Durham’s school board has signed off on a budget request that local reporting puts at roughly $252 million in county funding, a hefty ask built around higher pay for frontline classified employees, restored transportation supplements and a slate of capital and technology needs across the district. The vote came only after hours of public comment and visible protests from school staff demanding bigger paychecks.
According to CBS17, the proposal would push local funding for Durham Public Schools above $250 million and, in that outlet’s coverage, includes raises some described as topping 12% for classified workers along with a proposed minimum hourly rate of about $19.22. The same report highlights sharp differences that surfaced between board members and union priorities during the debate.
What happens now is largely in the county’s hands. The Durham County manager is scheduled to present a recommended budget on May 11, followed by public hearings and work sessions later in May and a tentative adoption on June 8, the county manager’s office says. That calendar gives commissioners several weeks to decide how the school request fits alongside other county needs before they lock in a final number.
What the request would pay for
District budget documents presented to the board spell out where the money would go. The formal “Request to County Manager” lists $235,007,852 for current expense and $8.7 million for capital outlay. The superintendent’s summary also points to a 5% pay increase tied to classified employees, roughly $5 million for ongoing infrastructure and $3.7 million in debt-service support related to technology replacements, among other items, according to the district’s budget packet.
Educators press for bigger raises
The Durham Association of Educators has been pushing for a higher bar, calling for a living wage of $22 per hour with a multi-year path to $25 and urging the district to fund pay for employees who work extra hours without compensation. Union leaders and members told the board that many classified workers still struggle to cover basic costs, while some board members voiced appreciation that the new request moves in the direction of higher wages. The union’s statement and coverage of the protests are detailed by Durham Dispatch, which also captured the range of reactions from staff and trustees…