The Durham Public Schools Board of Education held a work session on June 10 to discuss budget pressures, student advocacy, and strategic planning, with the most contentious moment coming when multiple Riverside High School students testified against the elimination of the district's only high school Latin program due to budget cuts. Emma Goss, Cameron Ao, Flynn Meadows, and others presented a petition with over 500 signatures, pointing out that the program has won the state Junior Classical League competition for 13 years and that 80 percent of middle school Latin students continue through upper levels. Teacher Melissa Leo added that Latin provides "a sense of belonging for kids who don't fit in anywhere else." The board made no immediate commitment to reconsider the elimination.
In other matters, the board unanimously approved a new annual technology fee—$15 for elementary students and $30 for middle and high school students—to sustain the district's one-to-one Chromebook program. Nearly 1,400 devices were lost or missing this year, representing over $500,000 in value, and repair costs have soared as devices age out of warranty. The fee will include waivers with principal discretion, a 45-day payment window, and a guarantee that no student will be denied a device.
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