This article addresses Durham Public Schools’ Bionomic Educational Training Centers or BETC program, which *pays* occupational course of study (OCS) students and teachers to install and maintain raingardens and other sustainable landscaping on school campuses and private properties: https://www.dcomanagingforresults.org/environmental-stewardship/bionomic-educational-training-center].

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Over the years, thanks to the persistent involvement of school PTA's and organizations like the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association and Durham's Soil and Water Conservation District, Durham Public Schools (DPS) has slowly been incorporating sustainable stormwater control measures, like rain gardens and bioretention areas into their long-term grounds maintenance. In the aftermath of these collaborations, DPS has been frustrated with the challenge, responsibility, and cost of maintaining the resulting stormwater control measures; and many have become overgrown and unsightly, causing DPS to be resistant to future installations. Fortunately, grant applications are now amenable to providing at least a few years' funding for maintenance after project completion, including weeding, thinning, and replanting of vegetated areas, making DPS understandably more receptive to these worthwhile projects again.

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When it comes to getting these maintenance services, you can't do any better than your own school district's teachers and students.

Durham Public Schools high-school work-study students and teachers in the BETC program are NOW available to do maintenance on cisterns, rain gardens, bioretention ponds and other vegetated areas, including planting, trimming, thinning/weeding, etc.

If Durham school admin and/or PTA's are going to hire anyone to help with maintenance of the plots/grounds on any DPS school campus, their first choice should be the district's own BETC students and teachers. The BETC program depends on these contracts to survive, as teachers and students receive income as well as real-world experience through the program.

The BETC work program was put on hold during much of COVID but is now available to do work on the following days:

Rotation #1: Oct. 23 & Nov. 6

Rotation #2: Nov. 13 & Nov. 20

Please contact Rachel Owens (the BETC teacher at Northern High School) now or when you need grounds maintenance in the future: Rachel_Owens@dpsnc.net.

You may also contact Len Curington, the teacher in charge of Southern HS’s Agribusiness: Len.currington@dpsnc.net.

Just don't hire anyone else until you've at least talked to the BETC teachers. This program is incredibly practical and beneficial, and it needs ongoing financial support to survive.

More Info about the BETC program:

http://melissarooneywriting.com/DN_Articles/ICMA_BETC_Dec2014_.pdf

and

http://www.melissarooneywriting.com/DN_Articles/DN_5Jun2011.pdf

Thanks so much for spreading the word and the wealth!

Melissa (Rooney)