News
Starting in March, classified Durham Public Schools workers who saw their pay increased based on a 2022-23 salary study can expect their checks to shrink – some by more than $1,000 – until the end of the school year. The DPS Board of Education voted Thursday night to pay those workers
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Columns
I’ve heard some folks say Durham Public Schools should’ve insisted that Dr. Pascal Mubenga stick around to help clean up the mess his administration caused with the classified worker pay crisis. I get it. I do. If one of my kids spills food on the floor, I want
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SoDu We Poll Results
Southpoint Access recently asked readers to share their insights and experiences regarding youth activities in South Durham. The results: Half the respondents indicated that their family participates in youth sports and other activities at least once a week. A third are involved in activities once a month. Nearly 17% reported
Schools
The comptroller hired to guide Durham Public Schools out of its classified worker pay quagmire recommends that the district – for now – approve an 11% increase for employees. That’s according to a presentation containing an update from veteran school finance leader Kerry Crutchfield, submitted ahead of the Board of Education’
News
Brogden Middle School students cheered the arrival of Deona Washington, a Durham Public Schools bus driver who’s been with the district for about 11 years. She earned the acclaim on Feb. 16 when the Thomas Built bus she drove caught fire during the afternoon route. Washington kept calm and
News
This story is developing. More information will be added as it becomes available. Durham Public Schools would’ve cut all federal ESSER-funded positions and slashed “over utilized allocations at the schools” to help free up funds to cover the millions needed to cover the cost of the classified worker pay
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News
Like me, do you work from home? I’m asking Southpoint Access readers to participate in a brief survey about the benefits and challenges of telecommuting. Loading… Are you a Southpoint Access subscriber? Support our ultra-local news at this link!
Local Government
After months of citizens calling for action during public comment periods, the Durham City Council now is set to pass a resolution seeking an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The resolution, included in the agenda for the Feb. 19 council meeting, recognizes the diverse nationalities, ethnicities,
News
Jessica Carda-Auten, currently the incumbent representative for District 3 on the Durham Public Schools Board of Education, was appointed to the post in March 2023. Now 43, she attended public schools in New Hanover and Mecklenburg counties. Her three children attend DPS schools. She’s got 15 years of experience
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Features
Volunteers from the American Tobacco Trail Facebook group got out this weekend and cleaned up trash along the trail near where it crosses Fayetteville Street in South Durham. Photos taken by Alison Baillie and Kari Linfors.
Local Government
Where’s the magic in water conservation? The City of Durham’s Department of Water Management is calling all students (kindergarten through 8th grade) to share their visions in the 2024 annual poster contest. The contest, open to students who are in public, private, or home schools in the city’
News
Durham Public Schools Bus No. 131 burned on Friday afternoon at American and White Pine drives after departing Brogden Middle School. The bus driver managed to evacuate all 28 students before the bus became fully engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported. “We are extremely happy that our bus driver