Community members told the Durham Public Schools board that staff pay and competitive wages should be the district's top budget priority, with 1,531 participants weighing in through an online survey voted on 28,229 times.
Community survey with 1,531 participants and 28,229 peer votes ranked staff pay and competitive wages as the top budget priority for DPS.
Durham Association of Educators president Micah Tweet Meer invited the board to a March 25 negotiation meeting with 13 worker representatives to address eight urgent priorities including pay compression and transportation.
Superintendent Jovonia Lewis will present her budget recommendation next week; the board has scheduled a second hearing for late March or early April and a May 15 deadline to submit the budget to county commissioners.