Internal emails show confusion, frustration among Durham school board members leading up to pay crisis
Emails obtained by WRAL Investigates show confusion and frustration among Durham school board members, even before the public outcry regarding the school system's months-long pay crisis. WRAL got access to the 400 pages of emails through a public records request.
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WRAL Investigates has reported that, even when the board gave the ok on Oct. 12 to the pay plan that would later spur employee protests and school closures, they were confused about its specifics. These new emails show just how deep that confusion was.
"I did not see what the total cost of this adoption would be for the district and where would those funds come from?" she asked, seeking clarity.
"l am disappointed that it seems to be acceptable for finance documents to continue to be submitted to the board for review with such delay-this doesn't appear to be the case with any other items presented to the board. To be clear, if there were desired changes to any of the financial documents, the board isn't being offered enough time to review and offer feedback."
Although the pay issue -- in which more than 1,000 DPS employees were told the district could not afford the raises they had been receiving for months -- became public knowledge in January, subsequent reviews sought by the school system showed that the CFO and superintendent were aware of the math error since at least early November.
She explained that led to some employees being paid thousands of dollars more than what was recommended.
In late February, the school board approved a new pay plan for employees that is within budget.
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