At its April 20 meeting, the Durham Public Schools Board heard harrowing testimony from six Jordan High School students who reported being sexually assaulted by a male teammate in September 2022—but the investigation didn't begin until 77 days later, and as of the meeting date, they were still seeing the perpetrator at daily track practice more than six months after reporting. Students criticized the slow process, lack of communication, and inadequate enforcement of a no-contact order. They requested faster investigation timelines, written agreements prohibiting contact, restorative justice protocols, and expanded mental health support instead of police-focused responses.
The same group of students pushed the board to adopt a comprehensive sexual violence prevention curriculum, citing CDC research showing that education on consent and healthy relationships reduces sexual assault. They noted that current health classes avoid these topics and that an article about sex education reducing rape culture was blocked as pornography on school computers. Students also flagged that teachers lack training to recognize harassment and assault.
One email a week — new spots, neighborhood intel, and what's actually worth your time.