Tag: Durham Public Schools

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.”

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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.”

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Learning Life

November 2, 2013November 2, 2013 Brody No Comments

This article appeared in The Herald-Sun in 2012:

By Wes Platt

Jackie Tobias leads the way, walkie-talkie in hand, down the stairs and through the corridors of Riverside High School.

On a recent morning, the nearly 1,750 students are swarming through the halls of this Durham public school between classes, although some linger in pairs and trios, talking together or listening to iPods with their white earbud cords dangling. They’ve got about five minutes to reach their next class.

“Keep moving,” Tobias urges, firm but not impatient. She’s smiling. “If they’re not moving, they’ll never get where they’re going on time.”

Not sold on single-gender school plan

November 2, 2013 Brody No Comments

Is it worth it? Is it wise? Can a district already so strapped for cash that it has to scrounge to keep teacher assistants on the payroll one more year afford to launch a multi-million dollar experiment to save the boys of Durham? Last week, The Herald-Sun reported about a proposed partnership between Durham Public…

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