Durham Public Schools grapples with $9 million shortfall amid pay dispute
Classes resumed Tuesday at all Durham Public Schools after they were canceled Monday and last Friday.
WRAL News has followed Durham Public Schools’ pay dispute for classified staff for more than a month now.
Classified staff account for about half of DPS employees. It’s a group that includes instructional assistants, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nutritional staff and transportation support staff.
For the district to continue paying classified staff at the same rate from October 2023, DPS would be $9 million over budget. October 2023 is when DPS classified staff got raises after a study conducted by HIL Consultants.
A report into what happened with Durham Public Schools' classified staff pay shows a breakdown in communication.
Departments had a discrepancy on how many years of service would count, and how much paying for them would cost. The report also shows a glimpse of what could be coming.
HIL consultants, who did the salary study, weighed in on deeper issues.
"The consultants also identified other apparent shortfalls in the district’s budget, due in part to declining student enrollment that has resulted in a significant decrease in state funding,” HIL’s study states.
Schools are funded by the state based on their average daily membership.
According to state data, that number is declining, with more families opting out of public-school education.
The district's website says state funding makes up about 48% of the budget, and local funding about 30%.
"[DPS new acting Chief Financial Officer] Ms. [Cierra] Ojijo wrote this week, as it currently stands, that is an alarming amount of uncertainty when we look at long-term sustainability," said Durham Public Schools board member Natalie Beyer.
School Board members voted only on February paychecks at their meeting last week, tabling a long-term decision until the newly hired comptroller can weigh in.
"We do need to figure out responsibly what we're going to do,” said Durham Public Schools board member Emily Chavez. “We can't spend money that we don't have."
DPS staff have recommended four options for the school board to consider on this issue, ranging from $90.1 million to 90.4 million dollars. Each option could be funded in the current budget.
The Durham County Commission and the school board meet once a quarter. Their next regularly scheduled meeting will be next Tuesday.
The Durham Public Schools Board of Education is also meeting Thursday with the Durham Association of Educators.
