How Did Durham Schools Fare in Strategic Plan Final Analysis?

Durham Public Schools improved academic gains and took steps to make schools safer for students in keeping with the 2018-2023 strategic plan. Unfortunately, the district fell short on LatinX hiring and in the battle against out-of-school suspensions.

District administrators gave their final review of the 5-year plan during the Jan. 11 work session of the DPS Board of Education.

Among the highlights:

• Although the district aimed for 90% of Durham schools to meet or exceed growth as measured by the state model, officials felt the 84.9% achieved during 2022-2023 provided reason to celebrate.
• DPS wanted to end with a 4-year graduation rate of 90%. The district made gains over five years, but didn’t quite reach that goal, ending at 84.3%.
• The district hoped to see all teachers, leaders, and staff using technology as a tool for student learning, but ended the strategic plan measurement period with 91.5%.
• The district met its 100% goal of implementing research-based frameworks to support the social-emotional health and safety of students and staff.
• All schools made gains when it came to maintaining high levels of cleanliness.
• All elementary schools reportedly have adequate, appropriate classroom space to accommodate reduced class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, which is expected to be helped by the adjustments of the new Growing Together plan and the construction of Murray-Massenburg Elementary School in South Durham.
• The district improved its school bus transportation efficiency, last receiving a rating of 95.8%.

The district had aimed for at least 60% of all DPS students to achieve grade-level proficiency, but came in at 47.9% – a shortfall blamed on COVID 19.

DPS actually lost ground with student suspensions from kindergarten through 12^th grade. The district tried to reach below 4%, but finished 2022-2023 at 7.9%.

The district’s teacher turnover rate, which is expected to come in around 21% for 2022-2023, didn’t meet the goal of below 14.3%. However, DPS administrators said this is consistent with statewide trends and not endemic to Durham.

Durham schools also fell short of reaching its goal of 10% of DPS educators and staff who identify as Hispanic/Latino. Alexandra Valladares, an at-large member of the Board of Education, said during the work session that while the strategic plan touches on many things, “it is not the totality of the work that needs doing.”

She cited the need for more LatinX recruitment and hiring, especially in leadership positions, noting that DPS had lost a 23-year education veteran – Sonia Marquez – who had ambitions to become the district’s first Latina principal, but wasn’t recommended by the committee. Now, Marquez is a school principal in Guilford County.

“Until we fix the committees that are actually making those decisions, some people will not stand a chance,” Valladares said.

Beyond that, she said, the employee diversity should more closely reflect the students, who are upwards of 34% Hispanic/LatinX.

“We really need to amp that up,” she said. “We have to create the conditions for people to want to stay and recommend us.”

Natalie Beyer, District 4 board member, praised the accomplishment of pursuing the strategic plan even despite the disruptions posed by the COVID 19 pandemic.

“No one planned for a global pandemic in the middle of this and we kept going through it with online learning and return to in-person learning,” she said, “trying to hold true to the values of Durham and keeping equity in our hearts.”

She urged staff to keep working to find ways to reduce out-of-school suspensions, which she described as “a Southern nightmare.”

“We want kids in school, especially kids who are struggling,” she said.

The district now moves on to trying to accomplish initiatives under the 2023-2028 strategic plan.

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