DPS Board Reviews SRO Program and Expansion of Restorative Practices

The board approved a new agreement with the Sheriff's Office for school resource officers, discussed the shift toward restorative practices in student discipline, and heard a call for stronger allergy support in schools. Updates also included student achievements, summer meal programs, and retroactive pay for social workers and nurses. 44mins

Awards & Recognitions Budget Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Education Public Safety & Police
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Original Meeting

Thursday, June 26th, 2025
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Full Meeting on YouTube
Video Notes

#DPSCommunity | DPS Board of Education Monthly Meeting | 6/26/25

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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
  • Anthony Lewis highlighted the recent graduation season and noted that graduates earned nearly $4.9 million more in scholarships than the previous year.
  • Superintendent Lewis announced the start of the Sun Meals program, offering free summer meals to all children 18 and under without the need for ID or registration.
  • Superintendent Lewis congratulated Forest View Elementary's Odyssey of the Mind team for placing seventh at the World Finals after winning both regional and state competitions.
  • Anthony Lewis announced the upcoming Countdown to Kindergarten event and highlighted resources available to help new kindergarteners prepare for school.
  • Anthony Lewis informed the board about the passage of Senate Bill 227, which targets DEI programs, and affirmed the district's commitment to maintaining its inclusive values.
  • Anthony Lewis reflected on the accomplishments and challenges of the past year as superintendent, highlighting progress in scholarships, programs, and community partnerships, as well as ongoing efforts to address trust and communication within the district.
  • Nadia Rajjoub introduced the DPS Allergy Committee and described its role in representing families and students with life-threatening allergies in Durham Public Schools.
  • Nadia Rajjoub described the formation of a community group focused on improving support for students with allergies in Durham Public Schools and called for closer partnerships to implement meaningful, low-budget changes.
  • Nadia Rajjoub presented data on the rising prevalence of food allergies among students, highlighted challenges with current district protocols, and outlined opportunities for low-cost improvements to support affected families.
  • Sheriff Birkhead provided an overview of the School Resource Officer program's history, current staffing, and ongoing efforts to maintain safe school environments in partnership with Durham Public Schools.
  • Sheriff Birkhead described the enhanced training requirements for school resource officers, emphasized collaboration with school staff, and outlined approaches to addressing student behavior under the 'Raise the Age' law, prioritizing referrals and resources over criminal charges.
  • Sheriff Birkhead reported on the 2024-25 school year SRO program statistics, highlighting a high rate of referrals to school administration and community resources, with most incidents diverted from the criminal justice system.
  • A speaker reported that calls for service to law enforcement in schools have declined over the past three years while referrals to resources have increased, reflecting a shift toward handling more issues within schools and through support services.
  • Captain Hinton clarified that school resource officers are called for law enforcement matters, not to enforce school rules, and explained the distinction between their role and that of school administrators.
  • Sheriff Birkhead discussed the potential use of metal detectors to enhance school safety, noting advancements in technology and expressing support for their implementation while emphasizing that the decision rests with the school board and superintendent.
  • Sheriff Birkhead explained the process for students to report negative interactions with school resource officers, noting that complaints are investigated by both the school and internal affairs, though such incidents have been rare.
  • The board unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding with the Durham County Sheriff's Office.
  • Senior Executive Director Mattocks-Perry and Dr. Watson provided an update on proposed revisions to Policy 4301 and the development of a student code of conduct, emphasizing the integration of restorative practices to reduce suspensions and promote healing over punishment.
  • Dr. Watson described how the development of the new code of character, conduct, and support involved extensive community engagement and resulted in a more inclusive, responsive policy with supplemental resources for implementation.
  • Senior Executive Director Mattocks-Perry outlined next steps for implementing the revised code of conduct, including expanded training, communication efforts, and ongoing review of procedures leading up to full implementation in the 2026-27 school year.
  • Board Member Harrell Goff asked for an explanation of the challenges involved in immediately implementing the new policy and why a gradual approach is being taken.
  • Senior Executive Director Mattocks-Perry explained that a gradual rollout of the new code of conduct was chosen to allow for broad community feedback, thorough training, and alignment with other district initiatives to ensure effective and confident implementation.
  • Dr. King explained that while some schools have already made strong progress with restorative practices, others are still developing, and the district aims to strengthen successful efforts while supporting all schools in reaching the same standard.
  • Board Member Beyer expressed appreciation for the team's efforts on restorative practices while voicing frustration that previous investments and work on student discipline reforms had not led to more progress, emphasizing the need for transparency and urgency moving forward.
  • Dr. King responded to concerns about the pace of restorative practice implementation by explaining that earlier efforts were voluntary, resulting in uneven adoption, and emphasized that a new policy directive will ensure all schools participate moving forward.
  • Rebecca Ferguson thanked the board for removing a policy item from the consent agenda and urged further improvements to the district's seclusion and restraint policy, especially to better protect students with disabilities.
  • Board Member Carda-Auten proposed amending the motion to pass the policies while directing Policy 4326 to the Policy Committee for further attention.
  • The board discussed how to provide members with data on the use of restraints and seclusion and to analyze trends among affected student groups.
  • The board unanimously approved the policies while directing Policy 4326 to the Policy Committee for further review, including requirements for demographic data, trend analysis, and interim monitoring by the Superintendent.
  • The administration recommended that the board approve retroactive master's pay supplements for school social workers and an $80 monthly local supplement for school nurses for the 2024-2025 school year.
  • Board Member Beyer and Doctor Giovanni clarified that the recommendation for master's pay supplements applies only to classroom teachers and school social workers with relevant master's degrees, and the finance officer confirmed that available funds will cover the proposed $80,000 expenditure.
  • The board considered a motion to retroactively pay master's pay supplements to school social workers and provide a retroactive supplement to school nurses for the 2024-2025 school year.
  • The board unanimously approved retroactive master's pay supplements for school social workers and a retroactive supplement for school nurses for the 2024-2025 school year.
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