Email DPS School Board Members!

The Durham School Board is meeting behind closed doors tomorrow morning at 8am. 

Nothing good happens in the dark. We are still calling for a community-wide public meeting where all the facts are laid bare. Our elected school board members owe it to staff, parents, and taxpayers to be transparent throughout this entire situation. 

Please email Chair Bettina Umstead and the rest of the school board at bettina_umstead@dpsnc.net and BOE@dpsnc.net to demand answers, transparency, and a public meeting. 

Here's a sample email:

Chair Umstead and DPS BOE Members,

As a concerned resident and public education supporter, I urge the Durham Public Schools Board of Education to host an accessible public town hall meeting for the entire community to understand the magnitude of the recent pay issues within the school system.

The Durham Public Schools administration building is not a preferred location and often discourages public participation in meetings due to space limitations, the significant presence of law enforcement, and difficulty getting to the meeting space within the building. This meeting should be held in a space (e.g., school auditorium) that sufficiently accommodates those concerned.

The lack of answers and transparency around this issue has caused significant fear and frustration among staff, parents, and the community. Nearly 275 concerned citizens have signed this petition calling for an accessible public meeting, and I am asking the school board to honor this request.

Thank you for your attention to this serious request, and I look forward to your timely response.