Durham Public Schools' Board of Education grappled with trust, equity, and long-term planning in a May 8 work session that surfaced deep tensions between staff morale, student climate demands, and an aging school system facing a $900 million facilities crisis.
The most immediate friction centers on school social workers' pay. Despite the board's spring 2024 promise to restore masters pay for "all instructional staff," social workers now appear in the budget marked "contingent on funding"—the only line item with that caveat. During public comment, JB Howland (read aloud by Aiden Brunner) pointedly asked: "How do you expect social workers to trust you on this?" and demanded both retroactive masters pay for this year and firm commitment going forward. The board approved the masters pay eligibility structure on a 5-1 vote, with Emily Chávez dissenting because Chávez wanted the benefit extended to anyone who would have received it in 2013, even at a reduced percentage. The contingent funding for 11 social workers signals that promises made in spring may not hold, damaging staff confidence after months of advocacy.
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