The Durham People's Alliance Education Team works to support a unified public education system for all families in Durham. They believe in local control of tax dollars so that families and elected officials can make decisions about Durham's educational system. In 2014, their priorities include supporting teachers, disseminating information and ideas to the community, and guiding the PA PAC's endorsement process for the four open seats on the Board of Education.

1. Act
Local.
Get
Vocal.
Make
a
Difference.
PA
Education
Team
Summary:
The
Durham
People’s
Alliance
Education
Team
works
to
support
a
unified
Public
Education
system
for
all
families
in
Durham.
We
believe
in
local
control
of
tax
dollars
so
that
families
and
elected
officials
can
make
decisions
about
Durham’s
educational
system.
The
Education
Team
encourages
collaboration
and
creative
approaches
to
education.
We
feel
that
teachers,
families
and
students
should
be
participants
in
the
decisions
made
about
our
schools.
Contact
Information:
Carl
Rist,
rist@frontier.com
www.durhampa.org
Context
With
the
exit
of
the
DPS
Superintendent
at
the
beginning
of
2014,
and
the
school
board
elections
scheduled
for
May,
the
Durham
Public
Schools
is
poised
to
experience
significant
change.
The
North
Carolina
Legislature
continues
to
pass
regressive
legislature
that
negatively
effects
public
education.
Local
budgets
are
cut
and
teachers
are
demoralized.
At
the
same
time
grass
roots
advocacy
is
growing
in
response
to
the
assault
from
the
General
Assembly
and
local
organizing
is
getting
stronger.
2014
Priorities
Teacher
support
The
Ed
Team
will
continue
to
work
to
change
the
negative
narrative
about
public
educators.
Action
items:
1) Collaborate
whenever
possible
with
Organize
20/20,
the
Durham
Association
of
Educators,
and
other
groups
in
efforts
to
unify
and
organize
teachers.
2) Promote
the
“Celebrate
a
Teacher”
campaign
by
selling
shirts
and
wearing
red
on
Wednesdays.
Support
teachers
during
public
events
or
actions.
3) Educate
the
public
about
the
legislation
regarding
teacher
salaries
and
due
process
limitations.
Information
and
Idea
Dissemination
PA
members
look
to
the
Ed
Team
for
information
about
education
issues.
Part
of
our
mission
is
to
raise
awareness
among
our
membership
and
to
the
community
at-­‐large.
Action
items:
1) Organize
and
implement
regular
community
round
table
discussions
on
topics
designated
by
the
team.
2) Be
publically
responsive
to
issues
that
effect
the
public
schools.
This
includes
letters
to
the
editor,
speaking
at
Board
of
Education
meetings
and
attending
public
education
events.

2. Act
Local.
Get
Vocal.
Make
a
Difference.
PA
Education
Team
Summary:
The
Durham
People’s
Alliance
Education
Team
works
to
support
a
unified
Public
Education
system
for
all
families
in
Durham.
We
believe
in
local
control
of
tax
dollars
so
that
families
and
elected
officials
can
make
decisions
about
Durham’s
educational
system.
The
Education
Team
encourages
collaboration
and
creative
approaches
to
education.
We
feel
that
teachers,
families
and
students
should
be
participants
in
the
decisions
made
about
our
schools.
Contact
Information:
Carl
Rist,
rist@frontier.com
www.durhampa.org
3) Collaborate
with
other
Education
Advocacy
and
community
groups
to
sponsor
informative
events.
4) Collaborate
to
present
a
film
event
about
public
education.
Board
of
Education
Elections
During
this
election
year
the
Ed
Team
will
focus
some
of
its
efforts
to
guide
the
PA
PAC
endorsement
process.
Four
school
board
seats
are
open
this
year.
Action
items:
1) Develop
and
disseminate
a
candidate
questionnaire.
2) Interview
all
the
candidates
and
make
recommendations
to
the
PA
PAC.
3) Work
in
support
of
the
endorsed
candidates
leading
up
to
the
May
6th
election.