Durham Schools Addressing Transportation at October Meeting

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Representatives from Edulog, the company that provides school transportation tracking technology to Durham Public Schools, are expected to give Board of Education members, administrators, and families an update about improvements during an Oct. 10 work session.
Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis, who is completing his seventh week on the job, announced the plan during the Sept. 26 board meeting. He said the district has struggled with transportation issues, including bus driver shortages and technical problems with routing assignments. Lewis said significant progress had been made by routing all students as of Sept. 12 but acknowledged work remains to resolve issues and improve services.
“We are committed to solving these problems,” Lewis said. “We have to ensure that our students get to school safely and on time, as it impacts their academics and overall well-being.”
Lewis also reported that Durham Public Schools serves 3,000 more meals daily since launching free breakfast and lunch for all students under the Community Eligibility Provision. The district introduced new menus featuring locally sourced ingredients, including a popular burrito bar.

Lewis recognized five semi-finalists for the 2024 Principal of the Year:
- Terrence Covington, Neal Middle School.
- Kendell Dorsey, W.G. Pearson Elementary School.
- Jennifer Hauser, Easley Elementary School.
- Theresa McGowan, Lakeview School.
- Anthony White, Brogden Middle School.
Two finalists will be selected, and a winner will be announced in October.
DPS also recognized its students and staffers of the month for September, including:
- Kritza Contreras-Guzman, a senior at City of Medicine Academy.
- Tanitra Edwards, a third-grade math teacher at Glenn Elementary School.
- Eva Howard, executive director of security and safety for DPS.
The consent agenda, which passed unanimously, included several items:
- Plans for four overnight field trips: Northern High School outdoor education class trips to Danbury, North Carolina, in October and November; Riverside High School’s technology student association class trip to Greensboro in April 2025; and Jordan High School orchestra class trip to Nashville, Tennessee, in April 2025.
- A $1 million change order to raise the guaranteed maximum price for the construction of Murray-Massenburg Elementary School, which opened this fall. The district’s 2022 bond will cover project contractor contingency needs.
- A $24 million change order for the new Durham School of the Arts project to cover structural steel, final sitework, and switchgear.
- Purchase of college and career-ready lab materials for the School for Creative Studies and Neal Middle School, each costing about $89,000.
- A $167,000 contract with Westaff Workforce Solutions.
Board members heard an update from Jonathan Klein, board chair and president of Swim for Charlie, a nonprofit that teaches second-grade students water safety skills. The organization is named after Dr. Charles van der Horst, a lifelong swimmer who died in 2019. Since 2022, 1,413 of 1,555 participating students have completed the program, with more than half of the level 0-1 learners advancing to level 2 or higher.
The board voted unanimously to allow members to request Apple iPhone 12 devices for district use at a monthly cost to DPS of $42.30, with an option for a mobile hotspot at $13.62 per month. Board members who choose to use their own phones can request a technology supplement of up to $50 per month.
Members also voted to move forward with discussions on a potential meet-and-confer policy, creating a forum for district leadership and employee representative organizations, such as the Durham Association of Educators, which must demonstrate at least 50% membership.