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DPS board approves retro pay for social workers and nurses, adopts salary-administration policy as county funding falls short of district request
Summary
The board approved retroactive local master's-pay supplements for school social workers and an $80 monthly local supplement for DPS-employed school nurses for 2024-25, adopted a new salary-administration policy and discussed budget prioritization after county commissioners provided less local funding than requested.
The Durham Public Schools Board on June 26 approved several compensation and policy items affecting school-employed social workers and nurses, adopted a new salary-administration policy, and reviewed district budget priorities after county funding came in below the district request.
The board voted unanimously to authorize retroactive local master—s-pay-style supplements for school social workers (including McKinney-Vento liaisons employed by DPS) for August 2024 through May 2025, and to authorize an $80-per-month local supplement for Durham Public Schools-employed nurses covering the same months. Administration said the retroactive payments affect roughly 20 staff and estimated the social-worker supplementary payments would not exceed $80,000 and the nurse supplement would not exceed $9,000. The board asked staff to ensure that only DPS-employed nurses (not those employed by the county health department or contractors) receive the supplement.
The board also adopted policy 7502, a salary administration and employee compensation policy, intended to clarify district practices, add definitions (including "hold harmless" and "legacy differential") and accompany a draft guidelines document. The guidelines document is still a draft and was presented for information only; the board took final action on the policy itself.
Board members discussed the district—s budget prioritization context after county commissioners approved an additional local appropriation of about $12.9 million for current expense but cut the capital outlay request (down from $8 million in 2024-25, of which $6 million had been ARPA funds) to $5 million this year. The result left the district with a smaller pool for recurring priorities than originally requested. Staff said they would present an operational list of purchases and contract approvals to the board for items above staff spending thresholds.
Transportation and recruitment for bus drivers also drew extended discussion. Board members and staff explored whether bus monitors (safety assistants) should receive a supplement similar to drivers. Staff noted safety assistants are required on certain special-education routes and that retention and recruitment for drivers remain urgent. Administration said it will return with options for targeted recruitment and compensation adjustments after the state budget is final and after newly assigned transportation leadership completes a review.
The retroactive school-worker payments and nurse supplement will be processed promptly, administration said, and staff will report back with details to the board about affected positions and any related follow-up actions.
