Durham Public Schools is holding two huge events this weekend - their elementary magnet fair and their middle and high school fair.

Applications for magnet, year-round and small high schools will be available online beginning Jan. 4, but now is the time to gather information about each school. In addition to this weekend's fair, schools are also holding open houses throughout the rest of the calendar year.

Keep reading to learn more about the programs:

Wayne County school officials have put the brakes on a cash for grades fundraising effort at a Goldsboro middle school.

The school district reacted to today's article by Lynn Bonner, in which she reported that a $20 donation to Rosewood Middle School would have gotten a student 20 test points — 10 extra points on two tests of the student's choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D.

Are any individual Durham schools following similar policies? Or any other sort of classroom incentives to reward fundraising?

E-mail me or post a comment.

DPS chief operating officer Hank Hurd will serve as the district's interim superintendent, school board members voted unanimously tonight.

Hurd will serve in the position effective Jan. 1 until the board appoints a new superintendent. Board members said they hoped to seat a candidate by April - but no later than July 1.

Hurd is filling in for outgoing superintendent Carl Harris, who resigned last week to move onto a post with the U.S. Department of Education. Harris, who was superintendent for three years, will leave the school system Dec. 31.

Hurd has been with Durham Public Schools for seven years. He previously served as the associate state superintendent for financial business services for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and also worked at Harnett County Schools. He said he will continue as chief operating officer in the district in addition to his new duties.

Read the full story in tomorrow's N&O.

The Durham community is invited to offer input to the school board regarding the qualities DPS should seek in a new superintendent at a special Kitchen Table Conversation on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 7:00 until 8:45 pm at the DPS Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road.

The Board of Education has begun the process of searching for the district’s next Superintendent.

"This is perhaps the most important task this board will undertake. It is critical that the voices of as many of our parents, staff and interested community members as possible are heard as we work together to identify the qualities the board should seek in DPS' next superintendent," a release said.

Trained facilitators will lead small group conversations to ensure that all attendees have the opportunity to share their viewpoints and ideas regarding this significant endeavor.
Refreshments will be provided. Interpreters will be available for Hispanic/Latino speakers.

Space is limited to 150. Register online or call DPS Public Affairs at 560-3652 by November 30 to reserve a space.

Hundreds of Durham students are expected at this evening's career expo for middle school students.

Over 200 professionals from fields like video game development to law are slated to come out and talk about their careers.

The first 200 students to show up will receive a free Chick-Fil-A Kid's meal and a chance to win door prizes. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend. They can enter to win one of two $50 gas cards.

The Expo takes place today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m at Northgate Mall, 1058 West Club Blvd. A map of the events and more information is available here.

Durham schoolchildren have again begun their annual tradition of filling "Barrels of Love" with food for the Salvation Army's pantry.

Each school in Durham has collection barrels for nonperishable foods. Some are holding competitions for the most food collected, too.

“Every year, this drive is one of the biggest sources of nonperishable foods for our pantry,” said Debbie Avolin, director of social services for The Salvation Army, in a press release. “Durham’s young people work really hard to collect tons of canned goods for people in need.”   

Continue reading to learn more about how you can help:

Durham Public Schools superintendent Carl E. Harris will leave the school system at the end of the calendar year in order to work for the U.S. Department of Education, according to a news release sent this morning.

Harris has accepted a position as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education for Policy and Strategic Initiatives with the federal agency.

“It is with heavy but deeply grateful hearts that the members of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education accept the resignation of Dr. Carl Harris. Dr. Harris has provided a quiet strength in his leadership of our district over the past three-and-a-half years,” said Minnie Forte-Brown, chairwoman of the Durham school board. "Durham’s loss is definitely our nation’s gain. We wish him well as he takes his wisdom and his experience to Washington to improve schools across our country.”

Harris has served as superintendent of Durham Public Schools since July 1, 2006. Previously, he was the superintendent of Franklin County Schools.

Update: Harris is expected to stay in his post through "at least" Dec. 31, according to DPS spokesman Michael Yarbrough. The school board will soon decide who will serve as an interim superintendent, he said. They'll then work out the details for picking a new superintendent. The board's next meeting is Nov. 19.

The full news release is posted after the jump:

The Durham Public Schools' board of education plans to talk about individual school improvement plans and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate classes at their monthly instructional services committee meeting today.

They'll also be discussing contracts for supplemental educational services (SES), or the mandatory extra tutoring supports that must be available for students when schools don't pass federal testing standards.

The meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the school system's headquarters, located at 511 Cleveland St. Committee meetings are open to the public.

The entire agenda for today's meeting can be viewed here.

The state's Department of Public Instruction released School Report Cards for districts and individuals schools late last week.

Each school's report card can be viewed at www.ncreportcards.org. You can click to view details on each school district and each school in categories like technology usage, funding, test scores, suspensions and teacher quality.

It's a quite interesting and comprehensive read. In addition to the standard testing reports, you can also check out how many of your school's computers have Internet access, or how many teachers have advanced degrees.

Gwen Johnson, principal of Mangum Elementary School, was named Durham Public Schools' Principal of the Year this morning.

Johnson was chosen by a committee of former award recipients and DPS administrators. She will now repesent the school system in the North Carolina Wachovia Principal of the Year competition.

Johnson has been principal at the school since 2004. Before that, she taught at Oak Grove Elementary. She holds degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill, NCCU and East Carolina University.