The Durham Public Schools system is reworking student-teacher ratios to give more resources to elementary schools that serve poorer communities.

Under the previous formula, system officials allocated K-5 teachers based on how many students at a school received a free or reduced-price lunch. For example, the K-3 student-teacher ratio where more than 65 percent received free or reduced lunches was 17-to-1. For those with less than 65 percent of its population on free or reduced lunch the ratio was 21- or 22-to-1.

"That is a significant difference," Superintendent Eric Becoats said. "By us instituting, if you will, a graduated scale, it equalizes the playing field."

The new formula divides elementary schools into five bands:

Band 1 includes schools with 91 to 100 percent of its population on free or reduced lunch. The student-to-teacher ratio formula is 17-to-1 for kindergarten to third grade, and 18-to-1 for fourth and fifth grades.

Band 2 includes schools with 81 to 90 percent of its population on free or reduced lunch. The student-to-teacher ratio formula is 18-to-1 for kindergarten to third grade, and 21.5-to-1 for fourth and fifth grades.

Band 3 includes schools with 61 to 80 percent of its population on free or reduced lunch. The student-to-teacher ratio formula is 18-to-1for kindergarten to third grade, and 22.5-to-1 for fourth and fifth grades.

Band 4 includes schools with 41 to 60 percent of its population on free or reduced lunch. The student-to-teacher ratio formula is 19-to-1 for kindergarten to third grade, and 23-to-1 for fourth and fifth grades.

Band 5 includes schools with 40 percent or less of its population on free or reduced lunch. The student-to-teacher ratio formula is 21-to-1 for kindergarten to third grade, and 24-to-1 for fourth and fifth grades.

The new numbers depart from state allotment formulas, but DPS class size averages will fall within that range, which is required by the state, said Tahira Stalberte, the district's spokeswoman. State allotments for kindergarten to third grade is 18-to-1; fourth to sixth grade 22-to-1; seventh and eighth grade 21-to-1; ninth grade 24.5-to-1; and 10th to 12th grade 26.6-to-1.

According to DPS, the student-to-teacher ratio set for all sixth- through eighth-grade classes will be 21-to-1; for ninth- and 10th-grade classes 24-to-1; for 11th- and 12th-grade classes 26-to-1.

Budget negotiations

The change was discussed last week at a budget work session between Durham County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education.

Budget negotiations, despite state budget cuts, are smoother this year because the county indicated it would support bumping local support for the school system by nearly $5 million to cover student and facility upgrades.

DPS's recommended nearly $418 million budget seeks to save teaching positions, but eliminates four central office jobs, 32 teaching coaches, and two math and reading interventionists.

"This is probably the first time in my tenure as a board member that we have come to this budget work session without any kind of trepidation or nervousness," said school board Chairwoman Minnie Forte-Brown. "It seems like we are in fact one vision, one Durham."

Plan raises concern

The new student-to-teacher rations have concerned some people. At the meeting, commissioners said several parents and teachers from schools including Little River and Mangum elementary schools had contacted them about the loss of teachers and higher student-to-teacher ratios.

Becoats and board members said parents and teachers were responding to a plan that has since been revised. No core teacher positions were cut systemwide, they said.

However, some teaching positions at schools may have been transferred to another school due to the new allotment formula, declining enrollment, or a principal's staffing changes. Teachers, who could apply for positions at other schools, may have lost their job due to performance issues or because it was given to an employee with tenure that was in one of the eliminated positions, school officials said.

Shifting resources

Lisa Johnson, parent of a rising second grader at Mangum Elementary, said she thinks it's unfair to give more resources to some schools than others. The new formula, in essence, appears to be shifting resources from high-performing to low-performing schools, she said.

"Each child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, and I think the higher-performing students don't have that potential because we are putting our effort to bring our lower-performing students," she said. "Every child should have the same amount of teacher resources."