SoDu We Like Local News Episode 8: Money Under the Couch Cushions

Durham Public Schools might actually have a light at the end of the budget shortfall tunnel, thanks to the 2022 philanthropic donation from MacKenzie Scott.

We’ll talk about that in a bit.

Hello again. I’m Wes Platt, neighborhood news guy for South Durham, and you’re listening to SoDu We Like Local News, a podcast about what’s happening right here in our backyard around Southpoint, Hope Valley, Parkwood, Fairfield, and more! It’s freely available to readers of Southpoint Access – your source for ultra-local news in SoDu. But really, you should become a paid subscriber! Read local, right? Plus, you get access to neat features like the weekly SoDu Shopping Basket, which compares prices on products at our local supermarkets.

All right, so, when the Board of Education meets this week for a work session, they’ll hear from Jeremy Teetor, the chief financial officer, about the DPS financial situation. In the latest report, it seems that the number crunchers can get the shortfall down to $1.66 million by applying deferred revenue from NC Pre-K and $3.8 million in funds from the MacKenzie Scott gift.

What’s next?

• Budget requests are due by Feb. 17.
• Central office leaders have until Feb. 19 to review their departments for cost-saving opportunities.
• There’s a public hearing about the budget for the Board of Education on Feb. 20.
• Dr. Anthony Lewis, the DPS superintendent, releases the recommended budget on March 27.

At some point through this process, DPS is expected to further whittle down what remains of the shortfall.

Speaking of schools: If you’re the parent or guardian of a child who’s going to be 4 by Aug. 31, applications are now being accepted for Durham Pre-K. Check out Southpoint Access for a SoDu How-To article about everything you need to know about the process.

And at my daughter’s school, Hope Valley Elementary, they’ve kicked off their Boosterthon fundraiser. They’re trying to collect $25,000 to remodel the teachers’ break room and to help families who are coping with the new family responsibility zones. If they reach that goal, Principal Jed Miller gets a pie in the face.

Next, I know some people think the Durham City Council never met a new housing development its members didn’t like, but that’s just not true. They sat through hours of public comment about the massive Moriah Ridge project proposed by M/I Homes of Raleigh this week and, in the end, came away united in their opposition to the development. Another project, Pickett Apartments, also drew plenty of public comment, but the council postponed further discussion about that development until March 17.

Before I go, let me just say welcome and thank you to Emily Silverman, one of our Parkwood neighbors, who signed on to help me with birth reports, marriage license reports, and other popular Southpoint Access features that take a lot of time.

Thanks for listening to SoDu We Like Local News. I hope you’ll become a subscriber of our newsletter at soduwelikelocal.news. Every paid subscription helps support my work as your neighborhood news guy, keeping up with what’s going on in our schools, in city and county government, and new businesses and developments.

If you’re already a subscriber, THANK YOU! Please share these emails with other neighbors and help spread the word about Southpoint Access.

Until next time, take care and stay curious.

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