DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Fearing they’d have to pay it back, 1,300 workers will instead get to keep the money Durham Public Schools accidentally overpaid them.
On Tuesday, CBS 17 spoke with Stephane Inges, who is a custodian at Y.E. Smith Elementary. She said the district made the right move.
“They can’t [take money back] for the simple fact that we had nothing to do with their mistake,” Inges said.
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“We have asked administration to identify sufficient funds by Thursday’s board meeting that will allow employees to keep all pay received through December 31, 2023, and to be paid at the same rate for January 2024,” Durham School Board Chair Bettina Umstead said on Monday.
But Inges and several other Durham Public Schools staffers are worried that won’t be the case in February and beyond, as the district previously told employees it would cut their pay.
Inges said she would be losing nearly $1,200 a month, and she needs the money to pay her bills.