Josh Stein shuts down public education in Durham on Monday

As a storm crept into the horizon, dozens of Durham residents and public officials gathered Monday evening at Zweli’s Brightleaf Square home. The crowd eagerly awaited North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein, who was in town to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and galvanize voters around education, an issue his campaign considers an issue winner for the state’s Democratic ticket in this fall’s election.

Before Stein took the podium, a few opening acts were planned to excite the audience. The first speaker was Mo Green, candidate for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“I call on people who defend public education to announce who they are. Will you do this for me? » asked Green exuberantly.

Zweli co-owner and Durham Mayor Leo Williams followed Green. He told the crowd they should prepare to “feel uncomfortable” in lobbying to reach voters outside of Durham, a statement Stein would later echo in his speech. Williams left quickly after his remarks.

“I have to attend a council meeting. Pray for me,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Stein then took the microphone and made his case against Republicans in the state legislature, who are set to consider an expansion of the private school voucher program.

“They’re taking money out of public school kids’ backpacks and putting it into the bank accounts of rich people who are sending their kids to unaccountable private schools and that’s wrong,” Stein said.

If invoking politics is one way to motivate a crowd, appealing to their fears is another; Stein discussed some of the more outlandish statements made by his Republican opponent, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (who, perhaps not coincidentally, has taken a conciliatory tone toward public schools at an educational event in Raleigh this week).

“He calls teaching indoctrination,” Stein said. “He called public school teachers evil and evil. It is inconceivable that anyone would think these things about public school educators…let alone say them out loud.

Attacks on teachers’ morals and on their pay have caused upheaval across the state. Stein said one in nine teachers have left the profession, a 50 percent increase from the previous year.

“This is a real crisis, which we must confront with full force,” Stein said. “Our teachers need fair pay, and as governor, I will fight to increase their pay to ensure they get a salary that is competitive not only with other states, but with other states as well. economic professions.”

Stein emphasized the need for strong support staff, such as school nurses, bus drivers and maintenance workers, who help create a safe and positive learning environment for students.

“When we do all of these things and more,” Stein said, “we will begin to deliver on North Carolina’s promise and build a better, brighter future for our young people, a future rooted in our shared values ​​of liberty and liberty. an opportunity for every person. These are the values ​​my parents taught me growing up and I hope these are the values ​​your parents taught you.

Stein said his father, Adam Stein, was one of the attorneys who helped unify the segregated black and white teachers’ associations in the 1990s to form what is now the Carolina Association of Educators. North (NCAE).

Durham recently faced its own reckoning with public school employee salaries. The Durham Association of Educators (DAE) led educators and staff in protest through “work stoppages” and demonstrations at DPS administration buildings earlier this year.

In April, the Durham Public Schools Board of Education adopted its proposed 2024-25 budget. The council has requested an additional $26 million in local funding from Durham County, the highest amount ever requested by the council.

The Durham County Board of Commissioners will hold its next public hearing on May 28 before voting on a final budget on June 10.

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