Preview: Durham Public Schools Board of Education - Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
What South Durham parents need to know before tonight’s DPS Board meeting: proposed phone/device rules, athletics eligibility changes, rising charter pass-throughs, two future school calendars, and key contracts on the consent agenda.
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Tonight’s Durham Public Schools Board meeting is a nuts-and-bolts one with potential day-to-day impact for South Durham families and school staff.
On the table: a new student device policy that spells out when phones, earbuds, and smartwatches must be off and put away; updated athletics rules around attendance and course loads; and a budget briefing that explains why charter “pass-through” payments are rising after the first-month headcount (PMR1, or Principal’s Monthly Report) and what that means for hiring, contracts, and a possible reduction in force.
You’ll also see early options for classified employee pay and a vote to lock in traditional and year-round school calendars for 2026–27 and 2027–28.
Most contracts and project tweaks are bundled on the consent agenda for a single up-or-down vote, while grants and policy committee notes are information-only. Below, we start with the policies and finances that could change your student’s routine, then move to the consent items and FYI updates.
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