BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for June 11, 2009

• Layoffs may be fewer than expected by Durham Public Schools this spring -- driven in part by about 100-150 more voluntary resignations more than in an average year. (Which isn't to say that classroom positions will necessarily be preserved, just that, it seems, the involuntary layoffs may be smaller than expected.) Of 82 probationary teachers notified of layoff status some weeks back, all but 22 have been offered other positions. (H-S, N&O)
• Monica Chen has expanded coverage of the lien foreclosure sale action facing Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse on the Noell and Old Bull buildings they bought from Capitol Broadcasting a few years back, and which hit the auction block later this month unless SBER settles with Code Electric Inc. CBC's Michael Goodmon wouldn't comment on whether they planned to bid on the buildings -- though we at BCR would be shocked if they didn't want to bring all of the ATC brand back under their watchful eyes. (H-S)
• A Northgate Park meeting tonight (at the Civitan Clubhouse on Glendale, 7pm) will see a discussion of future options for the now-headless brontosaurus vandalized as a high school prank. (TDN)
• DPS super Carl Harris got a one year contract extension, through the 2012-13 school year, though he didn't receive any pay or benefit increases given current economic circumstances. (H-S)
• As noted here back in April, stimulus funds for transit will support twenty new bus shelters, real-time bus arrival technology, repairs to some buses and other vehicles and the addition of a number of paratransit vehicles. Triangle Transit will also see replacement buses and location technology. (H-S)
• The billboard industry is lobbying in Raleigh for measures to allow greater tree-cutting in front of billboards. Industry supporters say NC has the most restrictive laws on billboards in the southeast; the administration and opponents say, well, hell yeah. A state House committee gave a nod to the measure, which would allow trees to be cut down 375' in front of billboards instead of at the 250' distance. (N&O)

Comments

[DRR]

It is good to see that they found positions for most of the teachers that were cut, but the facts in the N&O article don't fit with what I know (one of the teachers I know that was cut does have a high school license and still does not have a job).

The statements about possible future cuts concerns me a bit. There was a big deal made when the cuts were first announced that they would have to be done by June 1st, since that is when our contracts are renewed and the renewed contracts are binding. If contracts forced them to make the first round of cuts before June, how will the second round work?

Also, I don't know how it worked at all schools, but at my school teachers that were being cut were informed via email. They deserved to at least be told face to face.

[barry]

"driven in part by about 100-150 more voluntary resignations more than in an average year."

What, don't those people giving up jobs in Durham Public Schools know that this is one of the top 10 cities to live in in the US?

[Joshua Allen]

"real-time bus arrival technology"

...

Wow. We need stimulus money to buy watches for bus drivers!