues on her son's education and the difficult choices parents face between work and ensuring their children attend school. 
  • Tashira Smith speaks about the financial and emotional challenges faced by parents due to transportation issues and the need for staff retention and support. 
  • JB Hallan, a school social worker, addresses the risk of losing social workers and bus drivers, urging the board to fulfill promises regarding Master's pay and to listen to transportation workers' demands. 
  • Megan Stilwagen, a school social worker, emphasizes the importance of addressing transportation and Master's pay issues, calling for action rather than apologies. 
  • Anna Benfield, who discusses the impact of transportation issues on students with disabilities and the need for a proactive approach to problem-solving through the DAE Meet and Confer policy. 
  • Mika Twietmeyer, President of the DAE, emphasizes the need for a meet and confer policy that includes worker voice and accountability, opposing the administration's version of the policy. 
  • Matthew Palmer outlines the three-phase response plan for transportation issues, focusing on rotational coverage, service enhancement, and long-term workforce investment. 
  • Director Palmer discusses efforts to recruit and retain bus drivers, highlighting the challenges faced in the transportation industry and the steps being taken to address them. 
  • Director Plamer discusses the current status of bus driver recruitment and training, highlighting the number of candidates in the pipeline and the challenges faced in the process, such as bottlenecks in testing and staffing shortages. 
  • The discussion shifts to rotational coverage as a temporary solution for bus route coverage, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions and the role of communication with families and schools. 
  • Updates on ridership and routing are provided, including adjustments made to reduce rider requests and the integration of express bus stops for secondary magnet schools. 
  • The speaker summarizes the efforts to establish family responsibility zones and express stop services, highlighting the work of the ridership routing team and the challenges faced in maintaining coverage. 
  • Board member Wendell Tabb raises questions about the number of potential drivers needed to fulfill all routes. Matthew Palmer responds with details on the current driver training progress and challenges with DMV testing. 
  • Vice Chair Carda-Auten inquires about bathroom access for bus drivers, leading to a discussion on the issue and the need for proactive solutions to ensure drivers have access to facilities. 
  • Vice Chair Carda-Auten asks about community support and the need for clear information on how the community can partner with schools regarding transportation challenges. A speaker responds, discussing communication with principals and the resources available. 
  • Matthew Palmer mentions the Safe Rides to School program and the resources available for school communities. They discuss the importance of community partnership and the need for clear communication about transportation challenges and absenteeism data. 
  • Board member Harrell Goff raises concerns about messaging and resources for families experiencing hardships due to transportation changes. 
  • Matthew Palmer responds to Board Member Goff, discussing the communication strategy involving school leadership, public affairs, and transportation. He emphasizes the importance of intentional communication with families, especially those in family responsibility zones. 
  • Miss Cooper discusses the communication strategy for family responsibility zones, highlighting the tailored approach to ensure families receive necessary information and support. 
  • Chair Rogers asks for evidence of the impact of family responsibility zones on transportation services. 
  • Director Palmer provides detailed data and analysis on the impact of family responsibility zones, including student ridership and bus driver savings. 
  • Chair Rogers inquires about communication strategies for families within the walk zones, and JB Hallen outlines the plan for direct communication with impacted families. 
  • Member Beyer thanks the speakers and acknowledges the contributions of drivers and the board's efforts to address the crisis. She discusses policy 6322 and the need for revisions to address safety and transportation concerns. 
  • Discussion on supervisors driving buses and the impact on their regular duties. Director Harris explains the domino effect of pulling staff from their roles to cover driving duties. 
  • Chair Rogers calls for a motion regarding the adoption of family responsibility zones. Chair Rogers mentions communication with the city about crosswalk concerns. 
  • Voting on the motion to adopt family responsibility zones. Board members cast their votes, resulting in a 6/1 passage. 
  • Board Member Beyer moves to authorize administration to continue planning express bus stops for secondary magnet schools. Discussion follows about the specifics of the motion and its implications. 
  • Clarification on the motion to implement express stops for secondary magnet schools. Discussion about the impact of express stops and family responsibility zones on transportation services. 
  • Further discussion on express stops, including concerns about distance from homes and the need for clear communication with families. Participants include Board Member Chávez and Doctor Lewis. 
  • Chair Rogers conducts a vote on a motion related to express stops for schools, which fails with a 3-3 vote. 
  • Board members express concerns about rotational coverage and discuss the need for a special meeting to address express stops and transportation issues. Miss Chávez votes in favor of the motion. 
  • Miss Carter expresses discomfort with continuing rotational bus service past January 17th, seeking clarity on the board's decision. 
  • Chair Rogers suggests a special meeting in early January to discuss express stops with more information, acknowledging the need for a mid-year start. 
  • Miss Chavez seconds a modified motion proposed by Miss Beyer, which aims to authorize express service as a solution to end rotational coverage. 
  • Further discussion on the motion. Ms. Umstead asks for a restatement of the motion, and Chair Rogers clarifies that the decision would be made tonight to start ending rotational coverage this year, with more information to be provided on January 9th. 
  • Voting on the motion takes place. Miss Chavez, Miss Carter Atten, Miss Byer, and Miss Harrell Golf vote 'aye'. Miss Amstead expresses concerns about students and families but appreciates the transportation team's efforts. 
  • Chair Rogers introduces the next agenda item on Academic Services Chromebook Sustainability. Interim Executive Director Mijumbi presents an update on the District's Chromebook program, including statistics, challenges, and sustainability recommendations. 
  • Interim Executive Director Mijumbi acknowledges the IT team and provides a historical overview of Chromebook purchases and funding sources. He discusses the current state of the Chromebook inventory and the challenges faced, including losses and repairs. 
  • Director Mijumbi discusses the financial impact of missing and stolen Chromebooks and the associated costs. He outlines the repair statistics and the challenges faced in maintaining the Chromebook fleet. 
  • Director Mijumbi outlines feedback from educators advocating for school-based Chromebooks to reduce loss and damage, and discusses potential technology fees and student responsibility for devices. 
  • Director Mijumbi talks about preventative measures for device loss, including training and device agreement forms, and mentions working with public affairs on an educational video. 
  • Director Mijumbi discusses plans for device longevity and management, including extending the life of Chromebooks, implementing technology fees, and working with tech champions for device collection. 
  • Director Mijumbi recommends purchasing additional Chromebooks and increasing stipends for tech champions, explaining the rationale behind these recommendations. 
  • Chair Rogers thanks Director Mijumbi for the presentation and opens the floor for questions and motions. Board Member Chávez makes a motion to approve the purchase of 1500 Chromebooks. 
  • Deputy Superintendent King discusses and the board discuss the possibility of Chromebooks remaining in schools and the board's interest in exploring this model further. 
  • Board members express support for exploring different models of one-to-one technology use, including the potential for Chromebooks to stay at school and the implementation of technology fees. 
  • Director Mijumbi responds to the inquiry about tech champions, explaining the current setup and involvement of students in creating a video about Chromebook care. 
  • Chair Rogers calls for a motion, and Board Member Chávez confirms a motion was already made. The board proceeds to vote on the motion regarding Chromebooks, which passes unanimously. 
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