Category: Non-Fiction

State may consider 11 new charter schools in Durham

January 7, 2014 Brody No Comments

This article appeared in The Herald-Sun in January 2013:

DURHAM — Public charter schools in Durham could more than double in the next two years.

As of last week, the state Department of Public Instruction had received 161 letters of intent for new charters. Of those, 11 are in Durham, including one virtual school. It’s not quite the same as filing an official application – those aren’t required until March.

But the numbers still give Natalie Beyer pause.

“To me, it comes to a question of what our vision for all our local schools is, and to me this feels very chaotic,” said Beyer, a member of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education. “If the state board granted 10 additional charters to join the 10 already promised here, we’d be closing doors of existing schools.”

Journalism, Non-Fiction, Sample News Articles

Durham school leaders grapple with troubling statistics

January 7, 2014 Brody No Comments

This article appeared in The Herald-Sun in March 2013:

DURHAM — While the state’s rate of reportable crimes in schools dropped slightly last year, the rate in Durham Public Schools took an unpleasant climb – especially when it comes to alcohol, drugs and weapons.

Overall, reported crimes in grades K-12 for DPS jumped from 277 in 2010-11 to 333 in 2011-12. Local high schools, grades 9-12, accounted for 183 of those acts, up from 153 the year before.

“Most of the increase is in controlled substances,” said Tina Ingram, DPS security director, in a presentation to Board of Education members during Tuesday’s support services committee meeting. “We know Durham followed a statewide trend.”

Journalism, Non-Fiction, Sample News Articles

Sometimes luck trumps preparation

January 3, 2014 Brody No Comments

Nearly a year ago, Rachel Raney showed me the perils facing pedestrians around Trinity Park, Duke University’s East Campus and Durham School of the Arts. She worried about motorists speeding through crosswalk zones, endangering adults and children alike trying to make safe crossings. She was concerned not just about her son, Leo Bortiri, who loved…

Journalism, Non-Fiction, Sample Columns

Would you like The Force with that?

December 28, 2013 Brody No Comments

Several management types sat at tables in the McDonald’s dining room, holding a breakfast meeting while I munched on a burrito. The senior manager leading the meeting made a comment: “You’ll find that in your R2D2 report.” No one around the table giggled. No one made humming lightsaber noises. Everyone kept a straight face. I…

Journalism, Non-Fiction, Sample Columns