sodu week in review

The Demise of Leandro Raises More Concerns About Durham School Funding

Plus, what's ahead for the Durham Planning Commission? And did you catch the Office Hours interview with author and veteran game designer Richard Dansky?

Wes Platt

Wes Platt

— 5 min read
The Demise of Leandro Raises More Concerns About Durham School Funding
Sustainability Math: Funding South Durham Neighborhood News
To cover schools, growth, and local government with consistency, Southpoint Access needs more than subscriptions and sponsors - we need community philanthropy to bridge the early-years gap.
Southpoint AccessWes Platt

Bettina Umstead, chair of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education, on Friday issued a statement on behalf of the district about the N.C. Supreme Court's decision to vacate Leandro, the case that gave schools a lever to use the courts to pressure legislators to properly fund education in North Carolina.

Umstead called the ruling "disappointing" and warned that it would inflict "irreparable harm to our public schools."

"Durham families feel this when HVAC systems stop working, when educators advocate for increased salaries that are not keeping up with inflation, and when we stretch the budget to provide the arts, global languages, and additional supports our students need," she wrote.

The Leandro Plan, if funded, could have provided about $70 million to DPS for instructional assistants, counselors, social workers, and more. It would've meant about $36 million for early childhood education, opening 710 more slots for children in pre-K.

"Any person connected to public schools can tell you about how great the need for increased funding for public schools. The state has not met their constitutional duty and it falls on local school districts to fill in the gaps," Umstead wrote. "The impact of the lack of state funding for public education is already felt as school districts navigate tough budget seasons with discussions of personnel cuts and school closures. This news is disheartening and impacts every community in North Carolina. Durham’s children deserve a fully funded public education system. North Carolina’s children deserve a fully funded public education system. Our children deserve so much better."

What are your thoughts on the Leandro decision and its impact on Durham schools? Reply to this email and let me know.

Wes Platt
Neighborhood News Guy

News from the Neighborhood

Leandro ruling leaves DPS looking to Raleigh
After three decades in court, Leandro no longer offers Durham schools a legal backstop for broader state investment - and that shifts even more pressure onto lawmakers in Raleigh and local budget-makers in Durham.
Southpoint AccessWes Platt
Durham School Board Fires Deputy Superintendent
Dismissal letter cites a child abuse investigation, unauthorized actions, and communication failures as justifications for firing Dr. Tanya Giovanni.
Southpoint AccessWes Platt
Durham Planning Commission: UDO, Rocky Branch, FY27 plan
Durham planning commissioners will review a proposed FY27 work plan that keeps the stalled UDO rewrite alive while also weighing a 225-home Virgil Road rezoning with implications for traffic, schools, and South Durham growth.
Southpoint AccessWes Platt
Office Hours: Richard Dansky, Ghosts of Smoke and Flame
The local author joined me to talk about his new horror-comedy novel, why angels and demons made sense for this story, and what the collapse of studios like Red Storm says about the state of video games right now.
Southpoint AccessWes Platt
Nerdspresso: Thanks Jeff Stanford for 20 Episodes
Twenty episodes in, Nerdspresso Phase II has become a lively home for fandom, pop culture, and thoughtful nerd talk at Southpoint Access.
Southpoint AccessWes Platt
SoDu Sold: Home Sales Tracker - April 2026
Get the lowdown on homes sold in the Southpoint Access readership area during the past 30 days.
Southpoint AccessWes Platt
SoDu Shopping Basket: Aldi Edges Walmart for Lowest Total
Aldi leads at $50.86, just ahead of Walmart ($51.96), while Fresh Market tops $89.73 - a $38.87 gap for the same 17 staples.
Southpoint AccessSouthpoint Access
Durham Obituaries – March 31, 2026 | Southpoint Access
Honoring lives recently lost in the Durham community, with upcoming services and remembrances.
Southpoint AccessSouthpoint Access

Get Connected

🤝 Support Our Sponsors

Local journalism in South Durham survives thanks to the generous businesses and organizations that make this work possible. 🧭

💛 Shop local. Hire local. Support those who support Southpoint Access.

Read more