A message from DPSF following last Friday's School Board Meeting

On Friday, the school board met to determine next steps for classified staff pay. The passion and dedication displayed by our community members in that meeting was undeniable, and we share in the disappointment that key issues were not fully addressed. 

On the one hand, we commend the school board for taking steps to hire an external comptroller and discontinuing the relationship with the HIL Consultants firm. The school board also took the first steps towards a Meet and Confer policy with the Durham Association of Educators (DAE). Bringing DAE to the table to help problem solve is a critical step our community needs, and DPS Foundation fully supports this policy.

However, we are deeply concerned about the delay in determining and communicating the February pay for classified workers; this uncertainty affects their ability to plan their lives and support their families. Prompt action is needed from our school board, and DPS Foundation supports DAE’s short-term demands and timeline to meet them this week: 

• Commit to keep February paychecks whole

• Provide a public explanation of why January checks did not match December checks as workers anticipated

• Schedule a Meet and Confer work session with DAE for no later than the week of February 12th

Additionally, we look for collaboration between the Durham County Board of Commissioners and the school board to increase investment in our public schools–both during this crisis and in the years to come. As a private nonprofit, we are committed to continuing to raise private dollars to support our schools, but that is no replacement for adequate public spending on our schools at the state and local level. 

Finally, the current crisis offers an opportunity to strengthen our entire DPS system. As details from the investigations come to light, we urge the school board to keep accountability and transparency as a top priority.  

DPSF stands in solidarity with our DPS workers and students, and we remain committed to supporting and advocating for a fair and equitable resolution to the current challenges.

In Solidarity,

Erika Wilkins

Executive Director, DPS Foundation