The Durham Public Schools School Board will experience significant changes this year, with new members elected in all four districts that had open positions, according to preliminary results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE).
Only the board president, Bettina Umstead, was seeking reelection, but she was defeated in District 2 by Nadeen Bir, marking a historic change in the direction of the district.
The Durham School Board is nonpartisan. For this reason, the winners of the primary election assume their positions directly, without the need for further elections in November.
Preliminary results:
Distrito 1 Natalie Bent Kitaif won with 7,569 votes (68,65%).
District 2: Nadeen Bir received 9,349 votes (61,26%), beating incumbent Umstead, who received 4,147 votes (27,17%).
District 3: Gabby Rivero He won with 9,878 votes (52,39%).
District 4: Xavier Cason, a former board member, won with 8,497 votes (50,83%).
With these results, the board will have a majority of new members, since only three of the four open districts did not have incumbents in the race.
The results still need to be officially certified by the NCSBE).
Related: Clarence Birkhead is re-elected as Durham County Sheriff
Context of this contest
This renewal coincides with a critical moment for the district, which in the last year faced administrative and operational problems.
The debates included a $9 million budget error that led to the resignation of the previous superintendentAs well as discussions about administrative and teaching salaries and the shortage of bus drivers.
In 2024, the school board requested a substantial budget increase—tens of millions—to fund salaries, educational support, and basic services. However, the county's proposed budget fell millions short of that request. For this reason, the board made decisions regarding cuts and priorities.
In addition, a financial audit identified “material weaknesses” in the handling of accounts and internal controls, raising questions about financial oversight within the district.
The Durham Educators Association (DAE) endorsed the winning candidates. The DAE issued a statement highlighting the arrival of “a new era for politics in Durham.” It also celebrated the participation of parents, unionized staff, and community members in the election.
“Tonight has shown us that it is possible for working parents, unionized school staff, and community members to unite and defeat the established politics of the status quo,” the statement reads. “These candidates have earned our trust by committing to hold Durham Public Schools (DPS) leadership accountable for improving staff working conditions and student learning conditions.”
Related: Democratic voters defeat lawmakers who broke ranks with their party
Composition of the DPS Board of Education
School board members serve four-year terms.
The winners will join current members Millicent Rogers, Joy Harrell Goff, and Wendell Tabb to oversee the district's educational policies and decisions.
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