Nearly 2,000 new interactive displays are coming to classrooms in Durham, after the school board approved a slew of facility upgrades and third-party partnerships on Thursday.
The displays, called TouchView Interactive Panels, are projected to cost the district up to $5.3 million over the next five years. Placed at the front of a classroom, they function like digital whiteboards that can also display slides and other educational resources.
Community members previously voiced doubts over the hefty cost of new technology, as well as its ability to improve student outcomes. Those concerns resurfaced at the school board meeting on Thursday night.
“Does [this technology] really help students such that the cost is justified?” Rob Fields, a grandparent of three DPS students, asked at the meeting. “Why buy a Rivian when an F-150 will do just as fine, if not better?”
Roughly three in four of the district’s 1,900+ Brightlink projectors are more than 14 years old, according to administrators.
“If we’re going to be a premier school district, our scholars and staff deserve the latest technology while also receiving a world-class education,” Superintendent Anthony Lewis said.
The school board unanimously approved the new displays. This came after a discussion called by newly elected board member Gabrielle Rivero, who moved the item off the consent agenda.
School board member Millicent Rogers told The 9th Street Journal that state law requires county commissioner approval for long-term contracts like this one. She expects that commissioners will sign off on the purchases.
This is not the first time the district has sought to replace longstanding classroom projectors. Earlier this year, as part of a $244.7 million budget proposal for the current school year, Durham Public Schools allotted just over $2.8 million in county funding to replace outdated classroom technology. A portion of what was approved will be used for the new displays.
In addition to the interactive panels, the school board approved a series of boiler replacements at Hillside Elementary School, Oak Grove Elementary School, and Riverside High School, to repair faulty HVAC systems that have plagued the district for years.
The replacements, which will cost around $1.1 million, are covered by ARPA funds –– originally designated for pandemic recovery and relief –– set to expire by the end of the year.
Private staffing agency to fill EC vacancies
In light of persistent teacher shortages, Durham Public Schools will be partnering with private staffing agency Unlimited Instruction, with the goal of filling up to 20 existing vacancies for exceptional children teachers.
The agency is charging the district an hourly rate of $65.95 with total costs not to exceed $1.5 million. The contract ends on June 30 next year.
Administrators say this collaboration could provide a long-term solution to fill some vacancies, unlike the temporary fix of independently hiring substitute teachers.
“While working in our schools as substitute teachers,…[these teachers would] also complete the requirements that would allow them to become certified teachers and, the following year, be eligible to join our team permanently,” said Deputy Superintendent Nicholas King.
School board members acknowledged the need to fill teacher vacancies, while also expressing concerns over the district’s ability to identify and hire new staff on its own.
“Is there a way for us to learn any of the strategies that they are using…[to] take back and start using ourselves?” asked board member Rivero.
“Oh, certainly, absolutely,” King said.
“It’ll just cost us more,” Lewis added wryly.
The district currently has roughly 55 teacher vacancies.
Photo at top: At a meeting on Aug. 27, the Durham school board approved new displays for classrooms and a partnership to attract new teachers. Photo by Tanya Wan – The 9th Street Journal
Tanya Wan
