News and Events

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance Program

Julie Marshall — 2011-12-13T16:23:45Z

Durham County Government is gearing up for our 2012 City-County Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Program scheduled for January 11, 2012 and would like to see neighboring organizations celebrate this wonderful occasion as a community.

This event allows both employees and visitors time to reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and reminds us how important it is to model the ideals of this great American in our daily work. The program begins at noon at the First Presbyterian Church, 305 East Main Street.

The program includes a dynamic and thought-provoking message from an invited speaker based on Dr. King’s philosophy of service, a few remarks from local elected officials, and traditional gospel musical selections from the City-County Martin Luther King, Jr. Employee Choir. At the end of the program, they will announce the winners of the City-County Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award. The program usually lasts one hour.

Deployed N.C. National Guard and Reservists to Receive SECU Holiday Packages!

Julie Marshall — 2011-12-13T16:20:58Z

Thank you to any and all DPS employees who contributed to the wonderful story below.

On Saturday, December 3, State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) completed its 2nd Annual “SECU Supports the Troops” campaign to provide 5,000 holiday gift boxes for North Carolina’s National Guard and Reservists deployed throughout the world. Approximately 130 Credit Union employees, family members, and volunteers were on hand to “make it happen,” packing the gift boxes in just three hours. Boxes were then loaded into a U.S. Postal Service eighteen-wheeler for delivery, with Raleigh, N.C. Postmaster Cheryl Picard even assisting in the packing effort.

SECU’s 239 statewide branches were collection sites for the donated “wish list” items that poured in from SECU members and local community groups. “Wish list” items included travel-sized dental supplies, first aid items, soap, shampoo, travel games, socks, writing supplies, and snacks, and were topped off with special hand-written letters from North Carolina school children, thanking soldiers for their service. Monetary donations from members to the campaign were used to help defray the costs associated with shipping.

Leigh Brady, SECU Senior Vice President of Education Services, states, “SECU is proud to continue its support of our N.C. military personnel overseas. N.C. National Guard soldiers and their families are within SECU’s membership base, making this project even more significant for our cooperative. The excitement and success of last year’s campaign, including the heartwarming thank you’s from soldiers who received gift packages, prompted the return of SECU Supports the Troops. It’s another way SECU exemplifies the Credit Union philosophy of ‘People Helping People.’”

Assisting with the December 3 packing project, McKinley Wooten, SECU Board of Directors Chairman remarked, “It’s more than just the number of packages the Credit Union is delivering, it is the demonstration of love that we have for our soldiers that makes this project special. We want them to feel the care that goes into putting these boxes together. Being involved in a project of this magnitude, supported by the membership and our local communities, sends a bit of comfort from home to these deployed men and women who serve and protect our country every day!”

DPS Teacher at the White HOouse

Julie Marshall — 2011-12-13T16:19:17Z

Congratulations are in order for Carolyn Brooks-DeBerry, teacher at City of Medicine Academy. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the White House Domestic Policy Council invited her to the White House on December 7 to participate in a forum to discuss effective teaching and commend great teachers. She participated in a dialogue with Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and other senior Administration officials on ensuring high-quality instruction for every student. This event also recognized the importance of the teaching profession in building our nation and honored a new cohort of highly-accomplished teachers who have achieved National Board Certification as leaders in the classroom and leaders in our nation.

Carolyn was chosen as one of the 100 teachers out of 6200 newly national certified teachers.

Upcoming Student Performances

Julie Marshall — 2011-10-21T13:41:44Z

Durham is known for its rich arts culture. Here are a few performances you may want to put on your calendar.

“The Wiz” at Hillside High

November 3-6

Hillside High School, home of one of the most celebrated theater programs in the country, will offer its version of “The Wiz” beginning Thursday, November 3 and running through Sunday, November 6. The matinee shows take place at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4. Those shows are for DPS students to attend. They are sold out, but media is invited. Public viewings will occur at the following dates and times:

Friday, November 4 at 7:15 p.m. (Gala Night and Hillside Alumni Night)
Saturday, November 5 at 3:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Sunday, November 6 at 3:15 p.m.

Hillside High is located at 3727 Fayetteville Street. For more information, contact Wendell Tabb or Pat Heidmann at 919-560-3925.

“Talent for Education” Fundraiser for Durham and Wake Schools

Saturday, November 5

Cygtec, Inc. will sponsor an international cultural diversity talent show at Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium (2 E. South Street, Raleigh 27601) on Saturday, November 5. The show will begin at 6 p.m. and serve as a fundraiser for schools in Durham Public Schools and the Wake County Public School System. Talents on display include singing, dancing, skits, fashion show and more. The proceeds from the show will be distributed based on the needs of schools that write grant proposals demonstrating how they will spend the money. The grants will be awarded in denominations of $5,000 each. The number of grants is dependent on the total amount of donations collected. Admission is for donor pass holders only and donor passes can be purchased starting at $25 with no maximum amount. For more information, contact Publicity Lead Khaleel Gonzalez at 347-682-2728.

Travel Reimbursement Rates

Julie Marshall — 2011-10-21T13:45:00Z

Effective October 1, 2011, there are new meal per diem rates.

Breakfast	$8.00	$8.00
	In-State	Out-State
Lunch	$10.45	$10.45
Dinner	$17.90	$20.30

The mileage rate as of July, 1, 2011 is 55.5 cents per mile.

Ever need to contact somebody at NCDPI?

Julie Marshall — 2011-10-21T13:41:44Z

For the first time, the NCDPI’s annual Education Directory, containing contact information for the State Board of Education, NC Department of Public Instruction, education associations and organizations, local school districts and charter schools, and special schools will be available as an online publication only. By going to www.ncpublicschools.org/nceddirectory, individuals can download the complete directory, or access information contained in the three defined sections of the directory: State Agency, Associations and Commissions, and Schools. There also are links for instructions to create mailing labels and download a spreadsheet of schools and principals. The Directory has been streamlined so information previously available may no longer be accessible. For example, there no longer is a listing of schools under each district. Instead, a listing of schools for that district may be obtained by clicking on the weblink for the district or by going to EDDIE and downloading the information for that district.

Larry McDonald, DPS Director of Athletics and Hall of Fame Inductee

Julie Marshall — 2011-10-21T13:45:00Z

Larry McDonald, Sr. is a very important and well-known member of the Durham Public Schools’ team. Larry is the system’s Director of Athletics and a former principal of Southern High.

Recently, Larry was honored by his alma mater, Fayetteville State University, with an induction into their Hall of Fame. He attended FSU on a track and football scholarship. While there, Larry earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education with a minor in History.

Larry was a finalist in the 400 meters at the CIAA track meet in 1978. He received the 1978 Most Outstanding Leadership Track and Field Trophy and the Coach’s Award. He lettered three years in track and two years in football. For two years, Larry was the only two-sport athlete on the FSU campus.

In addition to competing, Larry was also the captain of the track team and a student coach for the football team.

As a college coach at North Carolina Central University and Bowling Green State University, Larry enjoyed the opportunity to coach some 30 All-Americans. He also recruited and coached many NFL players, including some All-Pros.

Not only an athlete, while at FSU Larry was honored in Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities and was also named to the National Dean’s List.

Larry serves on the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association teaching faculty and is a member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors.

Larry is married to Shelia McDonald and they are the parents of Larry, Jr., a student athlete at Fayetteville State University, and Olivia Simone, who attends Winston-Salem State University. He currently serves as Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in Roxboro, North Carolina.

Larry McDonald is a Hall of Famer by any measure and we salute him for all he has done in the world of athletics – but more importantly – for his investment into the children and families of Durham.

Why wait? Early voting has started

Julie Marshall — 2011-10-21T13:41:44Z

Election time is important and nobody understands that more than school district employees. Our 5,000-member team can greatly impact any local vote – but only if we get out to the polls. To assist in that effort, you may want to visit the Durham County Web site that includes information on early voting. Please be sure to read about the Quarter Cent Sales Tax Referendum and its potential impact on the DPS budget.