DPS proposed budget would fully fund revised salaries for classified staff, ease tension within district

Durham Public Schools shared its game plan to address pay shortages in the upcoming school year.

Thursday, Interim Superintendent Catty Moore will present her budget request at a board of education work session.

The largest line item is an $8 million request that would fully fund revised salaries for classified staff.

It's an issue that disrupted classrooms earlier this year.

The school year for Durham Public Schools started off a little rocky. This after rallies, sickouts and even school closures. All this started when 1,900 certified staff members were asked to take a pay cut.

This happened after the district discovered that teacher assistants, therapists, and cafeteria workers, who are all considered certified staff members, were being overpaid for months.

Now there is a solution on the table, an $8 million line item request. That would fully fund the salaries for classified staff. Interim Superintendent Catty Moore made the request, and is also asking local leaders for a total budget of $217.4 million - a 12.5 percent increase over last year.

WRAL News reached out to Durham Public School Board and Board of Commissioners about the request. We are waiting to hear back.

The proposal will be presented on Thursday, then there will be a public hearing scheduled for April 18.