Students in Durham Public Schools could have to make up missed days on holidays or during break time if school closings persist during the ongoing classified workers’ salary dispute .
In a news conference Wednesday, Interim Superintendent Catty Moore said most school systems in North Carolina exceed the number of school days required by state law, creating a “bank” they can pull from during emergencies.
But that bank will run out in “one day or less,” depending on individual students’ schools, some of which closed more than others.
So far, all DPS students have missed two days because of staff sick-outs and absences during the budget crisis. Students at 19 schools have missed three days.
“We are not there yet,” Moore said. “But we will be.”
Moore and School Board Chair Bettina Umstead offered few details about how Durham Public Schools will seek to resolve the dispute over higher salaries that were granted to classified staff, then promised only through February.
Asked if DPS would seek emergency cash from Durham County, Umstead said only that commissioners are “eagerly awaiting” a proposal.