Durham Public Schools posted their planned revisions to the district's suspension and magnet policies on their website after the last school board meeting in September. There was still some debate over the changes, which were further discussed at a DPS committee meeting today.

The suspension policy, hotly debated years ago, is up for revision to meet new General Assembly guidelines. The changes are minor, but strengthen rules for parental notification and due process.

The magnet policy revisions will affect assignment preferences for rising sixth-graders planning to enroll in George Watts' Montessori school as well as from the Morehead Montessori elementary to the new Lakewood Y middle school montessori, scheduled to open next year.

To view the changes (the changes are bolded and made with strike-outs on the original policies) and submit your comments to the board, click here.

Meet local Etsian April of Moore Magnets.

Magnet schools are back on the school board's agenda today.

During the afternoon portion of today's work session, the board will discuss the annual magnet review and decide what next steps to take. Rosa Gill, chairwoman of the school board, anticipates staff will present recommendations for magnetization, and possibly demagnetization, of specific schools.

The magnet program has gotten a lot more attention since the school board decided last year to demagnetize four elementary schools.

UPDATE

The board gave preliminary approval to magnetize Brentwood and Smith elementary schools.