Durham Superintendent Addresses Challenges, Safety Protocols

Do you find reporting like this valuable? Support Southpoint Access as a subscriber or advertising sponsor and make it possible to keep this information flowing to readers in our community!

Durham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis addressed the community this week with two important messages—one marking the start of the new academic year and the other emphasizing school safety considering a recent school shooting in Georgia and the arrest of a student who took a gun to Holton Career Center in Durham.

In a message to DPS families on Monday, Dr. Lewis shared his excitement for the new school year while acknowledging the challenges many families face, including transportation delays, hot classrooms, and employee pay discrepancies. He assured parents that these issues are being addressed as the district works to create an optimal learning environment for all students.

Today, following national safety concerns, Dr. Lewis released a second statement underscoring the district’s commitment to keeping students safe. He detailed safety protocols in place at DPS schools and urged the community to remain vigilant, using the district’s anonymous tip system to report concerns.

Reviewing the Start of the Traditional Calendar School Year

The superintendent, in his Monday message to DPS families, expressed his enthusiasm for the new academic year, welcoming students, teachers, and staff back into the classroom.

“I am thrilled that all our scholars, teachers, and staff are back in our buildings now that our traditional calendar schools have begun,” Dr. Lewis wrote. He highlighted the energy and excitement that accompanies the start of the school year, describing how he had enjoyed visiting schools over the past few weeks and seeing “our educators spark a love of learning in our scholars.”

This optimism set the tone for the rest of the academic year, which he characterized as one filled with opportunity for growth and success.

However, Dr. Lewis acknowledged that the beginning of the year also comes with logistical difficulties. He addressed the transportation issues, employee pay discrepancies, and hot classroom conditions that have affected students and staff during the first few weeks.

“I am keenly aware of the challenges that many families have faced in the past 10 days,” he wrote, assuring families that the district is actively working to resolve these issues.

“Our team is dedicated to ensuring that all scholars arrive at school safely and on time, and that our facilities support the learning that takes place in them daily,” he said, asking for patience as the district navigates these challenges.

He also discussed student performance data released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. According to the report, nearly 81% of DPS schools met or exceeded growth in the 2023-24 school year, which he described as a reason to celebrate the efforts of both students and educators. However, he emphasized that more work is needed to improve proficiency levels across the district.

“We celebrate the collective efforts of our educators and scholars while also acknowledging that more work must be done to increase proficiency and student success across the board,” Dr. Lewis said.

As part of his plan to improve student outcomes and strengthen community engagement, Dr. Lewis announced the launch of his “Listening, Learning, and Leading Series” as part of his Superintendent’s Entry Plan. This series will offer stakeholders—students, parents, teachers, and community members—a platform to share their experiences and provide feedback.

“I invite all stakeholders to share their experiences and feedback, as well as their hopes for our district,” he wrote.

Finally, he shared a personal note, highlighting his ongoing efforts to get to know Durham and its community. He mentioned his “DURM To-Do list” as a fun way to immerse himself in the local culture and connect with the broader community, expressing excitement about what he has discovered so far.

Focus on School Safety

Lewis issued a second statement in response to growing concerns about school safety, particularly following a recent school shooting in Georgia.

In this message, he reaffirmed that the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the community remain a top priority for DPS.

“In the wake of the recent surge in threats and incidents in schools across this state and nation, we want our Durham Public Schools students, staff, families, and communities to know that safety and security are of critical importance to us,” he wrote.

Dr. Lewis outlined several measures DPS has put in place to maintain secure environments in its schools. These include controlled access to school buildings, where visitors must enter through the front office and present identification, and the use of security cameras across campuses. He also stressed the importance of collaboration with local law enforcement.

“We work closely with the Durham Police Department and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office to maintain safe teaching and learning environments,” Dr. Lewis wrote, assuring families that these partnerships strengthen the district’s safety protocols.

Besides physical security measures, Dr. Lewis highlighted the importance of communication and relationships within the school community. He encouraged students to share any concerns they may have with trusted adults, while also urging teachers and staff to foster positive connections with their students.

“We also strongly encourage our teachers and staff to make connections with their students so that they are comfortable telling an adult troubling information,” he said, adding that it’s essential for students to feel seen and heard.

To support this communication, DPS promotes the use of its anonymous “See Something, Say Something” tip system, which allows students, staff, and community members to report concerns confidentially.

“Safety is a community issue that should be practiced collaboratively among schools and their stakeholders,” Dr. Lewis said.

Dr. Lewis closed his statement by thanking the community for its ongoing support.