Durham educators lead rally around budget for upcoming school year with salaries under the microscope
Durham Public School district leaders are searching for a long-term solution to salary issues.
DPS was thrown into chaos earlier this year after an incorrectly implemented pay study.
That led to protests and sick-outs, including two days of the entire district shut down.
A lot of eyes were on the agenda for Thursday's meeting.
Meeting attendees were able to hear from the comptroller, who DPS hired after this salary issue started, about classified staff salaries.
"Everybody is making 11% more than last year. everybody," Kerry Crutchfield, Independent Comptroller said.
They hired Crutchfield to figure out how to pay classified staff according to the new state salary rules.
There’s a minimum that school employees must be paid, and a maximum, using state funds alone.
He believes if pay falls somewhere in the middle, the board doesn’t have to rely so heavily on local funds.
Crutchfield proposes a minimum salary increase of 11% for all classified staff compared to their previous year's pay.
Additionally, he recommends further adjustments for individuals whose salaries, even with the 11% increase, fall below the newly mandated state range.
Crutchfield found previous salary schedules weren’t sustainable or equitable and a new one would be better.
However some workers aren’t happy with new numbers.
It means they’d get paid less than what they were promised in October, even with 11% raises.
"We have to take credit for the high turnover rate that is already impacting our schools," DPS Instructional Assistant Shekera Pope said.
Pope says workers are starting to head out the door.
"It’s been a lot of resignations so far. It’s hard to continue to work for a company that feels like they don’t really care about you but when you love what you do," Pope said.
The Durham Association of Educators is also hosted a rally Thursday, focusing on the entire budget for next year.
It's budget season for local governments around the Triangle, with Durham Public Schools' finances under intense scrutiny.
The Durham Association of Educators led the charge protesting salary issues earlier this year - now, the group has a list of demands for next year's budget.
They include raises for all staff.
The group is asking for a $6,000 increase for certified staff up to 14 years of experience, and an $8,000 increase after 15 years or more.
They're also asking for a corrected salary study, back pay for the lower March through June paychecks, and a $3 per hour increase for classified staff.
DAE Board Member Christy Patterson said she's concerned.
"If nothing is done, we fear there is going to be historical turnover that will happen in the spring and summer," Patterson said.
Classified staff salaries in particular are under the microscope - with a report from the newly hired comptroller on tonight's agenda.
He's recommending reclassifying the pay grades based on state-mandated minimums and maximums.
The comptroller's report also points to many issues with the past salary schedules for DPS staff - with problems of compression for lower pay grades, and variation in percent increases that he says were not equitable or sustainable.
