On Wednesdays, We Wear Red for Ed

Jordan High School staff and students participated in a walk-in this morning. Their demands echoed those that Durham community members have been fighting for since classified staff were informed they would receive pay cuts. Walk-in participants wanted support for classified staff, higher pay and resources for students, and, most importantly, a seat for staff at the decision-making table. 

On the sidewalk adjacent to Garrett Road, students and staff held signs, wore red, and chanted. They walked laps in front of the soccer field, getting the attention of the many cars streaming by. Some honked to show support for the cause. 

Forty Durham Public Schools held walk-ins this morning as part of a larger union-organized movement. Their goal was to add traction and continued visibility to the cause ahead of the Board of Education meeting tomorrow night, February 8. DPS’s Board of Education met on February 2, where they discussed pay options for classified staff for the rest of the school year. They voted at the end of the meeting to table the discussion until their next meeting.

The walk-in was a powerful showing of the Jordan community to support their staff and amplify the cry for help within our schools. Staff and students alike provided a visible showing of people working to support our schools and make demands to the school board.

The Durham Association of Educators (DAE), the local union representing DPS workers, has organized a community picket today from 3:30 to 5 pm at the Fuller Building. This will be a continuation of the walk-ins, and another opportunity for the DAE to advocate and have their voices heard ahead of the Board of Education meeting.

Sources

Thank you to Sydney Sarver for her research and reporting on the events earlier and to Ainsley Buzby for help with the title.

Schlemmer, L. (2024, February 2). Durham Public School’s Board of Education delays vote on how to pay classified staff. WUNC: North Carolina Public Radio.

https://www.wunc.org/education/2024-02-02/durham-public-schools-classified-staff-vote-delay-raises

Photography: Megan Michaels