Durham Public Schools Board of Education, District A: Wendell Tabb

Name as it appears on the ballot: Wendell Tabb 

Age: 61 

Party affiliation: Democratic 

Campaign website: www.wendelltabb.com 

Occupation and employer: Retired Educator 

Years lived in the area: 44 Years 

1. What are the three main issues that you believe the Durham Public Schools Board of Education needs to address in the upcoming years? 

I believe that the three main issues that the Durham Public Schools Board of Education should address are school safety, mental health wellness, and literacy. 

First, maintaining school safety is my top priority for students, parents, and staff. There should be zero tolerance for school violence, weapons, and bullying. These issues hurt student achievement. When students and staff feel safe and secure in their school environment, they are more productive and can create positive learning experiences, which results in high student achievement. 

Secondly, there is a greater need for Mental Health Wellness Days. This approach promotes emotional well-being by offering a designated time for self-reflection, stress reduction, and relaxation. These dedicated days will foster a culture of mental health awareness, encouraging open conversations about mental well-being and providing students with valuable tools to manage stress and build resilience. There should be a policy that strategically aligns mental health days with student activities. Combining these would contribute to a positive and supportive learning environment. 

Finally, in order to get all of our students on grade level, I believe implementing differentiated reading programs tailored to each grade level’s comprehension abilities can significantly enhance literacy skills. Durham Public Schools educators must create targeted interventions that foster reading and writing comprehension and strengthen students’ overall literacy proficiency. We must get all of our students reading on grade level. 

2. Durham Public Schools has had a hard time recruiting and retaining teachers and staff members recently and it has been suggested that some classified staff not be compensated for years of professional experience outside of the district in their pay steps. Do you agree with this approach? How can the district work with the county to recruit and retain teachers and staff and make sure they are compensated adequately and competitively? 

I believe that classified staff should be paid for their years of professional experience outside of the district. In working with the county to recruit and retain teachers and staff, I would recommend the creation of partnerships with Colleges, Universities, and other institutions to recruit teachers and staff to the school system. In addition, I would also recommend and support local funding to assist teachers in obtaining teaching certifications. Finally, I plan to advocate for revising hiring practices to eliminate biases, ensure a fair and inclusive recruitment process, and offer competitive compensation, such as signing bonuses for educators who enter the teaching profession. I support fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity, provides mentorship programs, and offers competitive compensation and benefits, which is crucial for retaining teachers and staff. 

3. Durham Public Schools is committed to equity in education, but disparities between white students and students of color, particularly with regard to the use of suspension and other disciplinary measures, persist. How should the school board work to address these and other equity issues? 

To address issues of equity in education, the school board should promote restorative justice programs. 

According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 217,000 students were suspended from North Carolina Public Schools during the 2021-2022 school year; 51% were Black. In Durham County, over 2,400 of the 3,424 students were suspended, and close to 80% of students serving long-term suspensions were Black. During the same year, 65% of students who were expelled were also Black. 

Implementing restorative justice practices to address conflicts and disciplinary issues promotes accountability, empathy, and understanding among administrators, teachers, and students. I recommend professional development to train all staff on restorative justice principles and techniques. I would also recommend trauma-informed practices that train staff to recognize and respond to the impact of trauma on students’ behavior. These methods would encourage schools to reevaluate and revise zero-tolerance policies that may disproportionately affect Black students, focusing on alternative approaches that prioritize prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation to create a trauma-informed school environment. 

4. The new ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ law seeks to give parents more control over their children’s education. How should DPS balance compliance with the law with students’ rights to privacy and teachers’ ability to provide a sound basic education? 

I suggest schools balance this new legislation with students’ right to privacy and teachers’ responsibility to teach the curriculum by keeping in mind the importance of student rights and leveraging it with the parent bill of rights. As an educator, I’ve always had to balance what parents wanted best for their children and what children wanted for themselves. In this regard, it is important to prioritize and practice transparent communication between schools and families. To balance parent rights with student rights, I would recommend online systems that allow parents and students to access information about academic progress, instructional resources, and student profiles. 

As a school board member, I am willing to revise current school policies to align with parents’ rights and students’ rights. School boards across North Carolina are working to pass their own rules to fit the new law. I will continue to be a voice for students as it aligns with the new legislature. 

In order to balance compliance with the law, students’ rights to privacy, and teachers’ ability to provide a sound basic education, the school board should develop and enforce clear privacy policies within the educational institution, outlining how student data is collected, stored, and shared, while ensuring compliance with legal frameworks such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to mandate a sound education for all students. 

5. Does the General Assembly have a constitutional obligation to comply with the state Supreme Court order in the Leandro case to fully fund public schools and give every child in North Carolina a sound basic education? What other policies should lawmakers enact at the state level to strengthen public education? 

North Carolina has a constitutional obligation to ensure all children have access to a sound basic education that includes competent and well-trained teachers and principals, as well as equitable access to sufficient resources. 

At the state level, lawmakers should enact policies that strengthen funding for public education, increase salaries and incentives, and school safety measures. For example, lawmakers are providing vouchers for private education as an option of parental choice. However, it is diverting resources from public schools and causing educational inequities. Additionally, advocacy for better pay and improved working conditions for teachers and staff in public education is a policy that should be implemented in order to acknowledge and reward their dedication, experience, and pivotal role in nurturing the next generation. Finally, policies on school safety should implement stricter regulations to prevent unauthorized access to firearms, mitigate the risk of gun violence, and create safer environments for students and staff. 

6. Do you support the recommendations of the Durham Safety and Wellness Task force to increase restorative justice practices and expand Durham’s HEART program into schools? Why or why not? What role should SROs have in Durham schools? 

Yes, I support recommendations for increasing restorative justice practices and programs such as HEART that will provide our students with a safe and healthy recovery from their mental challenges. Each of these initiatives fosters a supportive learning environment that prioritizes accountability, healing, and the well-being of students. However, these programs should not exclude the need for school safety and security as provided by School Resource Officers. SROs enhance school safety and security while fostering positive relationships with students through a combination of law enforcement, mentorship, and educational support. I encourage collaboration between the HEART program and School Resource Officers. 

7. Despite voters passing a $423.5 million education bond in 2022 to build new schools and renovate existing facilities, that money is running out fast due to rising construction costs. Do you think county leaders should put another education bond before voters soon? What is the most sustainable way to address new construction and renovations of existing facilities as Durham continues to grow? 

I would first look for other alternatives that may be available instead of asking for a new bond that may result in raising taxes. An alternative to school bonds could be the use of state and federal grants for funding construction. There are often grant programs specifically designed to support school construction projects. I would encourage our school system to apply for these grants to receive financial assistance as an alternative to having a bond. If state and federal grants are not available, then a bond may be necessary. Finally, I believe the most sustainable way to address new construction and renovations of existing facilities as Durham continues to grow is supporting schools “Going Green” to promote energy efficiency and sustainability.

8. Durham School of the Arts is planned to relocate to a new facility in North Durham by 2026, but some in the community say the school should remain downtown. They argue the downtown campus would continue to serve students in the central part of Durham and it would be more cost-effective to renovate the existing building rather than spending a large portion of bond funds on a new facility for a school that serves some of Durham’s more affluent students. What are your thoughts on this issue? If you’re in favor of DSA relocating, how would you propose repurposing the current DSA campus? 

In keeping up with current decisions made by the school board, it was decided that DSA would relocate to a new facility in North Durham. Unfortunately, I am not privy to all of the previous plans for DSA to remain at its current location, but I support community involvement in making decisions that affect its students. The old DSA campus could become a centralized administrative building that would bring more DPS staff together. The campus could also serve as a space for youth initiatives and a place for community arts programs to still thrive. 

9. How should schools ensure that high school students are prepared for two- or four-year college or are career-ready and have the skills to take advantage of new economic opportunities coming to Durham upon graduation? 

It is crucial to have programs in schools that prepare our students for college, military, and employment. Student career choices could directly correlate with public school readiness and their success. In addition, as education evolves, students are more apt to become tech-savvy entrepreneurs and prepare for digital and socially conscious careers. 

After high school graduation, students have diverse pathways to pursue, each playing a unique role in shaping their educational and career trajectories. Additionally, alternative courses like online education and entrepreneurial pursuits allow students to tailor their post-graduation journey to specific goals, interests, and learning styles. Durham Public Schools can ensure that high school students have the skills for new economic opportunities by implementing updated and relevant vocational training programs aligned with local industries. Additionally, fostering partnerships with local businesses and providing internships would provide real-world experiences that complement classroom learning and prepare students for the evolving job market in our region. 

10. How should DPS address mental health and wellness for students, educators, and staff coming out of the pandemic years? 

Transitioning from the pandemic era, mental health awareness days should be implemented to aid in the reduction of stress and encourage open conversations surrounding mental health. This approach fosters a supportive environment for students, educators, and staff.

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