At a contentious August meeting, Durham Public Schools faced scathing criticism from Little River Elementary staff about mold, broken HVAC systems, and broken promises, while the district acknowledged building maintenance crises and committed $6 million toward preventive repairs.
Katie McDonald, a teacher at Little River, delivered a pointed public comment during the meeting, accusing the district of health and safety neglect and prioritizing "social media spin" over honesty. She reported that the school has lost 17 teachers since 2023, classrooms are "covered in mold," colleagues have gotten sick, and she developed a rash from working in the building. McDonald criticized the district for marketing Little River as a premier Montessori school when only 6 of 18 teachers are certified in the program, and alleged that during a prior transportation crisis, a bus reserved for a district leader's child ran daily while hundreds of families struggled. She graded Superintendent Dr. Lewis's first year a "D minus" and handed out bars of soap to symbolize the need to "wash away the politics."
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