Education Committee News
If you recall, the PA education committee re-formed less than two years ago. We are proud to say that our education committee has turned into a force to be reckoned with! The group worked with others on the Durham Public Schools (DPS) budget and with their intense lobbying and creative negotiations were able to save all but 36 teaching positions in Durham. They also increased transparency within DPS and worked on equitable school funding.
PA co-hosted a well-attended community education screening and discussion about school reform, thanks to a grant from the PA Fund. In addition two members attended a workshop on teacher evaluation to better understand what may be coming down the pike for our Durham teachers.
Last but certainly not least, they worked to pass the ¼ cent sales tax referenda, once again saving teaching positions and funding from pre-K through college. It was a successful year in no small part thanks to the committee forming coalitions with other groups in Durham and across the state to become even more effective.
The Committee usually meets on the first Monday of the Month, but will meet on January 9th. If you'd like to join, please contact our committee chair.
PA co-hosted a well-attended community education screening and discussion about school reform, thanks to a grant from the PA Fund. In addition two members attended a workshop on teacher evaluation to better understand what may be coming down the pike for our Durham teachers.
Last but certainly not least, they worked to pass the ¼ cent sales tax referenda, once again saving teaching positions and funding from pre-K through college. It was a successful year in no small part thanks to the committee forming coalitions with other groups in Durham and across the state to become even more effective.
The Committee usually meets on the first Monday of the Month, but will meet on January 9th. If you'd like to join, please contact our committee chair.
PA Partners with Local Education Groups for Screening of "The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman"
People's Alliance is partnering with local education groups for a screening of the documentary The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman. Made by teachers and community activists, this documentary challenges the assumptions behind the education reform movement and the film Waiting for Superman.
Join us on Sunday, November 20th at 2:30 p.m. at the Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St.) for this special screening, followed by a discussion about problems and solutions in our community.
Click Here for Event Flyer. Please help us spread the word!
Join us on Sunday, November 20th at 2:30 p.m. at the Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St.) for this special screening, followed by a discussion about problems and solutions in our community.
Click Here for Event Flyer. Please help us spread the word!
Education Committee to Host Community Meeting
The People’s Alliance Education Committee is hosting a community meeting with DPS Superintendent Dr. Eric Becoats on Tuesday, August 16th. The Education Committee wants to learn about the new equity allocation plan. This plan is a formula for allocation of resources within DPS.
Here are some items that members of our group would like Dr. Becoats to address:
All are welcome. The meeting will be held at the Stanford Warren Library at 7:00 p.m. on August 16th.
Here are some items that members of our group would like Dr. Becoats to address:
- 1. The “basics” of the allocation plan, including the formula and the kinds of teaching positions that are included in using it; for example, does the formula only allocate core teachers, such as a third grade teacher, or are other positions included?
- 2. What positions are allocated “outside” the formula? For example, how are AIG, ESL, special education, art, music, library, counseling and PE positions allocated?
- 3. We think there is a “supplies” component to the formula. Could you please explain this?
- 4. What effect, if any, does test performance have under this plan?
- 5. What effect, if any, does the General Assembly’s requirement for hiring in K-3 have on this plan? What effect does it have overall for staffing in DPS?
All are welcome. The meeting will be held at the Stanford Warren Library at 7:00 p.m. on August 16th.
Community Meeting about Education Cuts - June 14th
Durham residents concerned about the state budget have an opportunity to affect the final vote by traveling to Oxford, NC on Tuesday, June 14th at 7pm for a community meeting with legislators from Granville, Vance, Person and Durham Counties. All the legislators from these counties have been invited, including Representative Jim Crawford, a Democrat currently voting with the Republican majority on the budget. Your attendance at First Baptist Church in Oxford will contribute to the pressure on Representative Crawford -- and all our legislators -- to support a budget that truly protects education and social services.
Stand Up For Education - Take Action TODAY!
PA is a member of Stand Up Durham. We are urging everyone to call or email a member of the school board prior to their vote on the budget this Thursday, May 12th. The budget proposed by Superintendent Becoats would cut 117 positions from DPS. Join PA and the Stand Up Durham coalition at the school board meeting this Thursday at 6 PM at 511 Cleveland St. (Meeting starts at 6:30).
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Good evening fellow supporter of public education. You are getting this email because we need you to act. As we’re sure you know already, stakes are high for public schools in North Carolina. The state government is proposing drastic cuts to our schools, and many are worried that we’ll never be able to recover. We cannot continue to stand by and let our children’s futures be jeopardized. We cannot continue to stand by and let our dedicated school workers take the hit for policies that take money from the things we need and give it to the wealthy.
Stand Up Durham is asking you to take action now. In order to get what our schools need, we need to tell the state, the county, and the Durham school board what we want. We told the state loudly at last week’s One Voice Rally in Raleigh, and we will continue to let them know what we need. But we also must ask our local leaders to Stand Up, Be Brave, and support public education.
The Durham school board meets Thursday at 6:30 at 511 Cleveland St. to vote on a budget proposal laid out by Superintendent Eric Becoats. This budget would cut 117 positions from DPS, and we cannot afford a single cut to our people or our programs. We appreciate that the school board is planning to ask the county to raise property taxes in order to avoid bigger cuts, but we need them to Stand Up, Be Brave, and ask the county to fund a budget with NO CUTS TO POSITIONS AND NO CUTS TO PROGRAMS.
We are asking you to immediately send an email or make a phone call to a member of the school board listed below. Tell them why public schools are important to you. Tell them your story. They want to hear from you. In addition to your story, we are asking that you ask them to:
1. Stand up and be brave
2. Pass a budget that calls for no cuts to positions or programs
3. Ask the county to help fund it
4. Let them know that you are planning to contact and speak with county commissioners and state representatives. If they act with BRAVERY, we’ll have their backs.
After you send the email, mark your calendar and join us on Thursday, May 12 at 6:00 at 511 Cleveland St. in downtown Durham for the DPS school board vote on next year’s budget. Please contact Stand up Durham at [email protected] or 919.210.9256 if you have any questions.
School Board Contacts
Minnie Forte-Brown (919) 530-7106 [email protected]
Heidi Carter (919) 490-0513 [email protected]
Natalie Beyer (919) 382-2823 [email protected]
Leigh Bordley (919) 536-4230 [email protected]
Nancy Cox (919) 419-6369 [email protected]
Frederick Davis (919) 544-4999 [email protected]
Omega Curtis Parker (919) 544-3455 [email protected]
Stand Up Durham is a coalition made up of the Committee for Democratic Education, Durham Allies for a Responsive Education, Durham People’s Alliance, The Dream Act Fellowship at Southern High School, and parents, students, school workers and community members.
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Good evening fellow supporter of public education. You are getting this email because we need you to act. As we’re sure you know already, stakes are high for public schools in North Carolina. The state government is proposing drastic cuts to our schools, and many are worried that we’ll never be able to recover. We cannot continue to stand by and let our children’s futures be jeopardized. We cannot continue to stand by and let our dedicated school workers take the hit for policies that take money from the things we need and give it to the wealthy.
Stand Up Durham is asking you to take action now. In order to get what our schools need, we need to tell the state, the county, and the Durham school board what we want. We told the state loudly at last week’s One Voice Rally in Raleigh, and we will continue to let them know what we need. But we also must ask our local leaders to Stand Up, Be Brave, and support public education.
The Durham school board meets Thursday at 6:30 at 511 Cleveland St. to vote on a budget proposal laid out by Superintendent Eric Becoats. This budget would cut 117 positions from DPS, and we cannot afford a single cut to our people or our programs. We appreciate that the school board is planning to ask the county to raise property taxes in order to avoid bigger cuts, but we need them to Stand Up, Be Brave, and ask the county to fund a budget with NO CUTS TO POSITIONS AND NO CUTS TO PROGRAMS.
We are asking you to immediately send an email or make a phone call to a member of the school board listed below. Tell them why public schools are important to you. Tell them your story. They want to hear from you. In addition to your story, we are asking that you ask them to:
1. Stand up and be brave
2. Pass a budget that calls for no cuts to positions or programs
3. Ask the county to help fund it
4. Let them know that you are planning to contact and speak with county commissioners and state representatives. If they act with BRAVERY, we’ll have their backs.
After you send the email, mark your calendar and join us on Thursday, May 12 at 6:00 at 511 Cleveland St. in downtown Durham for the DPS school board vote on next year’s budget. Please contact Stand up Durham at [email protected] or 919.210.9256 if you have any questions.
School Board Contacts
Minnie Forte-Brown (919) 530-7106 [email protected]
Heidi Carter (919) 490-0513 [email protected]
Natalie Beyer (919) 382-2823 [email protected]
Leigh Bordley (919) 536-4230 [email protected]
Nancy Cox (919) 419-6369 [email protected]
Frederick Davis (919) 544-4999 [email protected]
Omega Curtis Parker (919) 544-3455 [email protected]
Stand Up Durham is a coalition made up of the Committee for Democratic Education, Durham Allies for a Responsive Education, Durham People’s Alliance, The Dream Act Fellowship at Southern High School, and parents, students, school workers and community members.
Education Action
During this extremely tight budget year, our PA Education Committee has been working to maintain funding for our schools. Durham Public Schools just announced three budget information sessions for the public. They will adopt the 2011-2012 budget at the final meeting May 12th. PA urges all who are concerned about maintaining funding for our schools to attend these public meetings.
Durham Public Schools Calls Three Budget Meetings
Durham, NC - A budget information session will be held on Tuesday, April 12 at Holton Career and Resource Center. Staff will present important information about the budget process and the 2011-2012 Budget. The meeting will take place in the auditorium and begin at 6:30 p.m. Holton is located at 401 North Driver Street.
The Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Monday, May 2, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fuller Administration Building Board Room, 511 Cleveland Street, Durham, North Carolina. The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comment on the 2011-2012 Superintendent's Budget Proposal. A budget work session will be held following the public hearing.
Additionally, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fuller Administration Building Board Room, 511 Cleveland Street, Durham, North Carolina to adopt the 2011-2012 Board of Education Budget.
The PA Education Committee is holding a meeting to prepare for the May 2nd and May 12th public hearings on Monday April 25th, 7:00 p.m. at the PA office (1821 Green Street). If interested in joining this committee or the mailing list, please email the Education Chair.