Durham Schools budget talks: Classified Staff pay in focus
The Durham school board discussed budget priorities for the upcoming 2024-25 school year on Thursday evening.
One of the key issues is classified staff pay.
Last fall, the board implemented salary increases for classified staff that weren't included in the original budget. This led to protests, school closures, and uncertainty for many employees.
The focus now isn't on the superintendent's proposed budget but rather on a set of priorities and their associated costs, in addition to state mandates.
The conversation shifted to what's next for Durham Public School classified staff.
"Most, if not the majority of classified staff I've talked to don't know if they're going to be in DPS next year, and so much of that hinges on the salary decision going forward, and we feel very much like we're in the dark now," Christie Clem said.
The school board prioritizes classified staff pay raises for next year, but the cost is unclear.
"There are no dollars here because, number one, the board will see at their next board meeting I believe you will have some models to look at regarding options for 2024-25 salary schedules," Catty Moore said.
While awaiting the comptroller's recommendation, the board will meet with county commissioners next week to discuss potential funding needs.
"What we're hoping in our conversation with the county is for our living wage to at least match the county's living wage," Natalie Beyer said.
In a move to address classified staff compensation, the board approved an interim solution for the rest of the school year.
This includes an 11% raise over last year's salaries. However, some members remain concerned that the increase falls short of the promises made in October.
"The majority of us have been very passive pawns in this game. We're waiting to see what happens for us now," Clem said.
The interim superintendent will bring her proposed budget to the board on April 11.
