Board of Education · Regular Meeting · January 29, 2026

Good evening everyone. Good evening. The Durham Public Schools Board of Education monthly meeting is now in session. At this time, we wish to extend a warm welcome to everyone who's joining us this evening.

for those who are here in person as well as those who might be streaming online. The purpose of this meeting is to inform our parents, staff, and constituents about the work aligned with our mission to embrace, educate, and empower every student to innovate, to serve, and to lead. The interpreters for tonight are Consuelo Nordan and Iette Perez. Thank you all for taking the time to join us.

The first item on our agenda is The next item on our agenda is a moment of silence. Um, and as we go into this moment of silence, we know that we have a lot happening within our country, um, in our city, in our state. Uh, we know our country continues to mourn and grieve with those in Minneapolis, um, for the folks that were lost at the hands of immigration enforcement agents. Um, we know that the two, um, folks

there were not the first that were lost. There are other black and brown folks who have sadly met the untimely death at the hands of immigration enforcement officials. Ever since the notification of who won our presidential election last year, we know there's been increased fear across our communities. Fear of unjust persecution, fear of targeting, fear of kidnapping, fear of death.

And those fears are um becoming something that we live with every day. Many of those fears aren't new, but we know we're still navigating them as a community. And we know those fears are felt here in Durham. We're grateful for so many of the advocates and family and community members and neighbors that are looking out for each other.

and we also hold space and silence for this moment. I ask that as we get ready to go into this moment of silence that we consider that our liberation is bound together and that the success of one is success of all. So, as you think about this moment, consider um what you might do to contribute to making sure that we see the world that we want to um live in.

The world collectively that we must organize for, strategize, grieve, and fight. The world um for our work as schoolboard members that we want to see our students grow and live and thrive in. So, I'll take us to our moment of silence now. Thank you.

The next item on our agenda is celebrations. I'm going to turn it over to Miss Cooper. Good evening, Chair Umstead, members of the board, Superintendent Lewis, DPS colleagues, and members of the Durham community. Welcome to our January celebrations. Celebrations allow us to pause to recognize what grounds us and inspires us, our students and our educators. Celebrations remind us that progress is built one student, one classroom, and

one inspiring moment at a time. These recognitions reflect not only individual achievement, but the collective commitment that defines Durham Public Schools. We will begin our celebrations with our students of the month, followed by our teacher of the month and employee of the month. At this time, please welcome Principal Lamont Dixon from Durm School of Technology to present our first student of the month.

Principal Dixon. >> Great evening board um and guests. Uh thank you all for Let me get mic adjusted just a little bit. I think there's a somewhat of a disparity between Sheen and myself.

So, we're going to work through that. Uh but nonetheless, uh thank you all for again allowing uh me to be here uh today. Uh it is truly an honor uh to be here this evening to present yet another outstanding Durham School of Technology

scholar. At DST, we deeply value our students and the remarkable contributions they make to our school and the community, their families, and themselves. Recently, Durham School of Technology was named one of only two DPS schools nationally recognized as a top magnet school of excellence. A distinction we are incredibly proud of and one that reflects our daily commitment to every scholar who walks in through those doors every day.

We are intentional in creating a nurturing, safe, and empowering environment where our students can truly flourish. The young man that I present to you this evening exemplifies that environment. Mr. Benjamin Allen has been an exceptional steward of our school

culture. 5 GPA, has never met a EOC that he didn't like, and is known affectionately as the four five man. His ACT reading scores place him in the top 10% nationally. An impressive accomplishment.

Benjamin is a remarkable blend of wit, charisma, integrity, and character. The sky is truly the limit for this young man, and it has been an honor to partner with both him and his mother to ensure he is well prepared for the next endeavor. Members of the DPS board, it is my privilege to present to you all Mr. Benjamin Allen.

>> What? >> Oh, wait. Oh, oh, oh. Okay.

Okay. Had to make sure the mic Okay, now we're good. Okay. Um, good evening everybody, members of the board, guests, people in the desks.

I I don't know what you Sorry. Um, as Mr. Dixon explained earlier, um, my name is Benjamin Allen and I am truthfully, really, really honored to be recognized as your DPS student of the month. Um, I'm going to like answer some questions.

Um, anyway, um, a person who has had the biggest impact on me in my development and not only as a student, but as a person is my mom. Raise your hand, mama. Hi, mom. Um, she's always been my biggest supporter.

She's always been my number one. And she's always pushed me to work hard, stay focused, and believe in myself, even when I didn't always believe in me. Her support and guidance mean everything to me, and I wouldn't be where I am without her. After graduation, I hopefully plan to attend North Carolina ENT State University,

Aggie Pride, where I'm excited to continue my education and grow both academically and personally pursuing my um hopeful dreams of becoming a game director and eventually a philanthropist. Um what motivates me most is the desire to keep improving and to make the people who support me proud along with everybody that I do things with. I I want to make everybody happy, you know. Uh I'm motivated by the goals and by the idea that hard work now will open doors for me in the future.

And that has definitely shown in that classroom. Good lord. Um a very big success that I'm very proud of holding is having Royal Court at Durham School of Technology for the first time in its history. Um, it was a big responsibility of planning it all and getting everything squared away and setting up that spirit week and and raising all that money.

That was our biggest fundraiser ever, by the way. Just saying. Just saying. Just saying. Just saying. Um,

another a challenge that I faced during that whole thing was leading a club for the first time in organizing royal court as the president of my school's student government association. It was It was something. I I'd never have been in a leadership role like that before and it's genuinely made me grow so much as a person, as a leader, and as a servant really. Um, and I also want to say how grateful I am for my school.

They've it's it's kind of become my home away from home in a way, even though I'm about to leave, but that that don't matter. Um, it's I've always felt so close to them, you know, and as much as it hurts me, I'm going to say I'm going to miss that school. Um, but they have really nurtured me. I, you know, you need water and good dirt and fertilizer to make a plant grow. And I

think I've grown, I think I've grown pretty well. Um, but I yeah, I think my biggest accomplishment so far is my big is my personal growth through everybody that I've met through all the hardships and struggles and trips and stumbles and accomplishments like this one I've made along the way. So, thank you all. Thank you to my teachers.

Thank you to Mr. Dixon for that spectacular um spectacular introduction. I don't know about all that though. um family and friends for their continued support and thank you for this recognition.

>> Come on back, Benjamin. We have a few things for you and thank you again for those inspiring words. It is evident why you are the student of the month for Durham School of Technology. So, we want to celebrate you in a major way tonight. First of all, you get a student of the month certificate.

You also get a spark pin for exemplifying our district's core beliefs. And we hope that you wear it proudly around DST and around the Durham community. And if you happen to go to the school in Greensboro, we hope you wear it there, too. Our friends from uh Triangle East Cycling want to make sure that you are powered for success when you go to Greensboro or beyond.

So, they are presenting you with a laptop this evening. Yeah. And we're not done. Um I would like to invite um Terry David and Cheryl Wall Flag to the podium.

They represent an organization called Families and Community Rising and they are donating a very generous $250 gift card to you because they are our partners and they are dedicated to ensuring that students and families have the healthy starts that they need to thrive. Because when our young people are supported from the very beginning, their potential is limitless. and we've heard about how far you can go tonight. So, thank you so much.

Congratulations, Benjamin. We are so proud of you. Go do great things.

I have the distinct honor to present our next student of the month. On behalf of Dr. Joshua Mallerie, principal of Hillside High School, please welcome Jules Tropman. Jules Tropman already understands that life is unpredictable, so she's driven and she also gives herself grace.

Her family motivates her and she credits her grandmother for inspiring her. Jules says, "My grandmother has always left a lasting impact on my life as she has been my number one supporter. No matter what I wanted to do, she would always be there to support me. Whether it was through a phone call, congratulating me, words of encouragement, or simply giving me a hug for a good job, she was always by my side and will never forget that. Her plans after graduation are to attend college, possibly Spellman, to study psychology, to become either a child psychologist or a family and marriage

therapist. She notes, however, that she doesn't just set goals for herself because life is unpredictable. So she works hard to achieve the things that she wants. Jules considers one of her greatest successes thus far getting accepted to Spellelman College.

And she also and she also notes that a challenge is being an exceptional scholar in the international balorate program at the historic hillside high school which has opened doors for her to explore the global world. While she met that challenge head on and she continues to do so, she also plays hard. Balance, right? She enjoys playing golf with friends, reading books, watching TV, eating, fashion, and playing in makeup.

We'll wrap with another one of Jules's quotes. My biggest accomplishment so far has been learning to be okay with being outside of my comfort zone and with trying new things. And that will certainly serve you well as you continue on your journey, Jules. So, here's to

Jules and to learning how to navigate the life to the fullest. Congratulations, Jules. And we have a few things to celebrate you this evening as well. I know you already heard, but act surprised.

Um, you get a student of this month certificate. You also receive a spark pen, and we hope that you wear it um as you travel throughout the halls of the historic Hillside High School and beyond um the Durm community. Again, our friends at Triangle ECycling want to make sure that you are ready for Spellman and beyond. So, they are also presenting you with a laptop this evening. And please welcome back uh Terry David and Cheryl Wall flag again with another special presentation, a $250 gift card to carry you wherever you want to go in your future. Congratul Congratulations

At this time, please welcome Michelle Hayes, executive director of talent acquisition and employee recognition to present our teachers and employees of the month. >> Good evening, chair. said, members of the board, Superintendent Lewis, and cabinet members, tonight we come together to celebrate our teachers and employees of the month. Four individuals who consistently go above and beyond in service to our students, schools, and community.

Each month, we pause to recognize one teacher and one non-eing employee who embodies greatness, tenacity, perseverance, and leadership. Honores are selected based on the theme of the month and this recognition allows us to shine a light on the incredible people who make Durham public schools such a special place. Our employees take great pride in their work and being acknowledged for their dedication is deeply meaningful. This evening we are proud to honor our December and January

teachers and employees of the month. They will get a goodie bag with a spark pen of course to exemplify DPS core beliefs. Our teacher of the month recognition is sponsored by North Carolina Central's tennis team program, the tall side chapter of Omega Sci-Fi Fraternity Incorporated and DCL Consulting LLC. Our employee of the month recognition is generous generously, excuse me, sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, but due to the weather, our trophy vendor was unable to complete the plaque in time.

However, I will personally deliver them to our employee of the month recipients once they are completed. So, have no fear, plaques are coming. The theme for December was inclusivity. This recognition honors individuals who ensure that everyone feels welcomed, valued, and respected, no matter who they are or where they come from. These are individuals who help create school and department environments where all

people are invited, supported, and treated fairly regardless of background, race, gender, or beliefs. We will begin recognizing our December teacher and employee of the month, followed by our January teacher and employee of the month. Our December teacher of the month is Rory McElroy, seventh grade ESL teacher from Githens Middle School. Come on up.

Mr. Elroy is a seventh grade ESL teacher at Githens Middle School and he truly exemplifies what inclusivity looks like in action. He works with students from a wide range of cultures, language, and belief systems and consistently encourages ensure, excuse me, that every student feels welcome and supported in his classroom. Students regularly share that Mr. Mcelorth's classroom is a safe place where they can learn without fear of judgment. When issues such as

bullying or misunderstandings arise, he addresses them promptly and respectfully. He engages students in meaningful conversations about how their world and actions impact others and helps them understand the importance of fairness and empathy. Mr. Elroy fosters an environment where all students are valued, encouraged to be themselves, and empowered to grow.

He leads with patience, care, and respect. Going above and beyond to ensure every students know, every student know they belong at Gibens Middle School. For these reasons, Mr. McElroy is a deserving and powerful example of inclusivity for this month's nomination.

Congratulation to Mr. Rory McElroy for being named Durham Public Schools December Teacher of the Month. And Coach Lawson will provide some words as well.

Good evening, Madam Chair. Uh, Superintendent Lewis, board members. Yes. Um, let's see.

This week we had our um women's tennis coaching staff to uh surprise a big I believe Mr. um MEL Roy and um and then we had our the members of Talsside chapter to um do the surprise visit for our January teacher of the month. On behalf of DCL Consulting, um we'd like to present you with a small token in recognition of your excellent work. Would also like to recognize uh Principal Mahill also for uh acknowledging the good work that you've done. Congratulations.

Our December employee of the month is Jim Katon, director of school nutrition services. Jim consistently demonstrates what it means to ensure every individual feels welcomed, valued, and respected. His approach to leadership and collaboration reflects a deep belief that everyone, regardless of background, race, gender, or beliefs, deserves to be heard, supported, and treated with dignity. Mr.

Keaton fosters an environment where colleagues feel comfortable bringing their full selves to work. He intentionally includes diverse voices in conversation, active actively actively, excuse me, seeks input from all team members and consistently models fairness and respect in every interaction. His efforts help cultivate a school and departmental culture where differences are not only accepted but genuinely embraced. Whether offering guidance, supporting a colleague, or promoting

equitable practices in daily operations, Jim's actions continuously reinforce a safe, inclusive, and infirming environment. His commitment to understanding, empathy, and equity truly embodies the spirit of inclusivity. Congratulations to Jim Keaton for being named Durham Public Schools December employee of the month.

Okay, I'm back. The theme for January is perseverance. This recognition honors an individual who demonstrates continued effort to achie to achieve success despite difficulty, setbacks or opposition. Perseverance may be shown through overcoming physical, emotion, or academic challenges or through unwavering commitment during challenging circumstances.

Our January teacher of the month is Noah Winberry, 7th grade social studies teacher from Brogden Middle School. Mr. Noah Minberry exemplifies perseverance through his unwavering commitment to reflection, growth, and student success. He is one of the most reflective educators I've ever worked with, consistently examining his practice, responding thoughtfully to feedback, and refining his instruction to better meet the needs of his students. Rather than being discouraged by setbacks, Mr. Winberry views

challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. His resilience, professionalism, and dedication are evident in his continued efforts to do what is best for learners, even when it requires additional time, effort, or adjustment. His persistence and growth mindset make him truly a deserving recipient of recognition of perseverance. Congratulations to Noah Winberry for being named Durham Public Schools January Teacher of the Month.

>> As I probably noted earlier, um so Mr. Winberry was surprised by the members of Tallai chapter of Omega Sci-Fi Fraternity Incorporated as it should be. The um organizations one of his cardinal principles just so happens to be perseverance. So, it's very coincidental that uh they were the presenters of the uh surprise. And speaking of presenting,

on behalf of DCL Consulting LLC, would like to present you with a small token for your excellence would like to also recognize Principal Smith for acknowledging your excellence. Congratulations. right last one. Our January employee of the month is Tamaique Platz. Did I say that correctly? I've been

practicing. Instructional assistant for Murray Massenberg. Tamas uninique instructional assistance impl a amplifies perseverance through her unwavering commitment to students and staff. She consist consistently steps in to meet the needs of her schools, subbing for teachers, covering breaks, supporting restorative practice for students with behavior challenges, and filling critical gaps when roles are unstaffed.

Regardless of the challenge, Miss Plattz remains dependable, flexible, and focused on doing what is best for students. Her journey as an instructional assistance has deepened her passion for education. She supports all grade levels, leads intervention groups, and plays a key role in restorative practice, often often taking additional responsibility without hesitation. Through persistence, resilience, and a willingness to serve wherever she is needed, Miss Platt continues to make a meaningful impact on her school community. Miss Platt's dedication and determination in the face

of daily challenges truly embody the spirit of perseverance, making her deserving of this recognition. Congratulation to Tamasa Nick Platt for being named Durham Public Schools January employee of the month. This concludes Our celebrations this evening.

Right. Thank you so much, Miss Cooper, and to all the um folks that we were celebrating this evening. It's wonderful good news of things happening in Durham public schools and highlighting our students. I want to also before we um head to our next item on the agenda, make sure I acknowledge our student uh representative who is joining us this evening.

Matthew Ma Matias Ma Matias Matthew Matias Matthew, I'm sorry, I'm reading and I read it incorrectly. Um is joining us from Northern High School. He's 11th grade student. Um you are the projected validictorian in the class of 2027 at Northern High School.

Awesome. And that is not all. He's got a fan club cheering here in the audience. Also president of the Northern High School student body, student leader for sustainable schools coalition, and the president and founder of North Northern High School's debate club. He's also alumni of Duke University's Aaron Young Scholars program that affords uh young

people an opportunity to explore a range of topics that resonate with their personal experiences and community challenges. his social science research project investigated the effects of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, here in the US. So, thank you. We're so glad that you're here Matias.

All right, the next item on our agenda is the superintendence update. For that, I'm going to pass it over to Dr. Lewis. >> Thank you so much, Chair Mstead.

Good evening, members of the board, members of our community, our cabinet members as well. Uh, first want to start just by uh thanking our policy committee. I know there is a um an item on the agenda for an update, but definitely thank uh board member Carter Arden as well as Dr. Pitman for the work on the the policy committee has done this past Thursday. Uh they discussed some uh revisions to policy 5120, the relationships with law enforcement, including um that as part of that discussion, it included feedback from um our superintendent's principal advisory council, the superintendent student advisory council, uh cabinet, our sheriff's office, as well as our legal counsel. Um although we made a lot

of great progress um during that meeting uh discussions will continue on Monday uh which will also include those private zones uh conversations uh as well. So I just wanted to highlight that. I know it's like I said it's on the agenda uh tonight as well. So I'm pleased to provide uh an update tonight on our continued progress in Durham public schools.

Next slide. January is National School Board Recognition Month and Durham Public Schools proudly recognizes and thanks our dedicated board of education members for their leadership, service, commitment to helping share strong uh public help shape strong public schools and bright futures. Thank you so much to our board members for your support uh your time uh that you give in inside the boardroom, outside the boardroom, on phone calls and meetings doesn't doesn't go unnoticed. and thank you so much that for all that you do for our district and for being uh um advocates for public education.

Let's give them a hand. >> Next slide. Heard a little bit of the

news uh earlier uh tonight, but I'm pleased to announce that seven of our schools have earned 2026 merit awards from the Magnet Schools of America. This national recognition highlights the innovative programs, dedicated educators, and outstanding learning experiences happening all across our district. Next slide. The top magnet schools of excellence, which is the highest award, is only presented to a select number of schools and we are pleased to have two right here in DPS and they are City of Medicine Academy and you already heard Durham School of Technology.

Next slide. Also, congratulations to Southern School of Energy and Sustainability. That's my daughter's school. Uh, and Morehead Monasuri for their designation of schools of excellence.

Next slide. Congratulations also to Lakewood Monasuri Middle, Durham School of the Arts, and Hillside High for their designation as schools of distinction. So, congratulations to all those students, staff, and families. Uh, your hard work and your creativity uh continue to make Durham public schools shine.

So, congratulations to all of those schools. Next slide. We hosted our winter graduation last week. We celebrated more than 150 graduates and what I understand that was probably the most that we've had in quite some time during a winter winter graduation.

Uh these individuals reached this milestone through perseverance and determination. Their success reflects the strength of multiple pathways to graduation and the dedication of our educators, families, and staff who support students every step of the way. We are proud of our graduates and remain committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to cross the stage ready for what comes next. Next slide. Uh in

January, we hosted our annual showcase of schools, welcoming families and community members to explore the full range of programs and opportunities available across Durham public schools. The event highlighted our innovative schools, dedicated staff, and diverse pathways designed to meet the needs and interest of every learner while also reinforcing our commitment to choice, access, and informed decision-making for families. I was so excited to see so many new families at this event. Uh, and I'm even more excited to welcome them to the new school year.

And, uh, I shared this with our principles, but I was, as I was at the entrance holding the door for families to walk in, a young man walked in and, you know, just looking around, he said, "All of this, all these people are here for this. " And that's uh, something to be a proud of in terms of um, what we're doing here in Durham Public Schools. Next slide. Speaking of diverse options, the application lottery remains open until 5:00 PM tomorrow evening. Families interested in magnet programs and CTE

pathways for their students may submit their applications online. net for more. m. is the deadline.

If you need support, please do not hesitate to contact our office of student assignment. Next slide. This month, we showcased the extraordinary talent and creativity of our students across the district as North Carolina Central's University Art Museum hosted the Durham's finest art show. This annual event celebrates student voice and artistic expression while reinforcing the important role that arts play in inspiring, engaging, and empowering our students.

Thank you to our students, our art educators, and DPS arts education department for their work on making this event possible. Next slide. This month, we hosted our annual Durham Public Schools um update for the Durham Regional Association of Realtors, providing an overview of district priorities, program uh programmatic

offerings, and their strengths of our and the strengths of our school. Uh the visit included a tour of the Durham Early College of Health Sciences where participants saw firsthand how innovative partnerships and career focused pathways and uh are preparing our students for future success in high demand health fields. So thank you to our Durham realtors for their partnership and engagement uh and support during this visit. Next slide.

This month we officially launched uh Spark Academy. This is a new initiative designed to strengthen community understanding and engagement with Durham public schools. The academy provides participants with a deeper look at our schools, our priorities and decision-making processes. Um building uh on inform building informed advocates and reinforcing shared responsibility of student success across our community.

Look forward to introducing our inaugural class at the conclusion of this program. Next slide. Several staff to congratulate. First beginning with Leah

Amos, a social studies teacher at Durham School of the Arts for being selected as one of 12 PBS Learning Media Teacher Ambassadors for 2026. Miss Amos is one of the selected group of educators from across the country chosen for this honor. Uh, the PBS Learning Media Teacher Ambassador Program recognizes outstanding social studies teachers who bring history, civics, and media literacy to life in the classroom. Ambassadors collaborate with PBS to spotlight innovative teaching practices, share resources, and other educators, oh, I'm sorry, with other educators and help shape national conversations about how media can deepen student engagement and important social studies topics.

So, well done, Miss Amos. Next slide. Congratulations to Cameron Garish, Jordan High School director of bands, who has been named Central Region Jazz Director of the Year.

Mr. Garris was selected by band directors from 27 counties across North Carolina. This honor recognizes Mr. Garris's outstanding classroom instruction, leadership in the North Carolina Music Education Association jazz section, and deep commitment to mentoring students in advocating uh for jazz education.

Under his direction, student ensembles have excelled on major stages, premiered new commissioned work, earned spots in re in region and state honor ensembles, and secured college scholarships. Kudos to Mr. Garris. Next slide.

There's more. Congratulations to Ron Whan, our DPS director of digital learning for being selected by his peers as the North Central Region Technology Director of the Year. >> This well-deserved honor uh also names Ron as a final finalist for the 2026 North Carolina Technology Director of the Year Award. His leadership, vision, and commitment to advancing digital

learning, continue to make a meaningful impact for students and educators across the district and beyond. Mr. Whan uh will be formally recognized at the annual state technology director's meeting in conjunction with the NC Ties on March 4th, 2026. Congratulations, Ron.

Next slide. Durham public schools administrator Dr. Asia Cunningham has been named a national finalist for the Constantino Family Engagement Practitioner Award recognizing outstanding leadership in strengthening partnerships across schools and families. Congratulations Dr.

Cunningham. Dr. Cunningham was selected for her work for strengthening family and school partnerships which uh has contributed to improve engagement and support for students and families in her school. Dr.

Cunningham will be honored at the 2026 Family Engagement Symposium. This is a national conference focused on advancing effective family and school partnerships. Next slide.

Uh I was honored to join our partners in education, JB Buckon, president of Durham uh Tech Community College and Vince Price, president of Duke University, and Dr. Carrie Dixon at NCCU's uh podcast, The Eagle Exchange, for a thoughtful and engaging conversation about education, our partnerships, and community impact in Durham. Uh we are stronger together and the uh collaboration among our institution is definitely on display throughout this episode and the podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. So, I encourage you to take a listen.

Next slide. Then lastly, um I this is the first time that we've been in person since um news media has reported um three of our administrators being indicted. And so I want to address that publicly here in this uh boardroom. Um you know, there are thousands of families across Durham community who place a tremendous amount of trust in us each and every day. Not just to educate their children, but most importantly to

keep them safe. Both of those responsibilities are critically important. But our most foundational job is to ensure that our scholars are safe. And so as a first step, we are investigating this matter thoroughly and cooperating fully.

U while the review is taking place, we're also taking steps to reinforce our expectations and provide guidance and training to support all staff in meeting these responsibilities. Um, this board has already approved and has established policies and procedures to that are in place to protect our students in situations like this and it's important for us to follow them. Uh, our educators and staff are held to high professional and ethical expectations. The work that they do is so incredibly valuable uh to our students and I don't want this incident to overshadow all of the good work that has taken place in our schools.

Uh, many of that you heard of tonight. uh in our schools and our classrooms. We will uh consider additional measures once the

investigation is complete. In the meantime, we will continue to cooperate with the Durham County District Attorney's Office. I just had a meeting a couple of hours ago with the assistant um district attorney. We will continue working every day to provide our students um with a safe and supportive learning environment.

I said lastly, but this is um lastly here. Um during inclement weather um we make those final decisions uh whether it's to delay or close schools as a team. Uh these decisions are not made by one person or in isolations and quite frankly some of the toughest decisions that a leader uh will ever make. Uh safety is always uh the primary concern and I'll encourage you to take a look at our DPS news section on our homepage.

It outlines and uh shares just how those decisions are made. Also like to thank our DPS operations staff and those crews who travel routes daily to determine whether it is safe uh to travel. They spread sand and salt in parking lots and on steps and walkways. They winterize our

HVAC systems to prevent any type of pipe loss. Our transportation drivers, staff and leaders who show up every day to ensure that students are safely transported to and from school. our teachers and employees who show up every day to serve our scholars uh and pick up where they left off when school is closed or delayed and to our parents uh for your patience um and to our families for understanding the challenges that we face when it comes to inclement weather um in the forecast. We are monitoring uh the winter weather that's slated to come over the weekend.

And so please continue to uh stay tuned to our social media pages uh and make sure um your child school has up-to-date phone numbers so that you can receive those calls as well. That's all I have. >> Thank you Dr. Lewis for that robust superintendent update. Um appreciate you lean ending on that slide of we are DPS talking about some of the news that has happened in the past week. Um the board I want to read a statement also on behalf of the board that acknowledges um

what is happening. Um nothing is more important to us than the safety of our students and as such some of the allegations in the indictment of three DPS um employees are alarming. Um this matter concern any matter concerning the safety of our students demands urgency and full cooperation from everyone involved. Um, we have been working in partnership with you um, since we became aware of this matter to make sure that the employee, excuse me, and make sure that everything was investigated thoroughly.

We promptly convened multiple special meetings and are making sure that investigation is ongoing. Um, we are committed to understanding what has occurred, holding individuals accountable where appropriate, and we appreciate the partnership with you, Dr. Lewis, and support in protecting every student that we serve. You already mentioned we've got robust policies in place and it's our job to make sure that we reinforce expectations and review internal practices with all of our employees. Uh we have a shared responsibility as one of our core values

and principles here at Durham Public Schools. And so we have to work to make sure that we ensure the safety of our students to fulfill our mission igniting the limitless potential of our students. So we know that this news is heavy in our community. We're continuing to do the work that we need to do to do the investigation, figure out what happened, and improve our practices and procedures moving forward.

So, thank you. The next item on our agenda is agenda review and approval. >> Uh, Chair uh, Vice Chair Rogers. >> Thank you, Chairstead.

I'd like to add an item to the agenda just before the budget priorities of the Durham public schools board of education proclamation for National Mentoring Month. >> And move approval of the agenda as amended. >> Second. Been moved by Miss Beyer and seconded by Miss Rogers that we add a

proclamation for National Mentoring Month. So, we have amended this agenda. That will be our new number four. And then we'll move everything down.

Five, six, seven, eight. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I.

>> Any oppose, please use the same sign. It passes unanimously. The next item on our agenda is a board of education monthly meeting minutes from November 20th, 2025. Move approval of the meeting minutes November 20th, 2025.

Second. >> It's been moved by Mer Golf and seconded by Miss Chávez. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I.

>> I. Any opposed, please use the same sign. It passes unanimously. That brings us to our next item on the on the agenda, which is public comment. First, we want to do a quick review of the rules. First, please state your name

and if you're speaking for organization, state your name and the name of the organization. Second, our speakers are going to be asked to present their comments within 1 minute. When the yellow light comes on, you will have 30 seconds left to start winding up your remarks. When the red light comes on, it will beep, which indicates your time is up.

Complaints about named staff, students, or parents should not be voiced in open session. However, we are very interested in hearing your concerns with regard to public education, safety of students, or to the operation of the school system. Finally, board members will listen carefully and consider your comments, but we do not engage in a discussion with speakers. I'm going to call multiple um public comment speakers at a time.

So, if you can line up here at the podium, we have Katie McDonald, Grayson Walton, and Ste Stephanie Walton. And if I mispronounce your names, please correct me. Tonight, I use my voice in this platform to stand

with a family I have never met, but whose son's death has shaken me to my core. Earlier this week, Michael and Susan Prey released the following statement. We are heartbroken, but also very angry. Alex was a kind-hearted soul who deeply cared for his family and friends and was also and also the American veterans for whom he cared for as an ICU nurse in the Minneapolis VA hospital.

Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be able to do this. He will not be able to see his impact. I do not throw the word hero term around lightly.

However, his last thought and act was to pro protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman Ice just pushed down while being pepper-sprayed.

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

>> My name is Grayson Walton and I seed my time to Stephanie Walton. Good evening. My name My My name is Stephanie Walton. I have a 5-year-old with developmental disabilities.

She completed two years of pre-K at DPS schools. She's currently enrolled in a developmental needs kindergarten at Hill Andale Elementary. Across two years of preK, she attended three schools. At one of those schools, we removed her after one month.

My almost just barely four-year-old child was suspended from school for behavior related to her disability. Um, separately, we were notified of her restraint by a substitute teacher with expired CPI training via a document sent home in her book bag. At our current school, after raising serious concerns about one IIA's physical handling of my child and the professional way she spoke with me, that IIA was simply moved to another classroom within the school. She says hi and waves to me in the afternoon when I walked by her. Um, when I heard about the incident in Eno Valley and the mishandling of that incident, allegedly, I was shocked. I was also unsurprised.

At Hillindale, I'm completely isolated from my child's school experience. She cannot tell me much about her school days because of significant verbal delays. I'm not permitted to walk into class for drop off or for pickup. There are no small school um no small class events like a Valentine's party or Thanksgiving meal.

I get inconsistent written communication from the teacher. I don't know anything she does during specials like PE or music. There are no school events geared toward EC families, and the ones that do exist are often too loud, too busy, and inaccessible for children like my daughter. There's no centralized way for the parents in our class to communicate.

And it often feels that the school is working very hard to keep us in the dark and keep us disconnected. When EC families are in a situation with no meaningful interaction with the teachers, the classroom, or each other, these are the exact conditions where mistrust and abuse thrive. We need increased level of access, connection, and communication within the EC program community at both the school at the school system level. When you're looking at your policies, I want you to look at vetting for teachers that are hired between Durham County school uh Durham

public schools. It's my understanding there is minimal vetting. Thank you. Um Miss Walton, we can have um you can talk with our deputy superintendent, Dr.

King, right here to share some of those concerns. Thank you. We'll have some followup. Um, next we have Kayla Kurran, Fern Hickey, Ellen Holmes.

Hello, my name is Kayla Curran and I am a K through five music educator at Lions Farm Elementary, a lead teacher in the district and a taxpayer in Durham. I am seeking clarification on why Durham Public Schools has completely eliminated sponsoring H1B visas for international teachers. We have many incredible international teachers in DPS that enrich and positively impact the lives of our students and we should want to keep these educators in our district. Additionally, one of those amazing international educators was highlighted

during Dr. Lewis's superintendent update earlier. I plan to send a follow-up email to the board and look forward to hearing your response. Good evening.

My name is Fern and I'm a DPS parent and a member of Durham Public School Strong. I'm here tonight to thank you for considering the proposed private zones administrative policy and to share our frustration at the administration's recommendation that it not be adopted. This policy would help ensure the physical and emotional safety and undisrupted learning of DPS students by governing access to school buildings and outlining a clear and common process for responding to immigration enforcement activities. Rather than adopt this legally sound and community requested policy, the administration has recommended a continuation of the status quo that this matter be managed through procedures developed by the superintendent.

Dr. Dr. Lewis has stated

that the district has protocols in place, but we do not know what these protocols are and therefore cannot rest assured that they are adequate to keep our children safe. Telling us, don't worry, there are plans in place, but we can't discuss them, does not inspire confidence or alleviate fear. That is, good evening. My name is Ellen Holmes and I'm a teacher at Jordan High School, a member of Public School Strong, DAE, and a longtime advocate for students and their families.

I am speaking tonight because I'm urging the board to pass the submitted version of 5120 as is and the private zones administrative policy and protocol as soon as possible. I understand the great amount of work that has gone into these policies and I appreciate the policy committee and the board as a whole for their work. However, the original submitted policies protect our students in the best manner. Revising the submitted version and not adopting the private zone policies will leave our students in grave danger. Immigration and criminal attorneys were

consulted on these policies and gave feedback on both. They do not violate the law in any way. My students are afraid every day. They cannot learn when they are afraid.

They will not come to school when they are afraid. Please do the right thing and pass these original policies now. Thank you. Next up, we have Jennifer Painter Catalina Tolloza.

Um, and Matias Matthew. >> Good evening. I'm Jen Painter. I'm an ESL teacher at Jordan High School.

I'm here with Durham Public Schools strong and I am also a DAE member. I want to speak in support of a private zones policy not just for my students for whom I want it very very much but for my colleagues. Um I work with international

teachers who are here on visas. I work with naturalized citizens. I work with legal permanent residents. They also deserve to feel safe in all of the spaces of our workplace.

That also benefits our students. A lot of my students stayed home in November because they did not feel safe out in our community and at school. Colleagues don't have that option, especially when their visas are tied to their workplace and being employed at Durham public schools. And they deserve the assurance of a public of a private zones policy that will keep them safe.

My name is Catalina Sanchez Tooza and I seed my time to Matias. >> Hello, I'm Matias representing the sustainable schools coalition. And I first just wanted to thank chair um umstead and Mrs. Byer for meeting us with us this month. as we shared with both of them, the site the site logic dashboard that was shared with the board

last month in the December board uh work session uh was wrong as it was no longer in use by site logic and the one that was updated was not shared with the board during that meeting. Um Miss Owens who couldn't be here tonight has emailed the updated dashboard to you all and she has asked that you guys please res reconsider the site logic contract and the progress they have made. Uh, just so you know, the the site a site logic contractor was a driving force behind tonight's climate presentation. Um, something of serious concern to me isn't just the fact that this information was concealed.

Um, but also how you all handled it. Um, when when you all asked about how site logic would be replaced, um, the response was just that we'll just do better. And when asked on what information the decision um this that decision was made to terminate the contract um you all were plainly told that the information uh had not been reviewed yet because they hadn't had it

yet supposedly. But you all still voted to terminate the contract. And it isn't just with energy and sustainability um school and district officials being under investigation for obstruction of justice. um isn't just down to personal integrity.

It's a lack also with a lack of accountability. Um I'm sure everyone in this room has the integrity to work for student well-being. But we we all still need you to hold um all everyone in DPS accountable um for the things you've agreed to. Whether it's immigrant and and disabled student safety or climate action or the quality of our facilities, we need you to keep pushing Durham public schools forward.

Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sharon Bag Bagotel Mirian Masaba Masaba Jim Saran

Sara Sara Savara. All right. Hi, I'm Sharon Bagotel. Thank you for having the climate action plan on the agenda tonight.

I'm going to see the rest of my time to Marian. My name is Mir Misamba. I'm a senior at City of Medicine Academy and I'm here with the Durm Sustainable Schools Coalition. Students like me continue to show up here because we believe Durm students deserve better than empty promises without follow through.

I'm hopeful that my voice will not simply be heard, but that the district will take its will take its responsibility to the students it served seriously and uphold the resolution it passed 5 years ago. What we students need and what we deserve is action. Real action through a climate action plan that reflects the urgency of the climate crisis and the bright futures of the students you all know are here in Durham public schools. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Jim Savara of co co-chairperson of the policy committee of the coalition for affordable housing and transit. On January 12th, you received an email addressed to your board, the county commission and the city council. We were sharing the resolution regarding the future of the Durham schooly yards revitalization. Um, as you know, CA, the coalition CAT is a volunteer-run organization that's dedicated uh to increasing affordable, safe, and secure housing and quality transit um options in Durham.

A special project right now is to uh encourage new affordable housing along the rail trail, which is being constructed by the city uh by the city of Durham. Uh we urge that the three governing boards consider starting a community centered planning effort for affordable housing to be included in the renewal of the Durham School of the Arts site. Initially focusing on the 3 acre parcel north of

uh north of Manurva Avenue. Thank you. Thank you. And if if anyone brought comments tonight that you want to leave with our board clerk, you can leave those with her and she'll make sure we can see the rest of your comments if you weren't able to get to them.

She's right here with her hand raised. She'll make sure she get those. We did got your email. Thank you.

Uh next, Mimi Kesler followed by Christy Clim. Good evening. My name is Mimi Kesler and I'm here in my capacity as president of the inter neighborhood council, the INC of Durham. Since 1984, INC has been advocating on the part of residential neighborhoods to promote quality, stability, and vibrancy across our city. Our delegates voted to provide you with this resolution.

Whereas the land and buildings that comprise the campus of the old Durham High School and more recently the Durham School of the Arts for social, historic, cultural, economic, and urban design reasons. Immensely it we believe it's immensely important to the welfare and identity of the Durham community. And whereas the future of that campus is now uncertain and the students of the and the subject of concern to people in Durham. Uh yes, you can.

Thank you so much. Uh you're going to pass it to Miss Smith right here. She's got her hand raised in the tan sweater and she'll scan them and get into the board. Christy Clim. >> Hello. Christy Clim, physical therapist, a member of DAE, um encourage during meet and confer

meetings to continue to give more detail about the budget and not just we want to do better. We we don't have enough money, but what does that really mean? Since the last meeting, I see the 25 26 salary schedules for classified have been posted now. Um I don't know how many people have really looked at those to realize it just shifted the pay.

Um we actually went backwards. returners stayed where they were. When I talk about this in the buildings, people seem to be confused, but for a small visual, this was what we got last year. Here's our new numbers.

We just took that money amount and slid it down and pretended it's something better, but it's not. Um, and with the decision last September that every year the board has to vote for us to go up, this is what's going to continue to happen to classified. U still confusion on who can do work remotely on optional work days or weather days. Is that from the superintendent?

Is that from a principal or supervisor? Different schools give different messages. Um, all right. Thank you.

That concludes our public comment. The next items on our agenda, thank you all for coming and speaking with us tonight. The next item on our agenda is our consent agenda. We have three items that have been reviewed by the board um previous.

So, A, B, and C. Madame Chair, I'd move approval of the consent agenda. Item A, City of Durham public utility use easement at Easley Elementary School. Item B, DHA Pearson LP right ofway and temporary construction easement at Hillside High School.

And item C, CTE 2026 computer purchase. Second. It's been moved by Miss Beyer and seconded by Vice Chair Rogers. Is there any other discussion?

All those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Please use the same sign. It passes unanimously. >> Yes.

Okay, the next item on our agenda is um we have a pol excuse me policy committee update. It is for information only. Um and so we have a precise here though has details information about an update from the committee. All right, the next item on our agenda is a national mentoring month proclamation board members.

I'm going to pass it to Vice Chair Rogers who will talk a little bit about this proclamation. >> Um, thank you all for allowing me to make this request at the last minute. Um, each January we acknowledge uh, sorry, I'm having a hard time. January as National Mentoring Month. As we recognize National Mentoring Month, I'd like us to pause to honor and give thanks for the lives and legacies of Dewan Lang Langley and Atraus Good, two

extraordinary men whose commitment to mentoring young men in Durham continues to echo even after their passing. Dworn and Traus understood that mentoring is not simply guidance but presence and they would always recommend that we pass this proclamation. They showed up, they listened, they challenged and affirmed through their time, their words, and their unwavering belief in the potential of young people. They helped shape futures and instill confidence, dignity, and purpose in countless young men across our community.

Their work was rooted in a love for Durham and a deep sense of responsibility to the next generation. They modeled what it means to lead with integrity, compassion, and courage, reminding us that the most powerful lessons are often taught not through titles or accolades, but through consistent care and genuine connection. Though they are no longer with us, their impact remains alive and in the lives

they touched the past they help illuminate and the example they set for all who continue this vital work. I would like us to honor their memory by recommitting ourselves to mentorship community and the belief that every young person deserves someone who sees them, believes in them, and walks alongside them. And so with gratitude and respect, I hope as we read this proclamation, we can remember and thank Dorne Langley and Traus Good for their lasting contributions to Durm's young men and to the heart of our community. I'm supposed to start the proclamation writers, do you want to start us off on reading the proclamation? Whereas created in 2002 by the Harvard School of Public Health and Mentor, the National Mentoring Partnership, January is National Mentoring Month, an annual campaign to focus attention on the need for quality, consistent, and

competent mentors. And whereas a mentor is a caring, dependable, and authentic person that provides support, guidance, advice, assistance, and devotes time to a young person to help youth discover personal strength to persevere and achieve their potential through a structured and trusting relationship on a regular basis. And whereas quality mentoring encourages and empowers youth to make positive choices, promotes self-esteem and character development, support academic achievement, social emotional learning, leadership and professional development, college readiness and career exploration. And whereas the goals of National Mentoring Month are to raise awareness of mentoring, recruit individuals to mentor, equip mentors with the skills needed to support youth, encourage organizations to engage and integrate quality mentoring into their efforts with a focus on academic support, life skills training and career readiness,

workforce preparation to motivate youth to excel. And whereas research has demonstrated that mentoring programs have a significant positive impact on a variety of academic achievement measures including truency and absenteeism, scholastic efficacy and engagement, school related misconduct and peer support. And whereas mentors serve a critical role in helping youth successfully complete high school and gain admission to college or training programs, earn a post-secondary credential or certification, build new in demand skills, prepare for the work for the future of work and succeed in an everchanging workforce. And >> whereas mentoring programs must incorporate work-based learning to prepare and connect youth with real life work experiences where they can apply academic, technical, and soft skills and develop their employability while exploring career pathways. And

whereas the Durham public school strategic plan goal 4C is to ensure every school will have one or more Durham public school strategic I'm sorry. will have high impact community partnership to support increasing positive student outcomes. And whereas the Durham Public Schools Board of Education supports community-based mentoring programs as key community partners to support our mission to embrace, educate, and empower every student to innovate, serve, and lead. And >> whereas National Mentoring Month is the time of year to celebrate, elevate, and encourage mentoring and recruit caring adult mentors in the city of Durham and Durham County. Therefore, be it resolved that the Durham Public Schools Board of Education do hereby proclaim the month of January 2026 as National Mentoring Month and call upon public officials, educators, business, and community leaders and citizens to observe this month with

appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. Two, recognize the valuable contributions of staff and volunteers in quality mentoring programs that empower youth, enabling them to discover inner strength and realize their full potential. Acknowledge the manifold benefits of mentoring, including fostering healthy identity development, promoting educational achievement, reducing juvenile delinquency, enhancing career readiness, improving life skills and outcomes, and fortifying communities. advocate for the establishment, e expansion, sustainability, and funding of quality mentoring programs throughout Durham, aiming to provide youth with the necessary tools for leading healthy, productive, and meaningful lives. Support initiatives aimed at bridging academic achievement, opportunity, and mentoring gaps, emphasizing critical mentoring to assist boys of color. This

involves pairing them with mentors who grasp and comprehend social, political, and economic racism and oppression and are committed to acting against these elements in society. On the 29th day of January, 2026, >> I move that we approve this Durham public schools board of education proclamation on mentoring. >> Second. >> Moved by Miss Chávez and seconded by Mr.

Tab. Is there any other discussion? >> I'd just like to ask that we edit that one line out. That's duplicated.

That's all. And that's my bad. Sorry. We can do that.

All right. So, we'll pass the proclamation as amended to edit out the duplicated line. All those in favor say I. >> I.

Any opposed use the same sign. It passes unanimously. Thank you, Vice Chair Rogers. And um want to also say in their honor, thank you to Warren Langley and Atraus Good for all their work pouring back into Durham public schools,

the community and black males here in Durham public schools. So want to thank them for that. The next item on our agenda is um budget priorities. We're so excited to introduce um to some uh Ruben Barfield who's been working in our uh finance department for quite some time.

Uh he and Mr. Teter um are kind of like connected at the at the arm as it relates to all things uh finance. Sometimes um people refer to Mr. Teter or say that he's using a m magic calculator.

Well, the magic calculator is at the podium uh this evening for us. And so uh please uh welcome Ruben Barfield. Mr. Barfield, take us away.

>> Well, first, thank you, Dr. Lewis. Um,

>> good evening, board chair, board members, and Dr. Lewis. Uh, tonight, I'll be covering some budget feedback that we've received throughout our budget feedback tour as we approach submitting our budget to the county um at the end of March. Next slide, please.

Or if I >> lift that mic up just a little bit. Thank you. >> It's not meant for me if it's all So the first set of fe feedback that we've received just is from um through the meeting and meet and confer process as we met with DAE over the first five meetings that we've had with them. We've covered topics such as classified pay with our goal of creating salaries that represent living wage here in Durham plus addressing compensation through our steps.

We've also discussed extra duty pay um and as well as our bus current bus driver supplement. Um DA also expressed a desire to include safety assistance. So we discussed how that may impact um that supplement and at our most recent meeting we agreed to bring details along with DAE to see what we can accomplish together going forward.

Next slide please. So the second set of feedback that we received is from the superintendent teacher advisory committee. Uh Mr. Teter met with this group to discuss teacher compensation in the absence of a state budget.

They also discussed the current state salary teacher schedules that um in which pay progression does not exist for teachers on steps 15 through 24. And so they have asked us to see what we can do with our local supplement to address that gap. And then next, this group has also lifted up some HVAC concerns as well as some out-of- pocket costs that our teachers are experiencing such as bright link bulbs and HDMI cords. Next slide, please.

Now we'll move on to the superintendent principal advisory committee. They also mentioned uh facilities and safety as a concern such as HVAC uh leaking roofs and door repairs as well. And this group also mentioned the desire to have a district-wide weapon detection system. Next slide. The next topic would be transportation.

So, some of our um principles lifted up their concerns regarding uh higher fuel prices due to our athletic buses that um do not match the sizes of our teams. So, they've expressed interest in having smaller buses that match the match our teams. And the idea here is that that will reduce fuel costs in the future. This group also lifted up the idea of um technology instructional tools.

So, one of those would be the desire to have a plagiarism detection system. And the idea here is that by exposing our students to this now, this will help prepare them for college in the future. And then they also discussed bright link projectors as a um as a current need. Next slide, please.

All right. So, the next topic would be staffing and program support. So they expressed the desire to have restorative practice coordinators at the elementary level as well as having testing coordinators and MTSS coordinators um at

district a lot of positions. They also expressed the concern um of our current mast's pay structure. So they lifted up the idea of uh if we were able to expand this to our instructional coaches as well as interventionists. Next slide please.

All right. So, here are our superintendent's priorities. Um, these are items that we've all seen already, but just want to lift these back up. So, the first being continuation costs, which includes state raises, benefit increases, utilities, as well as insurance increases.

So, these are things we want to keep in mind as we um create our our next budget. And then the next topic being classified pay. Um, we've received a lot of feedback in this area already, but we want to uh lift up our OT's and PTS and ensure that we can align their pay with comparable urban districts. Then lastly, we have capital outlay needs, which includes technology. And so, it's nice to see that our superintendent's priorities aligns with what we've seen from the teacher and principal advisory committees as well.

Next slide, please. All right, so moving on to some challenges that we're seeing. These um aren't unique to Durham and we're seeing these challenges across the state. Next slide.

So the first challenge that I'll discuss would be uh the increased charter proportionate share. Um historically Durham has budgeted at 20% of our revenue to be local revenue to be reallocated to our charter schools. And with the knowledge of us having a excuse me a new charter school in the area, we've increased this to 21% this current year. um that 1% swing from DPS enrollment compared to um the charter share is about 400 students and that also aligns with the enrollment that we saw at that charter school. Uh despite our us being proactive um our local the charter share, excuse me, was at about 23% of our local revenue this current year. So, as we're looking forward to our next year, we want to keep in mind um we want to keep that in mind and review our current trends as well as uh keep in mind that we have

some charter schools opening the current the next this coming fall. Next slide, please. Okay, so here's a chart that you all have already seen regarding our current um current situation regarding charter schools. 7 billion variance that we're facing.

And this is all based on what we saw from PMR1 this past um this past fall. So in order to absorb that difference, we uh central office decided to um reduce uh central office budgets as well as enacted hiring freeze across central office. And our goal here was to minimize the impact to our schools. Next slide.

And the last challenge that I will uh discuss would be our federal funding uncertainty. So, currently the House and Senate have decided to keep funding flat for K through 12, but this is something that could change. And then off to the right, you'll see a chart of just highlighting some grants that um are federally funded that we're keeping our eyes on that that are directly

supporting our schools. Next slide, please. All right. So, as I mentioned, we met with DAE as a part of our meet and confer process last week, and then we have two other confer meetings in February where we'll continue to discuss the budget.

uh followed by our budget town hall on February 23rd. And then at the end of February, we will be releasing our draft recommended budget with a goal of uh submitting our budget request to the county at the end of March. Next slide. All right.

So, I'll turn it over to you all for questions if you have any. >> I'm sure we do. So, thank you so much for the presentation. Uh I'm gonna open it up to board members now for questions.

first if we don't. Miss Rogers, >> it sounds like nobody wants to go first. Thank you so much um for this presentation. I don't normally thank

people for doing the job that they're paid to do, but this your first time at the board meeting, so welcome. Thank you. >> Um you did great. You got to stride because you started out a little nervous.

You did good. You did good. and I talk really fast. So, yeah. just um so my questions are around uh projections and um stability and I think we're going to you'll see me ask some more of these kind kinds of questions as we get to the further presentations I asked particularly around um the expenditures for the outdoor classrooms because that was an expenditure that the board invested in and like how is the district um understanding the return on the investments that we make. Uh so I wonder what's the long-term planning in terms of uh district priorities especially when we talk about expansion and all

these different things that different folks are asking for. Uh and so I guess my question would be around the things that um each of these groups subgroups are asking for. What are we giving up? What happens instead of um that thing?

There's some personnel ask um are we is the ask for that to come out of our local budget? >> The items that the uh the different groups lifted up >> some of the different groups. So like the restorative practice coordinator for elementary. So would that request be to come out of local budget or to replace something else on the state out of the state reimbursement?

>> Yes. Um my initial thought is that that would be something we'd have to fund locally. Yep. >> Okay.

And then my question is, you know, it's about all the things, right? Um people are asking for reasonable things. Bright link bulbs and HDMI cords. uh how

much are we talking about and were was that not considered when we put in the bright link things and and maint routine maintenance each time, right? How do we get in front of that? Does that make sense? >> That makes a lot of sense and and from our conversations definitely with our teachers is that I don't I don't think that was taken into account, you know, in terms of you know, you buy these things but then you know the bubs will have to they'll go out.

So what is the life expectancy of a bulb? You know, so I think that's something we have to consider when we purchase anything whether it's um any piece of technology if there is any type of supplemental um supports that are needed or supplemental equipment like cords and things that may be lost. uh considering, you know, what can we do to have like a miscellaneous type fund to to support that or and or include that in the in the total cost going forward because what we're hearing from our teachers is that they're coming out of their pockets paying for bulbs on Amazon and and and cords and things like

that. And so really looking at um in addition to that thinking about you know what other um um fund I guess line item in our technology budget that can be allocated for these resources that we know may will will go out like bubs and HDMI cards that may be lost. >> Right. So we're also we're taking these items that the different groups lifted up and we're going to cost those items out and then receive quotes where necessary to determine how we can incorporate that into the superintendent's priorities.

That's helpful. I think my la my last question on the budget I think would be on some of these budget items. Um I'm moving Mr. Tab on weapons detectors.

Okay. Um what when we're talking about a budget and we're making the budget request for next year, people would expect that we would immediately have those weapon detectors. But the implementation plan,

how do those two things connect? How does a budget connect with the implementation plan? Because you would need people trained to take on those roles of being at the weapon detectors all the time that the schools are open and the respon take on that responsibility of engaging and calling law enforcement and being trained to do that. And so that's going to be some lead time.

So, how do we connect realistic expectations with our budget ask? >> So, I think something when it comes to something like um weapon detection that's going to take um more than just um you know creating a PO and just purchasing and putting them in place there's going to take to your point a long runway in terms of engagement engagement with our student staff and families around their perceptions of of weapon detection. It's my understanding that u maybe this community has had some previous conversations about that. And so what are the lessons learned from those previous conversations?

I think there were some visits that may have been done as well. Um so it's not just about the weapons detection. But the

point you made um board member I'm sorry Vice Chair Rogers was that it's going to require staff there too. So is that existing staff or there going to be additional staff um to be hired? And so if that does make the budget, we're going to have to consider those other factors. But when we think about a timeline, uh there's not a long runway to from now where we are today until the times the the budget passed.

And so if there's definitely interest, you know, we can begin that engagement um process um and and consulting with our board in terms of just next steps um on on that. But if we think about just the timeline that Mr. Barfield just um um you know shared uh is not a lot of time for that engagement you know in terms of um staff, students, families around weapons detections then also getting some direction from the board. >> I'm going to go to Mr. Tab then I'll come to Miss Carter and I'll swipe back

this way to Miss Beyer. >> Uh thank you very much. Thank you for your presentation. Um, Vice Chair Rogers, thank you so very much for lifting that up.

So, it took a lot off me what I was going to say. So, thank you. Thank you very much. Um I I do want to up to continue to highlight um if we're moving towards any type of systems for safety that we definitely have to consider um staffing in the budget uh or having a robust plan to making sure how we're going to move in that direction um if the board decides that's the direction it's going to go. I think the runway is very short and I would love for this board to start having some conversation about safety and security um as we continue to move forward. Um the other thing that you highlighted that she lifted up was about um things that teachers have to purchase

as a educator. That's a that's a a topic that we really need to, you know, address some of those things where the schools should be purchasing those things, but you find that teachers are doing them. Um, there are a lot of instruments or things that require batteries and you find that a lot of teachers go out and purchase batteries for a lot of things and it's very costly. Um, that's something that the school should be probably providing. But when you order equipment, a lot of times it's going to come with accessories for that one time and then I don't know if there's a plan in place of how we actually start replacing those things. Uh but the responsibility then kind of lands on the person that's using it that either it it's no more it's no more good to them or they have to find a way to ask for the money to to replace the batteries or anything else accessories

that go with it. So, I do want us to continue to uplift those kinds of things to see what do we have in place in terms of um uh documentation or some type of um spreadsheet or something that says these things are going to need some type of replacement and when does that occur? That's it. Okay.

Thank you so much for your presentation. >> Thank you. Um, I have a few questions. I'll just ask them one at a time.

I actually think that they might be maybe more for Dr. Lewis, but um, I guess I'm wondering first how we have all these great recommendations from different entities. Um, how what's the plan for prioritizing each of the different requests and as you're pulling together the draft budget before it comes to us? How are you thinking through that?

And how will you be working with um, finance to do that? >> Yep. So, as I mentioned earlier, um so we're we'll take these items, we'll cost

them and receive some quotes as well and then determine how we can fit those into the priorities. And for other items that we that we're um receiving from our departments, we're going to use those have a similar process where we'll meet with our cabinet members and our department leaders and assess the necessity of those items and then see what we can see determine what um needs to happen now and then what we what can be deferred and then we'll also see what we can uh do to address some of those with alternative solutions. So >> um thank you. I um I would like to um see where the budget aligns or doesn't with our strategic plan and if the district has set those goals um then that should be where our money goes. So I wonder like how are you planning to integrate that and show the board and the community how we're planning to spend money in alignment with what we want to achieve in our strategic plan.

>> Yep. That's what I was going to add. looking at all of the things, right? You know, we have, you know, quite a few requests.

So, one, seeing how it aligns with our work, which is the strategic plan, but then also thinking about the cost of some of these big ticket items, you know. Um, and I think the board appreciated the prioritization uh activity through the spreadsheet I think that Mr. Teter shared um last year during the devel budget development process. And so, we will probably engage in an activity like that again as I think we did it as a cabinet.

And I think there were some other folks that did it as well. He's also thinking about maybe some other advisory, you know, we got the initial list from the advisory councils. Now, let's take it back. I think that also helps educate um you know, different groups in in the community as well.

Yes, we have these all ideas, but we have this little small pot of money. So, what how do we prioritize things that's still going to move the needle on academic outcomes when it comes to that strategic plan? >> Thank you, Dr. Lewis. Um I also um so in the timeline I was wondering if we um

can we put the timeline back up maybe or I'll just put it I think that um I'm wondering if we are not going to do a hearing anymore and if we can maybe attach a hearing to our March work session so that the public has another chance to weigh in on the budget after the draft budget has gone out and that's something that y'all have considered. We have a town hall, but as my understanding that was more educational with some birectional, but then the hearing is not in the timeline anymore. So, is that something that would be >> Yeah. Go ahead.

Yeah. So, Mr. T, Mr. Tutor and I have discussed it already and we were thinking that with you all's approval, we could probably have one of those at the 30 minutes to one of the February board meetings if that's your if that's your wish. >> I thought, let's see. Um, if the draft recommended budget is going to be released on February 26th, then that then um I that's why I was proposing for that to happen at the

March work session because then people would have a chance to um see that and kind of chew on it a little bit before they came to provide comments and weigh in on it. >> Yeah, I was going to add we have a we do but you don't see the date on here, but we do have a March 12th work session that can be utilized for that hearing to your point. Um and my last question is um so that we can just have the context behind some of the recommendations, could you um remind us who is part um of the superintendent principal advisory committee, not names, but like is this all principles that are part of this or a handful? Um same with the stack.

Um are these like one one-year terms? How many people are we um getting feedback from through these different groups so we could understand where the recommendations are coming from maybe? >> Yeah, it's roughly about um about 8 to 10 of our principles from all levels including some of our um um magnet schools as well. Um and initially when I first got here they were just serving a

one-year term. Um it's not a lot of time to really get some work done and so we extend that to a two-year term. Uh the principal of the year is always um has a seat on that um superintendent principal advisory council and I think when I also got here we were meeting maybe every other month. Um we're meeting every every month now.

Oh, I'm sorry. I I just you also asked about the other ones as well like the superintendent teacher advisory councils. Um yes, the superintendent teacher advisory council's principal principles were act asked to select a teacher to represent um their school on the um superintendent's teacher advisory council. They also selected the students for the um superintendent student advisory council. And I'm um leaning into the existing parent ambassadors as kind of like the parent advisory We'll go to Miss Beyer next and I'll come to you, Miss Chávez.

>> Thank you so much, Mr. Barfield. Thank you for your expertise and joining and leading the team together with Mr. Teter.

I think um your skills are what is going to be so helpful in um helping us um balance the the multiple needs of our students and staff as we sit. People say we sit in chairs of power, but actually we're downstream where the money decisions are made and trying desperately to advocate to the state to pass a a budget for students to deal with 30 years of un fulfilled Leandro um needs to meet their constitutional obligation to the students in our community. And so, um, I'm so appreciative of of the information that you all can provide, the transparency that we can continue to uplift for our community

that that makes it clear that these are like impossible for forced choices. Um, I very much like I like years ago think that living wage and lifting that to 1922 at least seems so critical in our community and I look forward to having conversations with leaders in the county and the city about that. The city, you know, is announcing that they're hoping to get their starting wage to 25 an hour and I celebrate that for them. We all celebrate that for them.

And also I want to speak plainly that that's a gap in our community when county workers haven't been lifted that high and DPS workers who are um double that you know in numbers have not we have no way to lift folks that high. When you all modeled that it was $122 million and recurring funds. So um as we struggle with these impossible decisions, uh any and all information that you all bring us that centers not only in

strategic plan but also in student impact, student impact. Student impact and how will will the decisions that we make um impact our students daily academic journey um is so helpful. I wonder if um we can um actually go again to departments and say what could you cut? Sometimes we're buying software we don't need.

Sometimes we have uh positions that might be able to be um two people, you know, one person instead of two. Um I think we need to look critically at that and be able to show the county that we've done that that hard work as we um continue to to lead forward. Um, I think that the HVAC needs and the the physical plants continue to come up. Showcase of schools, as y'all made the rounds, almost every school leader I

talked to had a broken HVAC system or some banded repair going on that we've got to I mean, bond or no bond, we have to get a big chunk of money to to deal with those emergency issues. um because it's an investment in in quality for our students and staff. It would be helpful to me as we go forward for if finance staff could bring a lot a lot of analysis of the local supplements that this board put in place hoping like M's pay that the state would pick it up. So whether it's $2 million that we're spending on 200 employees or whatever, like that that investment and that information, I think is going to be super important both as we advocate to the state to go ahead and pick up what they should have been paying for, but also as we evaluate things that we put in place like the ECSL bonus pay, the bus driver attendance bonuses. Are they effective? Are they having the are those dollars having the impact that we

intended? um because then it helps our case when we try to to um expand them or to to add folks to those, but we at least need to have those costed out and and know as we deal with these competing priorities. Um I like the I'm I'm so glad that we've had more folks weigh in on these on these difficult decisions. I know that y'all will continue to get more feedback from the whole community.

I think we are required, Mr. Malone, by state statute to have a public hearing on the budget. I thought 30 minutes doesn't sound enough to me is my feedback on that. Um, >> excuse me.

There's it's not a statutory requirement that boards of education have a public hearing, but this board has historically had a public hearing. It's an it's optional within the statute. It's not required. >> Gotcha.

Gotcha. Okay, I think we should at least all lot an hour to it. Um it,

you know, as we plan forward, I imagine the community will have a robust feedback for us as we and um feedback on impossible decisions. Um these are these are really really impossible decisions already. I I know that um Wake County just recently said their CFO said was quoted as saying this was the worst budget season in 20 years. And um one thing that I I want as we're in school choice season and national school choice month, whatever it is that we're celebrating, we have choices within Durham public schools that exceed um other cho choices in this community. And I'm so glad there's another day for folks to submit their applications and um join us in this glorious work and um as we work to rebuild trust in the community. I look

forward to all of our staff helping us uh do that as well. Sometimes I worry that we have cut our HR and our finance staff too too narrow as we're a major employer and processing a lot a lot of employee needs. And so I hope that you all can robustly show us that we have enough staffing in those key areas as we work to rebuild um some key operations. Um, so those are some of my thoughts and not necessarily questions, just ramblings and I appreciate colleagues indulging me yet again.

Thank you. >> So I want to thank you, Mr. Barfield. I want to say thank you for the presentation.

Um, and it's nice to meet you. And um, I also want to say congratulations on the showcase of schools. um that it was awesome to see how many people were there and um and

that is an important part of getting our enrollment up, getting people excited and knowledgeable about what we offer. Um I continue to be surprised by, you know, um that finding people who don't know what Durham public schools offer. So that that was awesome. Um I mean we and it's not um due to lack of effort but I think it seems like there was a even stronger push this year to get the word out.

So um that was great. Um getting our enrollment up is very important for our for many reasons um but for our financial position and we don't want to lose students to um charter schools anymore. So um I also I wanted to um ask you and clarify where are we with the new salary schedules? Will those be attached with the budget um presented budget? >> Um that's a good question. Um

>> yes, they will be. We'll make sure that they come along with the with the budget. >> Okay. Okay.

Sounds great. Um I do want to um lift up the concerns around that um our OT and PT staff have lifted up around compression. So I hope um they've presented a lot of information to us and so I look forward to seeing how that's addressed among the many other issues we're trying to address with those salary schedules. Um I also um similar to Miss Beyer wanted to um mention the um importance of evaluating our uh fiscal decisions and um in reviewing the materials I I remember that last year we were supposed to get an update at some point about EC and ESL supplements and the impact that they had. And so I lift that up now. Um that's really important to find out are our goals of retention you know taking place due to our investments and

um it's these are we want to pay people what they deserve and we also um tied to that want to have you know beneficial outcomes for our students. We want to have stabil greater stability for our students um in educators who stay and um we want to attract better um you know the the best um uh staff as well. So um M's pay um EC and EC and ESL supplements and anything else. Um, I just like to see uh kind of more regular um reporting on the outcomes tied to the budget. And if there are things that we find are not good investments, then we can not um, you know, maybe other programs and things, then we can know that we don't need to keep doing that. And that's part of the zerobased budgeting um you know

mentality that we've discussed as well. Uh we don't need to keep you know putting money into things that aren't um getting us the best outcomes but um we do want to find out what's what's working well for us and you know ultimately for our kids tied to the strategic plan. Any comment on that though around the evaluation piece? >> Not the I just want to confirm you weren't talking about the classified salary schedules, right?

>> Yes. Okay. >> Yes. Yeah.

Thank you. >> Mr. Teter showed me his spreadsheet. Well, he can just plug a number in and it populates the entire sheet.

>> Okay. Okay, cool. >> Um and then lastly, um just wanted to mention the importance of having um good advertising around our town hall and budget hearing. I hope we can get lots of folks out and um I I agree that we should have a budget hearing of at least one hour. So, >> thank you Miss Chávez. Miss Herald Golf, >> I just want to say that um it's not very

we are not a hive mind, but everything that has been said it's I'm clearly in alignment with um I would like to lift up the I'm thinking about this as we're in this particular cycle, but also looking at what this means when we repeat the next cycle, like all of the different systems and things we're putting in place that's going to make this process a little more smoother for the following year um as things get more complex from you know federal administration, state administration, all these different things that are happening. Um um and what settles what settles me or what I what I think I've heard that would feel really good is to make sure that um somehow all the community engagement that administration is doing that I think is wonderful um around the budget also aligns with our engagement with our strategic plan um and as that aligns um and we bring community along with what our priorities are as a district

and how the budget um addresses that. I'd like to see that um be elevated. And also, I'm uh I'm just going to lift this up now. I know we'll be talking about it later, but um really interested in that lens of even though this is not necessarily a part of our strategic plan, that lens of our um climate action planning um that we need to those glasses we need to be wearing as we're also looking at how operations and everything is h how it's handled in the district.

there's little things that, you know, we just got to make sure we always have that lens on that could greatly impact how we're thinking about our climate action planning. So, um, but other than that, I have no questions. I just wanted to lift that up. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Not done yet. I have some few questions. I'm close the laptop on yet. Um, well, I appreciate all of my colleagues for their comments tonight.

Um, make a couple comments and then I'll get to some questions. y'all also uplifted a lot of things that were on my list. Um, you shared about the federal instability with some of those federal dollars and I did have an opportunity um, the Durham Chamber of Commerce did a kind of public policy legislative conversation with Representative Valerie Fushi and I was able to share some of our concerns around those federal dollars. She's a former school board member so completely understood where we were coming from and has been an advocate um, to ensure that we can keep some of that funding stable.

Um, you also mentioned that gap around the charter schools for this year and I know we started to peel away at that um, conversation previously at a board meeting and I want to know when we could see an update coming up around how we're kind of closing that gap for this year. >> Yep. So, um, as I mentioned, we uh, we reduce central office budgets and we also have the uh the high central office level. So, we use those funds to cover that gap. Do you feel like we're in it? We don't We're good there.

>> I think we're in a good place with that. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you.

Um I'll use I'll make this a comment because it's already been stated around we have so many different priorities and I I'm not a human calculator, but I could see the numbers wrapping up as we went through the priorities that are listed. And so I really hope as we're assessing which priorities are going to come into the superintendent's budget that we're really thinking about high leverage strategies that are going to help improve student achievement, decreasing suspensions, um preparing our student to graduate with options. So I really want to see kind of how priorities lean into that. And then this is related a little bit to some of our comments earlier around I think we do this too often in the district where we buy things and we don't plan for maintenance.

Um so I think back to our Chromebook conversation. I think I could think back to a lot of different conversations and that just has to stop. Like you you know when you buy electronic device, you're going to have to update that device. And so we should be planning in the purchase for those updates as they come, right? Um y'all

heard me talk 12 million years about multi-year budgets. So we know Chromebooks, you got to purchase some this year, you have to purchase some next year, purchase some the upcoming year, purchase new um what the chargers, new uh the little homes that they sit in, right? All those things are maintenance things. So, I just think as a district, we got to be more proactive in thinking about when we purchase items, how are we going to maintain that and build those things into our budget.

I know you just got here, Mr. Barfield, but that's something I think collectively we all need to do a better job of. Um, because it we know that's going to come up. Uh, let me see.

I think all of my other questions have been answered because I wanted to talk about the hearing so we can work with Miss Smith to make sure that gets scheduled. Um, we might want to budget a little more than 30 minutes, but we'll work with you all to make sure that gets scheduled as well. Um, I think that's all I've got. Dr. Lewis, did you have any more comments or I think Miss Buyer, excuse me, has a comment. So, one out ofthe-box idea that might be

too late for this budget cycle, but might be helpful for future ones that I've heard in the community is for us to continue exploring moving some of our staff operations and otherwise to be paid through the county like our nurses so that we do not have to have we can pay them more and do not have to have that hit come out of that funding source for um charter schools as that percentage has continued to grow exponentially. So, I wonder what it would be like to explore some of those conversations with um county manager and and county budget staff to see what, you know, what the legalities and feasibility of that may be because we may be able to stretch our dollars further that way. Um I don't know if that does that make any sense at all as something to kind of explore. Yeah. Um that might be a creative tool in our Durham toolkit. Yeah.

Thank you. >> Yeah. I just wanted to um just make a comment on the the hearing. The hearing is is is is public comment and so the board wants to all lot or an hour.

Rod, once the budget I'm sorry, once the board opens a hearing, if they say 30 minutes and three people show up, they still have to keep the hearing open that entire 30 minutes, right? >> No, no, they can certainly close it after the three or four people speak. Yes, absolutely. >> Okay.

And then um Chair umstead mentioned um federal government u just wanted to put out there that we're um um government shutdown could begin tomorrow evening uh due to the Senate uh not coming to an agreement on the on a package with six remaining appropriations for the um fiscal year 26. Uh just want to remind folks that the our current um it won't affect us currently because that those funds had already been approved last year. that

that's something we we still um will continue to monitor. I >> think that does conclude all of our remarks. Thank you, Mr. Barfield.

>> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Right. The next item on our agenda is from academic services.

We have after school tuition um fee increase proposal. Invite you all to the podium. Good evening, Dr. Lewis, chairs, and board of education members. Tonight's presentation provides an update on community education's budget and outlines proposed tuition increase options for the 2627 school year. I will

review the rationale, the current budget status and proposed tuition options. Next slide. And then the next slide. Community education has not implemented a tuition increase since 2016 despite rising operational and staffing costs.

Due to several leadership transitions in the district and the impact of COVID, no tuition increase was requested between 2018 and 2005. In 2021, the Department of Education received the North Carolina Stabilization Grant, which offset rising operational costs and supported salaries and adjustments. The grant also allowed us to keep tuition affordable for PA for families. During the 2022 23 school year, there were ongoing parent and community concerns related to afterchool

weight lists and staffing shortages. It was not practical to request a tuition increase. In January of 2024, community education presented to district leadership a tuition rate increase proposal, but due to the climate of the district at the time, district leadership decided not to move forward with the proposal. Without a tuition increase, without a tuition adjustment, the remaining fund balance will not be sufficient to support program continuation. The North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grant temporarily offset rising costs, but this funding ended in 2025. A tuition increase is necessary to maintain program quality, meet licensing requirements, retain qualified staff, and ensure long-term financial stability

and sustainability of the program. Next slide. Staff recruitment is ongoing. Currently, there are 14 vacancies.

Um, our licensed elementary programs are in a process of completing the required quality rated improvement system for evaluation and reissuing of our star ratings. Our overall enrollment for both our elementary and our middle school programs is 2006 students. Uh overall capacity right now is 2,39 students. There are currently 356 students on the elementary weight list and we do not have any students on the middle school weight list. Next slide. For the budget for the 2526 school year, our projected revenue for this school year is 3,00 3 million $935,288.

Operating expenditures include $4,719,799 for salaries and benefits and $1,357,624 for program operating costs such as supplies, field trips, contracts, and professional development. and $119,277 for families and DPS employee discounts. Total expenditures equal $6,196,700 resulting in $2,261,412 in expenditures over revenues. This s shortfall will be covered by the fund balance leaving a remaining balance of $242,8180.

Next slide. This slide compares DPS Community Education's current afterchool rate of $25 per month with rates charged by other local agencies and school districts. Next slide. Option one, 50% tuition increase.

Option one proposes a 50% tuition increase. 156 to support the fund balance. Next slide.

Projected revenue with the 50% increase. Operating expenditures include 4,645,9459 for salaries and benefits reflecting an estimated 5% increase from 202526 school year. 15 in excess revenue and an overall fund

15. This restores the enterprise fund balance to recommended fiscal standards of up to three months of operating reserves and ensures funding to sustain program operations. Next slide. Option two, 35% tuition increase, proposes a 35% increase generating projected revenue of 5,923,99425 with a projected 5% salary increase for the 2627 school year. This option does not generate sufficient revenue to fully cover operating expenses and results in a shortfall of $112,9335

requiring the use of fund balance. Next slide. Projected revenue totals 5,9239 5,923,99425. 71 for program operating costs, and $129,6205 for families and DPS employees discounts. Total operating costs are 6,166,54755

resulting in a deficit of $242,533. 50 50 cents in enterprise operating reserves. Next slide. Impact on the fund balance.

This slide illustrates the impact of the proposed tuition increases of the fund balance. 15. 90.

Next slide. The proposed tuition increase may impact overall enrollment and may necessitate more frequent tuition adjustments in future years to sustain salaries and benefits. Next slide. Discounts offers to DPS families and employees.

This slide outlines the current and projected discounts, financial assistance, and employee discounts provided to qualifying families. For example, this school year, 230 family 230 families qualified for the multi-child discount. The department incured the c the discounted expense of $51,750. Options one and two explain the associated costs for each discount category. The cost of these discounts to

families and DPS employees is included in our operating expenditures. Consistent with most school districts, the district does not offer a sliding fee scale. And the rationale for not offering a sliding fee scale is that a sliding fee scale does not guarantee the projected revenue will be met annually to cover operational costs. Community education operates as an enterprise fund is and is therefore self-supporting in lie of a sliding scale. Qualifying DPS families may receive a 15% tuition rate discount per child and eligibility is determined based on the federal poverty guidelines at 200%. And additionally, eligible families may apply for a DSS voucher to offset

tuition costs. Next slide. Our next steps includes communicating the new tuition rates to families, sharing registration dates and deadlines. Summer camp registration begins in February, and the afterchool lottery registration for the 2026 27 school year will begin after the district's first round lottery results um are shared, which are shared in early March.

and then questions. >> Thank you all for that presentation. Board members, I'll open it up for questions. I'll start with Miss Rogers, West Rogers.

I'm going to keep being the bad guy tonight. Um, going first. Um,

I think there's a question for Dr. Lewis. So there are two options in this presentation. There's not a recommendation on the precy.

What is the recommendation? >> Our recommendation would be option one so that we could have a sustainable uh reserve fund. >> Okay. I appreciate having both options here because I know that the community is going to want that. We much preferred that happen at a work session so the board could kind of weigh the ins and outs of that um without being put on the spot having to make a decision right now without community feedback, without hearing from the people who are going to be impacted by this pay increase. regardless of if it's 50% or 35%, it's

going to be difficult for families. And while we're not yet in a recession like in 2008, we're headed that direction. Um, I think colleagues, I just I know they need to make this decision and I'm going to defer to y'all about whether or not we make that decision at this time, but I have some pause about making this kind of decision without being able to really get valuable community feedback. Mr.

Argo, >> I wasn't under the impression that we were making this decision today. Um it's it wasn't on the praise for action today, right? Correct. Or did I miss?

>> It is for action. >> Oh, Lord have mercy. I feel the same way. Um it feels um to do this without community feedback

feels like we would be making the decision on the backs of working families. And so, um, I would like I I would appreciate having some space to be able to hear from families or or h has any has has the administration already done any feedback to to tell them what, you know, to share with them what this looks like, what this could mean? Has any of that taken place already? Um, that would be my concern about trying to make this decision tonight.

>> No, we have not shared anything with families. >> That's all I have. >> Miss Ber, >> I uh appreciate this presentation and I also appreciate that um we cannot run this enterprise fund

in the red. And um I wonder I know a tuition increase is going to be hard. Uh I know that we I know that it will be hard. I wonder if one solution might be for us to approve the 35% tuition increase um as a stop gap for this year.

And um maybe that's why it's in here as as a was about as close to getting us a zero as y'all could model. Is that kind of I mean I'm I'm trying to think here y'all's logic and bringing us two proposals. I in my mind you even recommended we raise it last year. It just didn't get to the board right and um we just I'm assuming have been bandating this with fund balance that we don't

have any longer to any car the carryover is gone. >> Right. Our logic for bringing a 35% The logic for bringing the 35% was to ensure that we remain in the black and to not to deplete the fund balance. We had the stabilization grant.

We had those funds to support us. But over the years, the cost has increased and we have had this tuition the same for the last 10 years. Yes, we made several attempts to come before the board uh but at that time former administration did not want to bring the tuition increase based on the times and so uh at this place or juncture it's important that we at least consider some increase. >> One thing I do like and want to highlight about what I think you all have modeled and I'm assuming you've worked with Mr.

Teter and Mr. Barfield on these models. Yes.

>> Is that they are trying and and are built on assumptions of raising the minimum wage, the living wage as we've talked about it. They're built with a model of 1922 an hour for group leaders and a 5% salary increase for other staff, right? >> Yes. Yes.

And so you in order to try to lift the salaries of the people doing this hard work and hard to recruit for work and hopefully hopefully hopefully build capacity in the future. >> Yes. Um, I think it is I understand why you all are bringing this to the board so that we will be ready for to be able to afford those wages for these staff that are so critical. Um, I I don't love it.

I I Nobody's going to love it. Nope. But I understand that that at least the

option where we're raising tuition 35% is a necessity. Um so that we can continue the programming. I mean and and we're having the same issue with child nutrition as we are going to look because these enterprise fund functions have to run at balance. they have to pay for themselves, right?

>> Um >> there's no other revenue that that supports the program other than receipts. >> One thing that might be helpful if this doesn't pass tonight and if we keep wrestling with it, um it I'm I'm surprised that the middle school tuition is so small, the revenue from middle school. It makes me think that our enrollment is pretty small at middle school. And so I'm wondering, have we done all the consolidation of the programs to as so that we're

offering programs pairing schools up? We're doing all of that, but our our revenue from middle school, at least on this one slide, is is very small. >> It is. >> And and you said there's no weight list at middle school, >> right?

>> Okay. Okay. Thank you. I'm gonna go to Miss Carter and then Miss Chávez.

>> Thanks so much for coming tonight and for this uh presentation. Um you know, two things are still at the top of my mind that we had discussed um when this came through agenda review. One is affordability of this and then also long-term planning to ensure that we have the capacity to meet the needs the afterare needs of our um entire community. So I guess I'm still thinking about that and wanting I hear what you all need and I certainly don't want the program to operate in the red. Um, so I think we need to figure out a way to get it out of that. Um, but I would like for there to like I want

this to be more robust in that we're planning not just for right now and just getting us out of a hole, but for all of the needs um or trying to plan for the needs of the afterare in our community. So, with that said, we talked um extensively about the possibility of weight list. Thank you. I mean, I'm sorry about um sliding scale.

Thank you for mentioning that in your presentation this evening. Um I guess I it sounds like the reasons that you wouldn't consider that would be that it wouldn't um help us get um the revenue that we need. And I'm wondering if this has really been modeled out and has if we've considered if you do a sliding scale, you can also increase the top of the scale as well. I think it's my sense um that we have members of this community who could pay more than what you're even proposing with the 50% increase and who'd be willing to and members of our community who are not able to pay um and who wouldn't be able to access afterare

can't now and certainly wouldn't be able to. Um I um and it looked like when I just did a quick search that this is how Durham Parks and Wreck manages I don't know where the figure came for their low rate on here. Um but they they offer a sliding scale and maybe that's how they get one of their rates so low is that they're able to charge more to those who can pay more. So to me that just seems like a something that le should at least be considered and costed out if we're thinking about ways to navigate um the long term of um afterare community for the long term.

So I'll say that and like in addition to that thinking about ways to um uh make sure that we have the staffing that we need. Again this is related to the budgeting and the projections that you have for staffing. If we want afterare to keep serving the number of kids it's serving right now, we look at the numbers you gave us tonight. But

that's not where we that's not where we want to be. I don't think a recent study in North Carol done in North Carolina indicates that four out of five families want afterare and are not getting it. And I don't know what those numbers look like in Durham. Can you remind me what you said about the weight list in elementary school?

>> Um 300 356 currently. >> We have 356 officially on a weight list. I don't think that represents the full um need that's out there. Um so I think I want us to be thinking innovatively also about things like dual employment.

Like I know that we discussed this again in agenda review and it sounded like during the co era there was some piloting of um having IAS um dual employed to work in afterare. Seemed like that was going well. Why aren't we considering that now? If we're looking at expansion of the program and how to make it affordable and how to make this sustainable, it doesn't make sense to ask someone to work for four hours in the just in the afternoons,

right? So, how do we just think strategically and for the long term, not just to cover us and get us out of the red right now, but really plan for the best for our students and our families here in this district. I think that's my um comments and like some questions for now. I don't know if you have any thoughts in response to that um or if Dr.

King or um Dr. Lewis you do as you're thinking about you know the benefits and downsides of afterare in our community and how we want to do this as a district. Um I was I was going to say for I know for park during parks and wreck they do have the sliding fee scale but they also receive other additional funding to support it. So it's not just the based on parent fees which is different than what we currently do.

So they have other fundings to be able to help to do the sliding fee. So that's one main difference than what we currently have. Um and then as far as the um dual employment which you were talking about

um that was ESER dollar funds that we had to be able to do the funding during um after co to be able to have the IIA position that was the IIA pair with the group leader position that that was successful when we had those dollars during that time and so it's um continue to explore those options is something that we will explore for. But that's how we were able to do that during those three to four years when we had that had that um that was able to offer full-time employment. Thank you for bringing Thank you for bringing this. Thank you also for bringing the context or the um the comparisons with other afterchool programs and other districts.

That's really helpful. Um and I just appreciate it when presentations come to us with that so we don't have to um go hunting for it. So um that's really useful. I

also um asked about the sliding scale. I think there is a misconception that it has to that it will be less than option one and I don't think it has to. Um I my first thought in seeing this um was there are people who would be willing and happy to pay more because of the service that they're getting and just breaking it down. So what's proposed in option one is um 305 for like for elementary three 30750 um if somebody uh was could pay up to $400 per per month that's for 20 days a month 20 you know school days that's $20 a day for four hours that's $5 an hour. A lot of families can't actually afford that. a lot of families who you know I think

there are a good number of families who can afford that. My als my my thought also was that on the other end with the um the increase even with the 15% discount it is sub it's a higher percentage of a family with a lower income um their in overall income it's a higher percentage increase for them than someone than a household who makes a lot more money. the increase is not going to be as substantial for them. And so then we get to the question of equity because I feel like it's more of um like what we have now what's proposed is more of an equality model but with equity um though you know people could pay more some people could pay more other people would um pay less. I think the I'm I definitely think that it's clear we need to make money more money through this

program. So, I'm not um uh you know opposing that in any way. Um thank you for making it work through all these years. Um and it's obviously time to make a change and we are in a situation of um economic instability for many families and you know I don't know all the numbers but I believe it's higher for black and Hispanic families right now.

Um even the ICE threats and everything I mean it affects people financially. So I would still um like to see administration look into a sliding scale keeping in mind that people can also pay more on the higher end and there are creative ways that this could be done. Um so I just yeah that's that's um um yeah that's pretty much what what I

want to offer with that. But thank you for bringing this. So, I'll be interested to hear what my colleagues think about this this idea. Maybe we'll come to a recommendation.

>> Thank you very much. Um, just a question. Are there any pending funding opportunities out there that can help with any of this? >> We have not that I'm aware aware of.

I mean, there are small little grants, but nothing substantial. um that's going to be big enough to help overall the a big impact on the budget. I mean, we apply for things that are small, you know. Um but as far as the last big opportunity was this stabilization grant, um we applied um I think it was last year for a 21st century grant u which was federal programs. We did not um receive that. So, we're always looking for grants and things to be able to help um to provide

more opportunities for students. We're always looking um and so we had 21st century for many years. Um so, we're always looking, but at this time right now, it's hard for a lot of out of school time programs. Everyone is looking.

So, we're always looking, but right now that we don't have anything. >> Okay. Well, by you just saying that, hopefully somebody will send something your way. >> Okay.

All right. >> I mean, that's why we put it in the atmosphere. >> All right. All right.

My way. >> That's it. Thank you. >> Um, I appreciate y'all's presentation, colleagues.

We have two options for us to consider tonight. I hear some unreiness as well as um a lot of questions and concerns. I appreciate you lifting up the 21st century um community learning center program which funded many afterchool programs across Durham, many of which who don't have that funding anymore and are trying to figure out how to make this work. So it is a uh

that's a communitywide challenge that we're navigating. I know that other communities are facing that too, but I think it's something to name and talk about explicitly. um was a big chunk of funding that'll run all of the programming here uh in our in our school system and in the in the county. Um just if we were to do nothing, what happens going into the black into an enterprise organization?

I don't know who I don't know which person answers that question. What I was going So since we have um registration that's getting ready to start next month. So what we have is that families are calling ready to start for summer camp. So then we have the implication of summer camp um tuition. So um you have the summer camp tuition which goes with the revenues and all of that. Um, and then we have we're getting

ready to start our afterchool lottery process in March. And so we want to be able to tell families before they register for after school what the rate will be. That would be what I would think we want we would want to do is before they register for after school for the new year, they know what the rate will be. Certainly they can enter the lottery and we can tell them after the lottery this is a rate.

But I think communication wise it would be best I would think to communicate with them before um going into the lottery season what the new rate will be. Of course this will go the the budget is for July. So, but summer camp starts the end of June and so those rates will kick in for the end of June and then families um the new rate will happen for summer camp payments. Families start making payments once they register in February.

>> Yes, they have a payment plan for summer camp. I just want to answer your question about what we would have to do to support um an enterprise fund. So much like the CNS program, we would have to figure that out locally to cover the difference if we were to go into um the red. Appreciate that.

So local local dollars, our dollars that have the most flexibility would have to be used to uplift the program. Um some of the things that I want to offer are similar to what some of my colleagues have said, but I goes back to my comment earlier, even thinking about this Chromebooks, how are we planning for the future and a regular cadence of of tuition increases. I think families can come to expect and acknowledge even when different things are happening within the district. We we are in a time of economic turmoil and so we know $100 is um won't talk about what it could be for families, but that's meals, that's you know child care, that's all kinds of different things that could be supporting a family. So I just want to honor and acknowledge that that's been said already. Um and I hope that you know whatever happens tonight

though we come into a regular cadence of of increasing tuition so that families can prepare for that and it's a smaller amount every you know couple years versus a large jump because again in this in this time I think that's makes it even more challenging. Um, I do have one question about the shifts on on slide. There's not numbers on here, but the discounts offered to DPS families and employees. That slide, we can pull it back up. Um so in option one option two there are different numbers for how many families could access the like multi-child discount or financial assistant and can you just tell me a little bit about how those num like how we get to different numbers >> for option one and option two >> right correct >> okay so the difference with option one

what we uh for the multi-child we kept the numbers the same for this year for option one. Um, and then for financial assistance, we just increased the numbers from this year for option one. Just think there may be more families that may need assistance. So that's why we just increased that number for option one.

Um, and then for DPS employees, we went up because it tends to go between roughly between about 100 to about 115. That's what typically what the numbers are. The main difference between option one and option two is because we were trying to balance the budget. Initially when we put in and kept the numbers the same at 230 families and keeping it for 150 families in terms of for financial assistance and kept the employees the same. We went in the uh we were in the hole by hundred and something thousands. And so um that's why we ended up

reducing the numbers and we had to we will have to implement some type of um policy in our office to be able to right now we don't have a restriction if families how whoever want financial assistance we don't keep a cap but we will have to implement a cap because it will it will affect the budget and so that's the main difference with option two is we had to reduce it so that we can kind of balance it down to get it to that $285 where we saw and that's that's the reason. >> So we wouldn't go negative hundred and something thousand. >> Thank you. That's that's really helpful.

I appreciate that. So it looks like the option two would kind of >> we could deal still do some assistance but we might have to limit where we are. >> We will have to limit >> to try to stay in the black >> and then we still have the vouchers for families that qualify for all the options. Thank you.

So colleagues, there's been multiple things shared tonight. We got again option one, we have option two. We

did have a unreiness to move forward, but we the registration begin in February. March something happened. >> But summer camp, summer camp is starts in February. Um and then for general after school that begins in March, but summer camp because the tuition, the rates will go with summer camp as well.

So that starts next month. And it also hold. >> It also gives our families an opportunity to plan should we approve the increase. >> And I definitely agree.

We want to tell them what the rate will be before they start registering going through that process. Uh Miss Carter, >> the um just to clarify, you're referencing summer camp because the and when we increase the tuition for afterare um it applies to afterare for summer camp as well. It apply. Yes, it will apply for all of the tuition rates. So that would apply for summer camp rates, inter session rates, all of our rates.

Not that um not that amount in terms of if you look at the slide, it the the 50% or the 35% rate. So we have a weekly summer camp rate. So, for the 50% um rate currently now for summer camp, it's $140 a week and it would increase to $210. >> Okay.

Thank you. And then um one thing that was helpful for me the other day when we were talking about this that might be helpful for everybody to hear is the process that in order to access the 15% discount um how does that happen? And so what is the I guess I I think about the burden on families. What do they have to do to get to that? >> Okay. So there's a financial uh financial assistant um application that they fill out and complete and then with that they submit supporting documentation their um either their W2s

or payub and then they is it's verified and they have to meet the 200% that I was mentioned earlier to to be eligible for that. um discount and then our office verifies and qualifies them similar to the prek uh verification process. So they're already submitting paste up information. Um, I guess I'm wondering is there any reason I just is there any reason that this couldn't be brought back to the work session in February for us with the sliding scales costed out so the board has an opportunity to see all information and it might be the case that we see that and that's not what we want to do.

We want to do 50% or 35% but it feels like we're missing some information before we move forward. >> You all tell us um when in February uh registration begins for summer. >> Our goal is um February the 16th

um 16th and we can certainly um the latest will be another materials that are put together for all these events. >> Uh our gold is open February 16th. Yes, that's February 16th when we open >> open open registration open registration take some time to put together all the >> Yes. Because now we have to we put everything together for our online registration and all of that to get all of that process and open up and that's what we've been sharing with families that we're going to open up um in February February 16th.

>> Okay. So there's I was going to add a clar another clarifying question on that. So the the request was around bringing a a costing out sliding scales. I want to look at you, Dr. Lewis, and to your team to see if that was something that's feasible or andor to the board to see if that's something that we'd want to be brought back. Recognizing we're up

against some time constraints here um as well. So maybe start with board members. Is is sliding is that something we want to see lighting still brought back costed out? I see two two three thumbs four five okay Dr.

or Liz, is that something feasible for your team to bring that back? >> Just want to remind the board, you're talking about the work session, right? >> Yes. >> And so that gives us, you know, three working days before because the next work session is February 9th before we get materials to uh the board clerk and that's also um um and I'll let that you all respond as well, but also you know taking into account, you know, any type of weather may come on Monday as well. The so the materials for the work session will need to be to the board clerk on um February 4th, which is um this coming Wednesday. >> Would that be to >> Does that give you all enough time?

>> Because I think that's a >> we're going to need time if we want to do it right. If you want a true sliding scale that has the high and lows, it's going to be important that we we scale that out. so that you can really see it. And so that's going to take some time for us to do it.

And if we could have additional time, that would be great. And so if we have to push back, we'll just have to delay uh with our community uh the original date of February 16th. And so we could probably get it. I'm not sure based on the timeline.

If the timeline is next Wednesday, then we would probably just need some time to do it because we're going to have to scale those numbers and I'm going have to work with finance to ensure it's right. >> And so you talked about um if and the ability to do that means it's going to push back our deadline for registration and families are already asking about registration. So we should just be

mindful of that that summer camps are open now and people are doing their registering around where they want their child to be this summer. Uh, I saw lots of hands go up. I'll start with Miss Rogers, Vice Rogers. I'm very appreciative of this presentation and I'm glad that y'all are looking at the expenses and I think I don't think I said that before.

Uh, looking at the expenses of this program. families are looking to make summer enrollment decisions right now. Um, but the best decisions that this board has made have never been rushed decisions. And the last time that I feel the way that I felt, you know, I wish I quoted what you all said about uh wanting to come in 2024 to

request an increase, but didn't because of the climate of the um district at the time, right? It is choices and options just like this one coming to us at the last minute that back us into a corner to make us feel like we have to make a rushed decision. And I get that three three days feels like a tight turnaround. Um after school care is a big deal.

We got to keep it moving, right? But we can't do a 50% increase and we haven't had an opportunity to. If we had had this conversation at the work session in January, we would have heard uh Miss Chávez's idea about a sliding fee scale. We would have seen the points of the 35% and the 50% and been able to wrestle with it and really talk and engage the community that elected us to

be in these seats. I know when I enrolled my kid in Durham public schools, I looked I was looking to alleviate my daycare expense and I looked at the schools that had the most affordable daycare expense. I looked at enrolling in a charter school and after school care there is more than the daycare expense was going to be at that time. So, this is an important um part of being a member of the DPS community, but I don't like that the board is backed into a corner in the same way that we were on financial issues previously.

And that's what this feels like. So, I I strongly encourage my colleagues, Dr. Lewis, your staff to get it together so we can do something at the February work session. If there needs to be be another board meeting, we can talk about that. But

yeah, that's all I got. Uh, Miss Beyer, >> I I want to ask I think I understand Miss Travis's focus on equity with a p pursuing a sliding scale and but what I what I would postulate is that it would be an increase of we would bring a scale with an increase of 30% for some folks and 50% % for other folks or some model in in these realms of mathematics. And I'm wondering if you all actually have the information from families that are within our system already to even model this. Do you know people's income?

You only know people that have applied for the waiver. That's the only information we have to actually do this modeling within a week or two, right? We do not have income to be able

to right. So >> it would be a projected scale model, >> right? >> Based on >> it would have to be a projected scale model >> based on income data >> and the income range and then of course we would scale it up or down based on poverty rates as well. Do you know if we have any information from like the witted program, the sliding scale we have for preschool and maybe this is a very specialized question like anything that could help us with information that we have that might be applicable.

Otherwise, it does feel like without going to families that are currently enrolled, we we don't ask income stuff of folks, right? >> Unless they're and we're not doing free and reduced lunch applications anymore. So, anything we do is going to be a guess, a

best guess, a a model. Um, and I just want to maybe I'm wrong, like I want to be wrong. Um, and we're still at the point where we're going to have to raise these fees at least significantly for families and give them a heads up that this is coming pretty quickly. Um, so maybe there's a piece of that we need Miss Cooper's help on on getting this like blasted to folks so that they can give us all their feedback.

I hate my fees are going up. Yeah, we hate it, too. And we want to pay our folks more. Um, so I'm just sitting here trying to figure out how y'all are going to do this modeling, which is really important, really equity focused, really would be great.

and knowing I don't think we have the information that y'all need to actually model that except to take some best guesses I guess. Um, >> go to Mr. Tab. >> Thank you very much.

As you've heard from my colleagues on the board, you're the experts. You all are the experts at this. What is the best world right now of giving us feedback based on what you've heard that would help you move this and give the best for the families and the best for the board? based on what you've heard.

>> Um the sliding fee scale checked with some other school districts and they don't have they don't implement the sliding a sliding fee scale. I've you know checked to try to see if that's something. they don't have a sign of fee scale and I after we had our board review um so checked into that um one of the things with that when I say guarantee revenue even I I understand what you're saying about families that

can afford more and looking at that but being able to guarantee how many families we don't know who's going to register or how many families um that can pay more will actually register. 3 million even with the sliding fee scale. So that's one of the challenges. Not to mention to also be able to look at the um income we don't have what families make now.

We don't know how many of our families and the percentages in terms of um where our family incomes are. So those are some of the challenges that we will have to figure out. But I I hear

what you're saying and we've looked into that and um I think that we will continue we will explore that. Not that we haven't, but that's the challenge that we are trying to deal with. Looking at the guarantee to see certainly we've heard that some families can pay more, but it's knowing who's going to actually register. We don't know how many families are going to register.

And even though more can more can pay, there's no way to guarantee if those families will register each year and how many will not. So, how do you guarantee that you're going to get that? Um, do you want to add anything, Dr. D? And I wonder if we reach consensus on the 35% increase and then next year after the 27 26 27 school year we come back early and present to you a sliding scale where we can attain the information we need to accurately forecast.

But we work within the 35% option. We bring back to you a robust plan with a sliding scale for implementation for the 2728 school year. So, it buys us some time for the 26 27 school year and allows us to come back where we can have a plan that has all of the feedback um that you're requesting. So, I'm look see if we can reach a compromise here uh on that.

>> Thank you. Thank you for that. Um, the reason I pose these questions because this sounds to me really like work session kind of conversation and um, and I hate to be in this kind of predicament that I got to try to vote on something, make a decision that I would have loved to have more robust conversation about what we're talking

about right now. Um, so I I'm going to yield back to to my to my colleagues to respond a little bit to what they just said and see if we get any kind of movement on that to try to work this out and or have to come back. >> Thank Thank you um Mr. Tub for that and I appreciate y'all's proposal for compromising next steps to move forward so we can add option three to our list of options.

Right. Um, Miss Chávez had a question. Miss Carter Utton have a question. I do want us the board to to make a decision about how we're going to move forward pretty soon here.

>> So, I I wanted to know um I think this is in here. How many use the 15% discount? How many how many apply? How many uh families apply for financial aid?

>> Um for the 15% 100 this year, 136 families. >> Okay. out of

>> out of currently >> 1700 >> 207 1700 >> yes >> 36 out of 17 >> right so right now for elementary yes 1767 >> okay I think if that's any indication it's it's a part it's a it tells us some information basically I do think um yes looking at like income in Durham I mean we know you You can look at a you know maps of the housing prices and everything which is not totally indicative of you know income nor can you tell generational wealth um by by that either but um you know I think there are ways to gather some information that would be useful for a sliding scale. I what I would like but let me back up. I don't feel comfortable with the rate increases for the lower end of the scale right at this moment. That's I don't I feel like it's a significant jump and that's my biggest

concern. Um but also I I think I would like us to look to and collaborate with those who are most directly affected or involved in this. So, I wonder what if there, you know, I mean, families could share some of their input um on what they would they be willing to, you know, would some families be willing to pay more? What would, you know, uh what would a sliding scale what, you know, I don't know all the questions, but what would their reaction be to that?

Um what do after school um staff say? you know what um about their um their programs. Sometimes they might hear mention of you know from their parents anecdotally about what they think but that's where I am. I do think your proposal is a reasonable one with the middle ground but I would like more time to think about this. Um, and so I would still um

I would I mean I would offer a motion um uh to that administration develop this sliding scale model proposal that would allow us to allow after school to incur revenue that is similar to the current option one. Um and and then I guess the issue is still the which the work session or the later date which would then uh push back summer camp. I don't want to push back summer camp registration. I realize parents are trying to figure that out and make their plans.

Um at the same time we're in a little bit of a bind now because it's January 29th. So I'm not sure where to go. So maybe my motion is not complete. But that's that's the part of it that I can make.

Um that is I I would like to um to move to the to having a sliding scale model proposal. >> Can I just add February 9th to your motion? >> Yes. February 9th.

>> Um second. >> Can you restate your motion, Miss Chavez? I move that administration develop a sliding scale model proposal that would allow after school to incur revenue that is similar to the current option one by February 9th. >> I still second.

>> Yeah. So um we need to make an we need to make a decision about this for this some options for this year right. So we recognize your motion puts out a sliding scale revenues close to option one which puts us the most in the black right or all in the black I believe for the upcoming year. It was seconded by Miss Rogers recognizing that um that's going to put our team in a tight position, but I think we need I don't sense any readiness to move forward with the

board. So, we're going to need some more information for that. And I think please communicate with us around how much that evaluation can be done and what can be brought to us on the 9th. Um would be my kind of additional discussion around that item.

That motion. Any other discussion there, Miss Beyer? I'm I'm sorry, Miss Carter. Uh, go ahead and then I'll go to Miss Beyer.

I apologize. It's related to the um motion and kind of my thinking about data gathering. I was wondering if um I hear the concerns about the time crunch um I would I guess I'm wondering if Mr. our field being our human calculator here this evening like as we're if you're thinking about developing a sliding scale do this conversation about needing to know the income of everybody that's in the program before you develop the scale is that accurate or how do you like how would you go about this and what data might you use and I'm sorry if I'm putting you on the spot but seems to be something that you might be able to respond to.

>> Yes. Um as Dr. than her mission. I think it'll be important for us to have the data u from all of our current families to to develop this.

Um I don't I wouldn't feel comfortable doing this without that information. Um yeah, >> so you would want the um the income information for all current families in order to build the sliding scale model to know what the top ends and the bottom ends and the proportions in each different categories. >> I think that would be necessary to to to do this right. Um if not, we might find ourselves in a place where the um program isn't able to sustain itself and then we're having to uh loan that program money from fund balance from local fund balance.

Yeah. >> Yeah. That's very helpful to know. If it's not possible, then maybe not. I guess I'm still feeling frustrated because it I understand that we don't want to put you on a time crunch, but what happens is then the board is pressed and like we're put in a time crunch and that feels like something we're asked to this happens over and

over again. It doesn't feel fair to us either to have to make quick decisions that have large implications like this. So >> also a clarifying question on that. The um after school program is a lottery.

So the families that are in this year theoretically could or could not be in next year. >> Correct. >> So you also might need some like trend data around how many like kind of what the makeup of that would could be like year to year. >> Yes.

>> Yes. Yes. >> And it and it might be similar. I just we just don't know. Okay. Um Miss Beyer I um want to continue to um reiterate what I thought I heard staff say, and that was that they would be able to look at projecting a sliding scale for the following year, but not necessarily have um the

information needed to to reliably project that model and model that this year. And in in that scenario, like I heard willingness to look at that after they've know who will be enrolled and are able to ask really difficult income questions that they haven't ever asked of sta of parents um before and see if that that information is reliable to model with. And then I'm so I'm wanting to give you all the bandwidth that you've asked for to do that and also minimize the potential tuition jumps for everyone. And that's why I'm more comfortable with the option that you all brought as option two, which is what I think you all tried to minimize the hurt.

Um, and to to acknowledge that there this will be challenging. Um, and I'm not even clear, M. Travis, in your motion, why you're more comfortable. I mean, I I

understand that we want to get completely out of the red, but the model that's option two actually has us just 100 grand in the red. It's it's And I also don't want us to back off on the modeling of raising pay for the employees that are working this job. And so, um, that's why I still like sit with the notion that if we need to make this decision tonight or at our work session in February, which is what families need to to be informed about the fall, I I very much think that like the bottom line on the on the option two might be a better place to model towards. s and minimizing the the hit for folks whether and you can take the couple days to figure out whether you could do a sliding scale or approximate something. If we did a sliding scale, what what

would a DSS voucher pay? Would it pay the what would it pay? Do you know >> it would still pay the sliding scale? >> You got to come to it.

Sorry. >> I'm sorry. on the sliding scale. I would have to check into that because we've Yeah, I would have to check.

Would you not want that that that to be proportionate to what it is now? I mean, so for instance, if that if if if now it's 20%. It would it seems to me it would only make sense if it was 20% going forward, which would which to my mind necessarily sets the the floor for the the bottom portion of the scale. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, so I I just still lack clarity and and I look to M Chavez because it's your

motion on on what you are asking staff to do and and why you're ready to like you're essentially leaning into more of a 50% rate unless I'm totally misunderstanding your motion. more of a a massive jump for families rather than a more gradual by by going to the floor that you've gone to in option one. It would be a larger percentage increase for some and uh and a smaller for some. So it would be over 50% for some less than that for >> and you personally are comfortable with the 50% jump for families. >> What do you mean I'm personally comfortable? I guess

I don't know what I mean by that. You you prefer you prefer a a massive shift to folks rather than than the option two which tried to make this less of a jump for everyone. Help me understand. M help me understand.

I'm just I'm asking and trying to understand. >> That's not how I understood the motion. And I understood the motion as her expectation is a sliding scale fee will bring the same revenue that the 50% model will but won't on the lowest end of the scale be a 50% jump for people with lower income. So the jump for people with higher income that can pay more would be a little bit bigger to offset what can't be um taken in I guess from the lower income

families. So the total amount is divided differently. Right now the model divides it evenly between all families with the exception of a few that are getting the financial assistance. But in general the baseline revenue that it brings in will match the 50% model value is what she's asked for.

>> Income. >> Yes. >> Yeah. We're tearing income, right?

And so by tiering income, this will be new for our families. And then I don't know what push back we might get from the community on the tiered income system, but we'll probably get I don't want to forecast it, but I'm sure we would probably get um input from that as well, a push back because we again is an option. It's a choice for our families to enroll in these programs.

Well, I think another thing to consider for the board is in order to guarantee the amount of revenue that we would need, it seems to me you would also need to create some sort of a quota system because you'd have to have a certain number of high income families. Uh, which would of course then limit the number of families that you could have on on the bottom end of the scale. um that would make you know the the lottery process uh a bit more complicated and convoluted. >> Um go to I'm sorry Miss Harold Golf and then I'll come back to you Miss Chávez. >> I just wanted to say that um I would be interested in in seeing that fleshed out um based on the motion that's already on the floor. Um, however, um, I'm also out of a culture of care understanding that I want I would like

to see it done well. And so, um, would be interested in that um, for the next budget cycle, you know, something that we can look forward to because we are we we do want to be moving to systems that are more equitable. Um, and so that that is raising that. and then for now and and I also like I like looking at it based on the 50% model for the most revenue um and or now knowing that we have to make this decision um I'm wondering if we can make the decision at the if that gives enough time for still being able to put out the information February 12th or whenever it opens up whenever it's already scheduled to open up just because just to have some time to sit with the fact that we're getting ready and you know and even it's public meeting now to let people start to understand why we're grappling with this acknowledging acknowledging

you know what people are going through um even when we know that sometimes we can't address it immediately just the acknowledgement of the fact that it's going to hit our our working families in a particular way I I would Well, I would appreciate just having the space to make the decision at the work session on the 9th um of whether we're going to do the 50 or the 30, but um 35. Um so that that's that's where I am. So I'm uh thinking about our staff and administration and really wanting those numbers to be right, too. So, I don't know if we have the capacity to pull all that together in a few days. So, >> I'm gonna swing over to Miss Chávez and then we do have a motion on the floor. Miss Chávez, >> um I just wanted to ask Okay, as far as the timing, if we were to if we're asking you to do these sliding scale

models and I'm okay, we came up with more than one model. You had said models. So, but my idea, like Miss Rogers was saying, was that this would be revenue generating. Um, and um, would you all prefer the like doing it for the February 9th work session, which only leaves you a few days, being able to get summer camp registration opening as planned on February 16th, or would you prefer to have more time to do the models and push back the registration? Um, I think I would prefer to have more time to get the models done and push back the registration because um 3 days if we have to get it by Wednesday, that's not enough. I I feel

as though we need a little bit more time to make sure we have time to to get it the way it we just need more time. And in that case, I would modify my motion to um say by February 26. Looking at wrong month. Yes.

26. There is no February 29. Thank you. >> Your motion has been modified.

>> I accept. Yeah. Um I do also want to know for all of us that uh we've talked about wanting to see this and get feedback from the community first. So pushing it back February 26th actually probably means that we would want to make a decision in March, right? Because we want to make sure the public has time to see it, get

feedback, and do that. I'm I'm not advocating one way or another. I'm just wanting to be clear about one of the concerns today is that we didn't have time for that feedback. And so I just want to be honest about that part.

Um I will acknowledge that that was one of my that is one of my concerns. one of my concerns, but we've now had a public meeting about the fact that rates are going up. So, rates are going up. I think we are all in agreement on that.

It's uh by how much and at what point? >> All right. So, there's a motion on the table. Did you have something that was >> No.

Um Vice Chair Rogers cleared that up. I was just concerned and wanted clear direction. if we were to get feedback from the community and then remind what what would you do with that feedback if the community said don't raise the rates and you having to grapple with that but I think you cleared that up. >> Yes. Um, I just wanted to clarify too that I think what would be useful is not

just some modeling but some for the board to see the research that you'll do in the coming weeks. Um, and share with us the pros and cons like present us with a po full picture so that we can then weigh you. Maybe you were planning to do that anyway, but just to be clear, I'm interested in seeing the model so we can weigh, but also where you gathered information from. what you know how we how we show us that you have comprehensive information for us to make a solid decision and again we might land at one of the ones you've already proposed but just so that we have everything at that point we feel confident.

>> Yeah. And I don't think we expect y'all to run a survey or anything like like a menty survey for feedback on the um on the rate increase. We we're not expecting that kind of feedback. Just that, hey everybody, the rates are going up. They can contact us if they have concerns about the process of where we are um through email, regular public comment, and however else they get in

touch with their local school board member. Got a motion on the floor. Um there any other discussion from board members? Uh Mr.

Paragraph, >> I just want to understand this motion. So >> of course, >> so it will be so what what the motion is saying is that administration is going to bring back a sliding scale model at the 50% rate and push back the and take the time to do that and push back the date for summer camp registration until March. I just want to make sure I'm understanding because I know families are wait, you know, >> no making plans. >> Excellent question.

It would push back that registration into March. We're not sure of that date at this point. >> Um, which is the same time that the afterchool care lottery would also open

in March. But I want to just clarify Miss Chávez's motion. I believe it's a scale to develop plans or models for sliding scales that would uh get revenue to the same place 50%. >> Right.

>> At the 50% option is M. Just making sure I got that correct. >> Okay, >> that's my understanding. Miss Ber, is there a friendly amendment that is there? I don't see a model where rates don't at least go up by 30% or something like that where the floor goes up mathematically. So, is there a friendly amendment that at least lets us let families know that these rates are changing and also doesn't have to push back the registration dates for camps which

and and which families are so desperate for and push back the lottery for after school for next year because I don't even I could see one scenario where where staff actually can't bring a sliding scale for implementation this year, but actually need to do what Miss Herald Gooff says and that staff actually asked us to do was explore it for the 2728 year. So, I'm actually trying to hold space for that being the most likely possibility and also have huge discomfort with the notion that we're going to sit here and push these dates back arbitrarily when families are desperate for them just like they were desperate for the calendars. So, um calendar changes and this change are not arbitrary. They're based on the facts that we have in front of us and the information that we've requested.

>> I didn't mean to say that anything was arbitrary. Um, by Sher Rogers, I am trying to see if we can go ahead and signal to families that at least the floor is going up so that they start to get and and that staff can continue to work models. Um, and that's why I think they brought the 35 as a as an option and Even if this board would make a decision that at least stuff was going up by 30%. Like something that would continue to keep stuff on time while y'all work through this even whether the modeling is possible.

>> I'm going to go to Miss Cart next, but we do have a motion on the floor and I want to move this discussion forward because we're getting a little squirly in our options here. So, Miss Carter on >> um I just wanted to check in to see when um registration typically opens for summer camp to see if this is dramatically different from previous years. Somewhat I'm a parent of young children, so I'm looking at summer camps and I thought I remembered that DPS was

usually on the later end of summer camp openings. And while I always wished it were earlier, didn't seem like it was this early in the past. So, is it >> um February? >> It's always opening in February.

>> Last year we opened in February. typically open in February. >> And do you typically fill? >> Yes.

>> Okay. So, it's not a matter. >> We typically fill um and some sites have wait list, >> right? Okay.

So, it's not that we might not fill this. >> It may not sometimes it doesn't feel it's definitely not like after school. So, it doesn't feel as soon as it open. Um but depending on the sites, some sites feel quicker than others.

Some weeks because you have different weeks. So, some weeks are popular weeks. So, it's a it's the variables are a little bit different, but yes, um it will fill up definitely um probably by April, you know, different weeks fill up very quickly, but some parents are right on it and they sign up for the entire summer as soon as we open. >> Okay, thank you. That doesn't change my ready my unreiness to move on something

tonight. I do I still feel comfortable delaying this for a couple of weeks even if it means pushing the deadline back or the registration back. Right, Miss Chavez, can I have you read your motion again? I move that administration develop I'm just going to make it plural sliding scale model proposals that would allow after school to incur revenue that is similar to the current option one by February 26th.

So that motion has been on the on the floor. This was seconded by Miss Rogers. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I.

>> I. >> I. >> I. >> I.

>> Thank y'all for that. Um chorus of eyes. All those opposed say no. Or are you the same sign?

>> No. >> No. >> All right. So that it um the motion carries 43.

All right. So we will have those proposals brought back to us. Please be in communication with us about what you are seeing as you're doing those models so the board can be clear about what our decisions will need to be on the February 26 work session. I did um so so the board can be clear about what our options are going to be.

If you're running into trouble as you're running models or proposals, communicate that with us so we can be clear about the expectations on February 26. I think the other thing I heard loud and clear from my colleagues and I would echo is we don't want to be backed into the corner making any of these decisions and we want an opportunity at a work session to talk this through and then be able to bring it to another meeting to make those decisions I think especially when they have fiscal implications and so we really want the time to really work through that think through different options and models. I just want to make sure we highlight that as well. Um thank y'all. I apologize the hour is late so but thank you for this presentation and

your work. We appreciate that. Um, >> I'm sorry. >> It's okay.

Uh, I just wanted to say really quickly before we go to the, um, climate and sustainability presentation. Um, that's basically what I've been waiting for. So, I have a ton of questions about it. Um, but I also just wanted to say I second um what Miss Herog said earlier about um making sure that our climate um conversations don't just stay in um presentations like this, making sure they're included in conversations about budget um and other areas.

Um and yeah, I'm excited to see um this presentation. Thank you. >> Thank you. if we can have our folks come on up for the sustainability and climate presentation.

We know this is a passion of yours because we've seen you at our podium talk about it many times. So, we're excited for you to be here this evening. Good evening, board um chairstead um

school board members and Dr. Lewis. Uh I'm Kenneth Barnes, chief operating officer. Tonight we will have a uh sustainability and climate action update uh by Miss Devin Mitchell, our new interim senior executive director of capital construction and sew planning and Mr.

DJ Lynch, our uh energy sustainability coordinator. >> Terrific. Thank you. Good evening board members.

Good evening superintendent. Um, so tonight we want to share with you both uh our vision for 2026 um as well as uh take a step back and also look at where we've been um and some of the great achievements that we've already accomplished as a district. Um next slide. So um we're going to start with some introductions. I want to um just um speak broadly about sustainability and climate action and then we want to take some time to talk about where we started as a district and just um do a broad

overview. Um then take a look at our accomplishments to date um and then take a look at what our next steps are um what we see on the horizon for 2026. Next slide. Okay.

So for the purposes of our discussion tonight, um we're going to be talking about two concepts. One is sustainability and one is a climate action plan. Sustainability for the purposes of this conversation relates to our building construction and design approach um and how you construct sustainable buildings. And then the second component is our climate action plan which is a more holistic plan that includes buildings but it includes a number of other components that we think about when we think about uh green design and when we think about environmental responsibility. So speaking about um uh sustainability, one of the important things that we think about is um

buildings themselves are massive polluters. Um if you're not aware um our CO2 emissions 40% of them come from buildings. When we think about things like transportation or when we think about things like manufacturing they're significantly less. Manufacturing sits somewhere within 25 around 25% and transportation sits between 18 and 22%.

So when we talk about um buildings within the district and our strategy um for uh for our approach to design, we really um are thinking about a very impactful um component of our story. Um secondly, when we when we think about um building design, we're also thinking about sustainability from the standpoint of our students and our teachers. So um this directly re relates to um health and healthful buildings. So in sustainable design we touch on things like indoor air quality. We talk about thermal comfort. We talk about

acoustics. We talk about materials that don't off gas that produce healthy buildings from day one. Those are all things that we want included in our district plan. Um and they sit separately from a climate action plan.

Um and so um there's one piece of our plan that includes that and then the second piece um that we think about is the climate action plan itself and that is a more uh holistic broad approach to address district performance as a whole. Okay. Um so obviously we think about carbon emission reduction but there are a number of other areas that become important in a climate action plan. So things we haven't tackled.

Um so things like recycling, uh food service waste, um don't have a plan for that currently. Um things like green infrastructure, wetlands management, um things like that. Um building those things are things that come inside a climate action plan. Um and then similarly, um things like transportation fall within that as

well. So um in the past we've talked about our fleet of vehicles but we also in a climate action plan think broader about um something like transportation. So to give you an example um for that um recently our safe routes to school team uh has conducted a survey. In that survey 57% of our families uh drive students to school.

So when we talk about transportation and we talk about our fleet, we also need to talk about the story of the cars and the number of students being driven to school, talking about how we can improve that, right? If we have 15,000 students being driven to school every day, that's something very significant. Um that relates to climate action. And so building in all of these additional pieces, things like custodial and maintenance related items, um also things related to curriculum and instruction, and I'll talk about that in a minute.

Um so next slide please. So let's just talk for a minute about where we started. The uh district has made a long-term set of commitments to

sustainability and climate action just to highlight some of the important milestones. Um in 2007 the city and county set the stage. They set goals for carbon emission reduction and for carbon neutrality. Okay.

So that's um really the benchmark moment um where we started um started really um setting goals. In 2015 the uh board uh made a resolution to reduce energy use intensity by 80%. Oh, excuse me. I'm sorry if you can please advance the slide. Um also in 2015 as part of that res resolution um the reduction of green h house gases um with clean renewable electricity there was a commitment to solar to reduce energy usage and there was also a commitment to STEM to building in curriculum for students for clean energy jobs. In 2021, uh DPS uh brought on an energy

optimization uh company, a consultant firm that um has been tracking the district's energy usage and has also put together uh energy management software for tracking for the district and has pursued grants and rebates for the district. Um and that that began in 2021. Uh and then also in 2021, the board um resolved to advance its commitment to clean renewable energy and to also advocate for purchased power agreements, community solar and other policy um with a goal for 80% clean renewable electricity by 2035 and 100% clean renewable electricity by 2050. Okay.

And then from 23 to 25, we've continued a sustained commitment in a number of areas. Um we have rolled out uh EB charging stations. We have 42 EV charging stations in the district. Um we also um were the recipient of the 2024 electric school bus grant um which we

have piloted and are in the process of rolling out. Um we also have um a renewed commitment um to uh from the district to uh to the role that DJ is playing which is um full-time energy sustainability coordinator. Um and he will be um leading us through part of this process. Um so um very important things that contribute to the success of the future of the program.

but also when we think about the areas that we've contributed to, what we're really looking for today is a more comprehensive plan um where we're touching on a number of things that um that we haven't touched on before and that really result in something that is um significant, something that's realizable, something that we can um that's achievable um for the district. Um and that's uh that's really what we're focused on today. Um if you can go to the next slide please. So when we excuse me so accomplishments

to date um next slide we're talking about the time frame of 2016 to 2025 and on the next slide um so as relates to sustainable buildings um the district has used a number of different sustainability um products that are on the market for ways to achieve sustainability in buildings. the the premier one uh in the top left corner is LEAD. Um this is led by the US Green Building Council. Um LEAD was really the first organization in 1998 that started to set guidelines for materials, started to set a checklist for how we evaluate buildings.

Um they're also the world's most widely used um assessment system for buildings. Um the second uh the second kind of tier down from that would be uh the collaborative for high performance schools. Um this is a program that is generally set and built around LEAD. Uh it's a little bit of a simplified

version. Um and that particular program was um bought by LEAD in 2025. Um it has been a benchmark standard for K12 schools for a number of years. They've also had rebate programs related to chips.

Um but that's something that uh we'll see in the future as part of lead. Um but those are really the two kind of hallmark um systems that we look at. Um there are a number of other systems here that you see. Um there is uh well and green globes uh and a number of others.

Um the district over the last um several construction projects has used a variety of these systems. They have not used one single system. Um and so uh uh that's why you're seeing u the variety on the on the screen. Seven of our buildings um have received some type of certification with the exception of Lion's Farm. Lion's Farm was designed to lead but was not certified. Um and then our buildings that are upcoming DSA um uh is using

Green Globes. Green Globes was designed in uh in Canada um began in 2000 um and has come to the come to America over time um and then uh the well-designed program was designed in 2014 and just began rolling out in 2018. So um LEAD really leading the way um in terms of uh sustainability and buildings. Um next slide please.

So just um taking a look a broadstroke look at some of the great achievements by the district. um over the last 10 years um and I won't touch on all of these, but in our HVAC area, um we've had 26 upgraded school HVAC projects that were significant, 18 schools with new building automation systems, um 11 new boiler projects, um with improved air filtration and indoor air quality. Um we have 55 new outdoor classrooms. Um and then as I mentioned, EV charging um as well as LED. We've been rolling out LED lighting within our schools. Um we

have 25 schools left to upgrade. Um but made significant achievements there. Um and then we have a a number of schools that have come online that are solar ready. So uh Murray Massenberg, Glenn Elementary School, and the new DSA will all be solar ready um so that we could install those in the future.

And then of course, as we know, Lion's Farm has solar installed. All right, next slide. and I'll let DJ um talk about some of our energy goals um and achievements. >> Thank you so much.

Um tonight I'll be presenting to you all the energy conser energy conservation savings and our renewable energy efforts. Um oh yes sir. All right. Can everyone hear me?

All right. Great. Great. Uh in reference to the previous slide, um the district has achieved significant amounts of progress in our energy and sustainability efforts. Our continued energy stewardship has resulted in a 17% energy

reduction um in our energy or electric and natural gas usage over the course of the last four years. Um that is equivalent to 60 61 million pounds of CO2 avoided in our carbon emissions over the fiscal year of 2425. Um to give you a vis visualization um that equates to about 6,456 uh emission uh gas powered vehicles. Um this also is um a testament to our commitment in systemic programming as well as our individual and behavioral programming. uh systemic we have uh integrated our solar along with LED and motion sensor uh installations and upgrades along with our HVAC systems. Uh individual and behavior programming um includes our energy shutdowns that we practice and are performed uh daily or

monthly or throughout the course of the year uh with our operations and support staff uh during weekends and extended occupancy periods uh during the year such as our winter, spring, uh summer breaks along with our inter sessions. Uh next slide please. um additional savings and awards. Uh the district has been awarded the uh in 2024 the EV bus grant through the clean school clean schools bus program through the EPA.

Uh that's $15 million grant um assist us with the acquisition of our bus fleet along with our uh charging infrastructure. Uh currently we have two buses that are in rotation and we currently have 12 charging stations that are positioned at each of our bus depots. Um we uh we are anticipating the uh remaining delivery of those vehicles in the coming months.

uh in 2325. Uh we have uh during that time frame, we have received uh energy rebates um based on the completion of energy efficiency projects that would include our LED lighting upgrades, uh EV charging station uh installations, uh new construction and HVAC projects. Through these efforts of our energy uh stewardship, we were awarded the uh Duke Energy Excellence Award. Uh next slide.

As Devin mentioned, we are committed to expanding our solar footprint. Um, at this time, we currently have three um solar arrays on campuses. One, of course, is our uh rooftop array that is located at Lion's Farm. Um, the two are freestanding uh freestanding u arrays that are located at George Watts and Jordan High School. Um though the one the lines form was actually through the

district and uh the uh George Watts and and Jordan high schools were through the NC green power program which is a 501c3 uh renewable energy organization that awards uh grants to K through2 schools. Um, as we mentioned, we uh we have and are continuing to research and identify potential grant programs that will support expanding or expanding our energy efficiency model. Uh, next slide, please. As we mentioned, we are continuing um the the uh engagement to expand our energy program here and our renewable energy.

Of course, we are participants in the Duke Energy Green Source Advantage Program. Um that is an interlocal agreement uh with us with DPS, the city of Durham and the county. Um that is a solar farm that will be located uh at in Alamance County um managed by Quaker Creek. Uh it will offset us by about 10% of our general

energy usage and it is estimated completion time is the third quarter or the fall of 2027. Um in 2024 a solar feasibility study was completed and at that time the determination was that 25 schools were solar feasible which means uh and in summary what that means is current roof conditions can support installation of solar panels. The total cost the total cost to furnish is an estimated 20 million. Of course that's at market value and that can fluctuate at any time. Um if this was to take place the estimated uh we are estimating a 26% energy reduction in our our energy usage. Um however the determining we determined that the additional 32 schools um could need to be further evaluated after the completion of roof repairs, replacement and or major in uh renovations are completed.

That does not mean they are not solar capable. They would just be um there would be options for alternative solar installations like freestanding uh mounted and canopy structures. At this time, I'm going to transition the remaining of our presentation over to Devon for us for a conclusion. Thank you, DJ.

Okay, so let's take a look at what's next, what's on the boards for 2026. Um, if we take a look at the next slide, please. So, when we talk about sustainability and sustainability, sustainable buildings, um, there are a few things that we're thinking about. The first is our design standards. So uh moving forward um we um uh as a team will move towards lead gold for all buildings. It's important that as we look at all construction and modernization projects that we do it through the lens of par.

When you look across many different systems, some are more comprehensive than others. Um and so you get a different product based on what you choose. LEAD is a product that um offers extremely healthy buildings for extremely healthy environments. Um and it really is the uh the gold standard for the industry.

Um and has has been tested uh uh and has withtood the test of time better than all others. Um and is a great pathway for us moving forward as a way to um across all projects um follow the same set of guidelines for how we design for sustainable schools. Um the second piece of that is our learning environment guidelines. So, while we developed our learning environment guidelines last year, we want to fold in some of that new information related to sustainability to make sure that as our design teams come on board that um it's very clear to them from day one that we have lead and sustainable expectations for all of our projects. Um and then as relates to the capital improvement plan and the

facility condition assessment, um we have taken the information that has been um gathered to date. So things like our uh PV and solar study that was done, also our LED lighting study um that was done, all of those things have been folded into the capital improvement on a school by school basis. So as we've been developing cost estimates for each school, we have built in solar, we have built in LED lighting improvements, um and a number of other upgrades that are aligned with our new goals towards sustainability and clean, healthy buildings. Um so those are those are important pieces that we're uh that we're looking at.

In addition um we do have some lessons learned um from what's been done in the past. It's very important that from day one in any project um we're already looking at what our sustainability goals are. It's very hard to go back and retrofit pro retrofit projects. So to go back and retrofit say a DSA um would be would be very difficult if you wanted to improve

HVAC system performance or building envelope performance. it's very hard to to design backwards. So, um if we if we do this from project inception um and we've built it into the base product, then our cost estimating through every aspect of design, it's already built in. We're not value engineering something at the end.

It was from it was there from day one and built into the design. It's very important. Um next slide, please. So, uh so this is the lead categories.

Um lead in case you don't know stands for leadership in energy and environmental design. They have four ways that you certify. They have one they have certified silver, gold and platinum level. Um we are uh aiming for lead gold for all projects. Um when lead first began uh in 1998 and well into the 2000s there was a period of time uh for ramping up by the industry where there was a a significant cost associated with doing a lead gold building. Today um

it's much different. Today lead gold um is more of an industry standard. We perhaps see more lead silver but um it is a very realizable uh goal for us and it's something that can be built into our design. um some of the categories um there's energy and atmosphere, indoor air quality, um location and transportation, location and ecology, but there's eight categories.

Um and then inside of each of those categories, there's a number of points that you um that you have to work towards. Uh next slide, please. This is the uh just a sample of the rolledup checklist um that we use. Um and when we uh take a project from project inception um the pathway towards lead uh certification um is really held by the responsibility of our design teams. So, while DJ and myself will both be doing an over over-the-shoulder review of the project and making sure that we're achieving all of those points, um it will be the

responsibility of our design teams to actually implement in the drawing sets and implement in the design and walk us through the certification process um as part of any modernization and new construction project. And that is common. That's how it's done today. Um it's built into their design fees.

Um this is a very routine thing done today in construction. It's not uh it's not a special ask. Um and so that will be uh our process moving forward and we'll build that into our concept design all the way through construction documents as part of our process um in construction and capital planning. Next slide.

And then uh climate action. So in 2026 we would like to move towards a pathway uh that includes a climate action plan. And what you're seeing here are uh eight sample categories of what a climate action plan might include. Um there are about 16 categories that we would generally be thinking about in a climate action plan. Um and this is something that we want to work through um goals

that align with the district's uh long-term goals. Um and so this is something that we really envision as involving a task force um that will help us um fine-tune where we want to focus our energy. Um the climate action plan is something that should be a living document. So while we may start with uh a smaller set of realizable achievable goals, it's something that we can build into over time and build more expectations and uh more goal setting for the district.

Next slide. The climate action plan development um we're recommending uh two different tracks for engagement. One is the creation of a superintendent energy council. And this is important so that we can align key strategies and also budget considerations if we fasttrack any projects that are separate from our larger modernization and new construction projects. Um and then also the creation of a climate action task force. Um that will help us really

identify the key targets within the climate action plan and help us drill down on some of uh the goals and how we achieve those goals uh in the climate action plan. Um for the first group, we're thinking six to eight uh district and city, county stakeholders. And then for the climate action task force, a very diverse group of stakeholders, 12 to 14 people um that want to include uh district leadership, teachers and students, uh cabinet members, uh people from the board, um city and county um partners, um so that we're aligned with their plans and then also community members. Next slide.

Okay. Um and then also just taking a look and highlighting our peer group. Um so we are uh we've we've been doing a great job. We're on a great track. Um just to level set um we're uh in a great place. Um when we look at uh Wake County Public Schools or Chapel Hill Carbour um both have sustainable policies and clean

energy goals, but they don't have a comprehensive climate action plan. Um the city and county have a more robust set of goals and plans um but also not a comprehensive climate action plan. So this is a uh a big charge, a big move by the district um and a and a big commitment um and it's a a great step forward um for our district. Next slide.

So talking about what we have on our uh agenda for the year. Um the first of course is the climate action plan. um in in coordination with uh some of our other local partners. We have Duke students that we've already been meeting with that are part of a uh a grant that are going to be coming on board with us in June. Um and then a uh group of students starting at the beginning of the fall school year that can help us in a variety of ways, whether it's building language for for the climate action plan, um doing uh data analysis for us. Um we're really looking at kind of a a

broad set of opportunities for students to participate. Um there's also opportunity for some of our Sunrise DSA students um to participate um if uh if uh there is a if there are students that want to volunteer. Um second is the district-wide energy management dashboard. So we have had a dashboard in the past.

Um it was managed um through one of our consulting partners. Um, and that is something that we want to um reinitiate as a district um and actually rebuild our dashboard and move forward with something that we can have on our website that's easily accessible by our community. So you can see how schools are doing and how they're performing on a regular basis. Um similarly then similarly the next uh point uh our sustainability website um we want to do some refresh on our goals um and on our uh uh community engagement related to the climate action plan. Um the next one is the capital improvement plan. So, so as I mentioned, we continue to overlay

the goals that sit within sustainability and climate action so that we're accurately cost estimating all of our upcoming projects and accurately um reflecting uh all of the important things related to energy uh and building performance. Um we also um want to work on aligning our construction technical and design guidelines. So, as part of any construction project, we have technical guidelines for everything that lives within a building that needs to be tied back to our sustainability goals. Um, so we'll be doing some updating on uh on those documents for our consultant teams.

Um, we have the sustainability summit in March of this year. Um, that will be held at the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability in coordination with Dr. Wthbone's team. Um we ha we at later in the year want to bring to you a EV charging pilot program and policy uh roll out. So right now we have EV chargers in place that can be shared with uh our teachers and with our community. Um but that involves um uh a

broader look at how the how those systems get used, how fees get paid and what our policy is related to when and how people can use those. Um but we would like to get those active uh and available for use this year. So that's something we want to bring back to you um for review. Um we also want to continue our electric bus grant rollout.

Um so we uh continue to move forward with that. And then uh finally the Green New Deal uh resolution with our DSA Sunrise students. So um we have a meeting scheduled with them next week um to talk about the language um in the Green New Deal. Um there are a number of areas where we can help with um incorporating realizable and measurable outcomes um from a green new deal. Um there are a number of broad ideas within that document that likely need some fine-tuning and I think that's something that we can um provide some guidance and help to collaborate with them so that we can actually realize a green new deal

with our students. Um, but I think it will it will take a series of meetings and uh and we want to kick that off with them um to help them uh achieve success as well and also have it align with something that's meaningful for the district. Um and then finally the next slide. So taking a look at what we feel is our uh action plan development process.

So um we've already begun um some of our district interviews. So as part of the climate action plan, we need to reach out to all of the folks that are affected. So this includes maintenance, transportation, um nutrition services, you know, the entire spectrum to really um interview and understand what our teams are capable of doing um and what's actually actionable for them. before we sit down with a task force, it's best to understand the limitations um and areas where our our internal team feels like they can succeed. Um then in March um we

would like to begin the recruitment for the task force itself um and send out invitations um in April um starting a kickoff for uh that team and then from May through June um really looking at that master set of categories for the plan and starting to drill down on some of the goals within those uh categories with our task force um August to November um soliciting some public input and continuing those stakeholder meetings um to make sure that um as we drill down into the plan that we are um touching on areas that are meaningful to our community. Um and then August through November um doing those alignment meetings um with the city and county and I believe we'll actually have them some of those individuals in our stakeholder groups. So hopefully um that's not something new that we arrive at um with the city and county um and also uh with the board. So um and then thinking about uh the report happening sometime between November and January of 2027 uh with implementation uh and uh

submittal to the board uh in February with a final presentation. And that's it. Next slide. So with that I'll pause and uh we'll be happy to take any questions.

>> Thank you all so much um for this presentation. uh and pulling it together so quickly when the board requested it at the work session December. Very much appreciate it. Colleagues, as the hour is late and this is a discussion item, I'm going to ask for us to do one round of comments and keep it to that.

Anybody want to any you y'all want him to go first is what you're telling me. Okay. Uh Mr. Matthew. >> Um, as I said, I have a lot to share. So, I'm probably gonna stick to like one or two things and then, um, write this all out and share it with you all and, uh, you both

directly. Um, the one of the first things I noticed was the discrepancy between um, the current the current resolution and uh, that of the city and the county. I don't remember um Durham public schools being 2035. I uh we had thought it was 2030.

Is has that always been the case? Is or is that is that just a me thing? Continue with your comments. We'll look that up.

>> Okay. Um can you be more specific? Sorry, I have the resolution open. So I wanted to >> the end date of 2030 or 2035.

the slide say 2035 >> to accomplish >> to accomplish 80% renewable energy by >> it's 2030. >> Okay, that's that's what we thought. Um second, you guys talked a lot about um building sustainable buildings and that's really important. Um one thing I didn't see much mentioned is energy

management which was what we had the site logic contractors for. Um, with those people not working for DPS as of now, what does the future look like for monitoring energy use, preventing energy waste within existing buildings? >> Yes. So, we are going to have an energy management dashboard um similar to what uh was generated by site logics where we can continue to monitor um so we will see something very similar.

>> We will continue that pathway. So will we have anyone like with a with um the site logic contract we had two people. Will we have anyone with like a full-time focus on energy management? >> Not just to energy management um so that we can achieve our broader goals.

Okay. as well. >> Um the uh one more thing the city and the county um both included that uh uh like a struggling with the word uh side note

that like they wouldn't be able to um that their accomplishment accomplishing of their climate goals were dependent on Duke Energy um doing their part um with recent political stuff. They've shown that they might not be able to do that. Is Durham public schools Durham public schools doesn't have their that language in um our resolution. Is Durham public schools committing to having 80% renewable energy by 2030 or 2035 and then 100% by 2050 regardless of what Duke Energy does?

Or is it um is it the same um reliance on Duke Energy? >> I think we would need to investigate a little bit further with Duke Energy. Um obviously our commitment uh we want to honor that commitment. If there is some complexity related to Duke Energy, then I think that's something we want to navigate and negotiate. Um, we have been actively engaged in conversations with the city and county um to understand um

their goals and to make sure that we're aligned with them and also to um understand lessons learned um so that as we move forward um we're moving forward with the best possible knowledge and they have been doing a lot of implementation um and I think there's a lot to be gained from that relationship. So, um, we we will continue that. >> Okay. Um, I I have one more thing before I start getting into like random specific things.

>> Oh, sorry. Before you I just wanted to correct. I made a mistake earlier and spoke too soon. It's actually 2035.

>> Okay. Yes. >> Okay. Um, so we were told, um, I specifically heard from Miss Owens that like, uh, climate action planning has been in the works for a little bit, but from like the presentation, it looked like we're starting in January. Has there was there anything that was done um, at all in 2025 or earlier regarding climate action planning? So in 2025, we really set out um with a timeline to start um this

year. However, we did start through preliminary planning. We have a preliminary outline of what we think will belong in this in the climate action plan, but it does require engagement. And so um we've done kind of those pre-steps.

We've also um uh studied and and gone through ideas about engagement and how our engagement process will work. um because we think that's a very collaborative thing and we want to make sure um that we have a number of tools that we can use to help educate people as we make decisions. Um so all of that has been done to kind of set the stage for this year. So I think we're in a good position to to make it happen in 2026.

Um and and that's the pathway from 2025. >> Okay. Thank you >> colleagues. Anybody else have any thoughts, comments, questions?

Miss Chavez, >> thank you so much. Um, great presentation. I appreciate all the collaboration and especially the

collaboration with the students and nice to see you in this capacity as well. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Miss Arrol Goff.

I just want to say that um I was excited to hear about the meeting um on February 4th with the Sunrise. Um my I think it's my understanding this is the first time that they'll be meeting with administration. So >> yes and and we have a number of goals um that we want to achieve with them. So, I think it's going to be an exciting time for them to um express things that are issues and concerns for them and us really helping them dive into how do you how do you get to something actionable.

Um so, I think it'll be a real learning process but also an interesting collaboration with with what is on the forefront of our students minds. So, very excited for that. >> Miss Carter add >> just very quickly but just wanted to express gratitude. This is really excellent. so grateful for your work and

all that you've put into this presentation tonight, but all the planning and excited to see what comes from this. Thanks for partnering with the students and the city and the county. Um, and for helping to explain it in a way that helps us understand the work that's been done and the work that's before us still. So, thanks.

Thank you, >> Miss Beyer. So, I um can't come to this without deep appreciation for you all and the work you've done. deep appreciation for former board member Alexander Viadarees who was a leader in sustainability and has a heart for this um and and drove a lot of the the work and resolutions and hopes for like a green bond and hoping that um as you all are doing bond planning for this year and CIP work that this will be woven together with the values that our students have

represented. with such urgency. Um, and so, um, and I want to kind of acknowledge like deep gratitude to these student activists. Um because and also like if I were them, I'd be frustrated that we haven't done more >> because we did pass resolutions and we did say we were going to do better >> and we've done some stuff, but I think it's important that they be at the table to continue to lift up that urgency.

it is the driving issue or one of the major driving issues for for their future. Um, and so their voices are going to be so important within these spaces. Um, and any question yet, any answers yet on how electric buses do in cold weather in North Carolina? Has anything we've learned from the two buses we have, can they handle snow and ice?

>> Very good question. Um, I don't know if we've received any comments. Ken, >> I think last time we talked about um the heat in the summer affects the mileage and the cold does does as well. And so um I don't think we have measured any data from this cold spell that we have now.

But that's something we can definitely go back and look at. >> Thank you all so much. Really appreciate it. Anybody else?

That sounds >> I'll just add an appreciation for the presentation as well. I won't spend too much time, but I do know there's multiple student groups who've been thinking about sustainability. So, I know we uplifted Duke students and Sunrise, but I know there's a sustainable schools coalition and some other groups. Will y'all be partnering with all of those different groups?

>> I certainly think we should conduct the outreach and see if we get some participants. Um, yeah, absolutely. got one willing one here. I don't want to vomit here.

>> Yeah. Um can can I give my comments because I say one go ram. >> It's okay. Um they said thank you so I won't but thank you.

Um I don't know if my question is for you all for Dr. Louis, but the recommendation is for the climate action plan to come in February 2027. The climate action plan comes in February 2027 and has some fiscal needs and some other things that's too late to be included in the budget. So, how do we think about that and make sure that we're not in the same position uh when it comes to taking climate action in the next fiscal year as we are on afterare this year.

So, I do think we'll be in a position um earlier than that to make some recommendations to make sure that we have something built into the budget. So, I think that is is highly possible. Um I also think that um

it does line us up well for the bond and uh and rolling out projects. So if the if we receive funds um related to the bond in November um at at the point at which we start to roll out um RFPs, we already have a very comprehensive plan that's built in with all of the requirements that we need. So I think um I think we can address the budget and and we can put something forward, but we're also building a plan designed for what's coming as well. So um absolutely.

Now I just need to know if you wanted a work session or a board meeting that's already been said but the work session obviously. Anything else colleagues? Miss said I'll hand it back over. >> Thank you. >> I was just gonna say I'm in the sustainable schools coalition. I know we

don't have like as much infrastructure as um Sunrise does, but like especially Miss Owens has like hammered down um all of the points in the um the climate resolution and uh we've also done a lot of research just on um what it takes to implement that. Uh so we'd have uh we'd happy to be included on this any of these conversations. um emailing me, Matias Matthew, or Rachel Owens, who's our uh teacher adviser, um would be probably the best way to get in contact with us. >> So, I we will take you up on that and lean into your um your knowledge and um finding a pathway where we can get the word out. Um we're happy to hold a meeting just with students um to start to build um uh awareness uh of some of the challenges but also talk about the possibilities and um I think it would be great to start to engage with you early.

Um so we're happy to uh to build out whatever that group needs to be. >> I know there's also different focus areas as well but um we have a group at Riverside and DSA as well. We want to make sure we include Okay. >> students group of students.

>> Beautiful. Thank you. All right, thank you all so much for the presentation and all your hard work. Thank you colleagues.

The next item on our agenda is our close session. We do have reasons stated here on the agenda. >> Move that we go into close session for the reasons stated on the agenda. >> Second >> been moved by Miss Beyer and seconded by Miss Chávez we go into close session for the reasons stated on the agenda.

Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose use the same sign.

passes unanimously. Um again to our folks who are watching us tonight, we will not be streaming after close session. Thank you all so much for joining us. Two hour delay.