School hallways may soon be filled with students, but Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis said the district has spent months focused on staffing classrooms ahead of the new school year.
"We got a record low for Durham Public Schools. About 58 teacher vacancies right now," Lewis said.
Lewis said filling positions is only part of the challenge. Retaining teachers, particularly those early in their careers, remains a major focus for the district.
"The more that we are providing support to our teachers that are already in our classrooms and paying close attention to our beginning teachers, and what we know is that beginning teachers tend to leave the field of education between years one through three," Lewis said.
Lewis said Durham Public Schools is working to become what he calls "the premier school district in the country," but believes compensation is a critical part of that goal.
"But I do believe that in order for us to be the premier school district in this country, we must have premier salary schedules as well," Lewis said.
At the same time, Lewis said financial pressures outside the district's control affect its ability to invest more in employees.
"But there's also some outside pressures that we have no control over that are impacting our ability to invest in our staff," Lewis said.
Lewis pointed to approximately $51 million that Durham Public Schools sends to charter schools, which he said represents roughly one-quarter of the district's local revenue. He also cited Opportunity Scholarships, state-funded vouchers that families can use for private school tuition. Lewis said about 2,600 Durham families use the scholarships, representing roughly $15 million that could otherwise go to Durham Public Schools.
For Lewis, the district's success is about more than staffing numbers and budget figures. As students return to classrooms Monday, he is encouraging educators to focus first on building relationships.
"The first couple of days, I don't want you teaching anything. First of all, who are you going to teach? You don't know the students yet," Lewis said. "So invest that time. Those first few days, few weeks of school, and it has to be cultivated throughout the school year. Building relationships with our students."
While district leaders continue recruiting bus drivers, officials said all bus routes will be covered when students return Monday.
As the school year begins, Lewis said Durham Public Schools' long-term success will depend not only on how many teachers it hires, but how many it can support and retain.
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