Durham Public Schools presented an urgent request for $10.8 million in county funding to implement wage increases for classified staff including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and custodians covering approximately 2,200 employees. Superintendent Dr. Mubenga warned that without both state funding and the requested $4 million county contribution, implementation will be "really hard," noting the district fell $1 million short on teacher supplements last year despite receiving $3 million in county allocation. The commissioners did not vote on the request during this meeting, instead hearing detailed presentations on the district's broader budget challenges and recruitment crisis.
Durham Public Schools is managing nearly $151 million in federal COVID relief funds with only $10 million remaining to spend by a September 2023 deadline. Vice Chair Wendy Jacobs asked what happens to programs when the funding expires. Dr. Mubenga acknowledged the district has "158 million dollars worth of needs" but no long-term funding plan yet.
One email a week — new spots, neighborhood intel, and what's actually worth your time.