Recently, Durham Public Schools has been marked by chaos and controversy. To recap, they struggled to reopen schools following the pandemic, had work stoppages after pay cuts due to budget errors, saw the mid-year departure of a superintendent, and sparked mass confusion with the rollout of a long overdue redistricting plan. The beginning of the 2024-25 year for traditional calendar schools is fast approaching. What is our Board of Education focusing on? Spending critical governing time and resources on managing their feelings: during the latest work session on August 8, Board members discussed a Request for Proposal to hire an Executive Coach or Restorative Justice Facilitator to help them and our new Superintendent to have “courageous conversations” about the “harms” they conducted among themselves.

Are you kidding me?

I’m the mother of two elementary-aged children in this school district. For two years in a row, my daughter had a semi-permanent substitute teacher. Under the redistricting plan branded as “Growing Together,” my son has been reassigned to a school that is over capacity and farther away, and on multiple occasions, school system employees have provided written and verbal misinformation about his options. Our school system even sent us a letter denying my son acceptance to a school we didn’t apply to and don’t even have an option to attend. Who is overseeing this entire process?

I’ve spent many hours attending school board meetings, communicating with board members, and navigating getting my own children to school in the face of staffing shortages, labor strikes, pre- and post-pandemic bus delays and other challenges. I’ve given public comment, organized meetings among fellow parents, and met with elected officials to communicate my concerns. Time and time, again, I’ve seen this Board lose sight of critical oversight functions. At the latest work session, Board members went so far as to ask their attorney—who bills hundreds  of dollars an hour—to make motions for them. Our board is, now, outsourcing their governing functions. Durham, we elected these people!

The Board of Education’s job is to govern, not get along. Governing means approving organizational policies and budgets, hiring/evaluating the superintendent, and reviewing student achievement, enrollment trends, staff working conditions, and the overall trajectory of the school system. It means accountability and transparency with employees, students, and families. Governing isn’t always harmonious or unanimous; in fact, diverse perspectives and rigorous debate of ideas are a sign of a healthy democracy. Sometimes you may agree or disagree, and that’s okay. The credibility of any elected official is their willingness to listen, reflect, and embrace perspectives that are different from their own. It means making hard decisions. State laws ensure that except for personnel decisions and lawsuits all discussions and votes take place in public. Has anyone noticed the multiple hours per meeting the board members meet privately in “closed session?” 

For the last several years, staff and families are voting with their feet. They are leaving for other districts, charter, and private schools because the Board’s actions do not align with the community’s values of inclusivity, transparency, and accountability. Instead of building trust amongst seven individuals, why not work to rebuild the trust of the thousands of classified staff who continue to work despite having their wages cut? Or the thousands of certified staff who have a wide range of challenging teaching and building conditions? Or the hundreds of parents who are struggling to find aftercare options for their elementary-aged children because the workday doesn’t end at 2:10pm? Or the thousands of students who still do not read at grade-level and need critical literacy intervention support? Or the hundreds of students who need to be assessed for specialized learning plans—and ensure they get their federally-mandated services? Instead, we have a Board of Education who chooses to focus on petty interpersonal grievances amongst themselves. 

Our district is faced with significant challenges, and we need leaders to step up to the plate and take bold actions. We need leaders who communicate effectively, justify their decision-making transparently, and understand the enormous responsibility that public service entails. Am I asking for too much? Durham, are we asking for too much?

Girija Mahajan is a Durham Public Schools parent.

Comment on this story at [email protected].