DURHAM -- The Durham Public Schools will re-evaluate a controversial plan to revamp its magnet and other schools-of-choice programs, Superintendent Eric Becoats announced Wednesday
"The community delivered a very clear and unified message that this is happening too fast and more time is needed to examine the proposal, gather additional feedback and engage in productive dialogue concerning potential solutions," Becoats said. "We heard that message loud and clear."
Becoats said he will advise the school board to act only on pressing issues, such as the student assignment plan for Lucas Middle School, which opens next year. The board must also decide whether to close two magnet schools, Chewning and W.G. Pearson Middle School, as the plan recommended, he said.
"With the magnet fair application process approaching, we will have to regroup and make necessary adjustments that touch a multitude of departments and schools," Becoats said.
Meeting tonight
A public input session set for 6:30 p.m. tonight at Southern High will be held as scheduled. Time-sensitive matters will be discussed at a school board meeting at 4 p.m. Monday, and the board could vote on them Dec. 15.
Otherwise, school board members said they plan to continue gathering public input through meetings and surveys. The period for considering the plan's controversial elements, such as a recommendation to alter the open lottery for Durham School of the Arts, will now run at least through April, Becoats said.
Gilbert Yueh, president of the DSA Parent Teacher Student Association, said she appreciates the district's response to the concerns.
Wednesday's announcement followed growing controversy since Nov. 16 when DPS released a proposed overhaul of its magnet and other choice schools in anticipation of opening the new middle school. School board members asked Becoats last year to come up with a comprehensive plan after they had concerns about making isolated changes when Sandy Ridge Elementary opened this fall.
DPS paid consultant Caroline Massengill, past president of Magnet Schools of America and former senior director of Magnet Programs in the Wake County Public School System, about $22,500 for the proposal.
In addition to magnet-school changes, the plan shifted some attendance zones to reduce overcrowding and eliminated bus stops to streamline routes and save money. DPS officials said they wanted the plan in place by the start of the magnet-school application process Jan. 21.
Many criticized the rushed timeline and changes that limited access to the sixth- through 12th- grade Durham School of the Arts, one of the most popular magnets.
Becoats said he will work with Margaret Henderson, who starts as DPS's director of magnet schools next month, in moving forward. Henderson comes from Wake County, where she was magnet program director of theme and curriculum development.
School board members said they do not regret working with Massengill.
"She has a breadth and depth in magnet programs, and that was the reason we chose her," said board Chairwoman Minnie Forte-Brown. "We learned quite a bit from her, and I am not at all saddened by the choice."
