Durham teachers push county leaders for more money in budget

Durham educators are pushing county leaders for more money in this year’s budget.

Their request for increased funding comes after North Carolina lawmakers reached a deal on an 8% average pay raise for teachers next school year, just days ago.

However, even with a Durham budget proposal on the table offering millions more in funding for public schools, teachers say they are still aren't making a livable wage.

"A lot of classified employees are working two to three jobs because they are not making ends meet," said Angelique Parkstone, a Cafeteria Manager at Hillside High School in Durham. 

The details of the pay raise will vary depending on each teacher's experience, as lawmakers continue to emphasize higher raises for the state's earliest-career teachers over more experienced ones.

The Durham Association of Educators is asking the county for $14 million more on top of the $10.9 million funding increase that is proposed in the current budget. They say that will raise the district’s minimum wage from $17.15 per hour to $19.22 per hour.

“Our teachers work hard. 8% is not enough,” Parkstone said. “They need a lot more. And then the rest of the classified staff, they need more than 3%. That's nothing. I figured it out of my own personal pay, and that's only $19 more on a paycheck.”

Two out of five Durham County Commissioners sat in on a town hall meeting Thursday hosted by the DAE.

WRAL News asked Commissioner Nida Allam if there was room in the current budget to appease some of what teachers are asking for. She said the decision would take “a lot more deliberation.”

“There are other priority areas also where we haven’t reached the funding levels we want to see,” Allam said.

While tonight's call to action is to the county, teachers agree they'd also like to see more from the state than the 8% increase that is currently on the table. 

Durham's Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis shared a statement addressing the state of school funding.

"When the state fails to fully invest in public education, it is our children who pay the price.  Now is the time for leaders at every level to decide whether we will stand up for public education or stand by as it is slowly dismantled."

Commissioners have several weeks before they need to finalize the budget.

The community can weigh in next Tuesday, May 26, during a public hearing in board chambers at 7 p.m.

The next budget work session in Durham will be on Tuesday at 9 a.m.