Administration presented a draft of proposed Policy 7502, a salary-administration policy intended to standardize compensation, extra-duty pay, stipends, salary adjustments, and reclassification procedures across Durham Public Schools.

The presentation: Ms. Hager introduced the draft, describing the policy's intent "to ensure fair, consistent, and lawful employee compensation and salary administration." She said the working group has met for nearly a year to develop policy and an accompanying procedures document. "This is not something that we want to rush, but really taking the time to really get feedback and input from all of our stakeholders," she said.

Key elements: The draft addresses extra-duty pay (work performed outside job descriptions), annual stipend schedules (coaches, department chairs), documentation of salary adjustments in personnel files, processes for step/experience increases, new-hire placement on salary schedules, and a reclassification review committee that employees can use to request position reviews.

Board discussion: Board members pressed administration on several points:
- Extra duty: Board Member Harrell Goff asked whether "extra duty" could include duties performed during the school day that are outside a staff member's regular responsibilities (for example, covering another class during planning). Administration said teacher-coverage and IA-substitution situations would be addressed in procedures and noted existing processes for certain cases.
- Contracts vs. job descriptions: Members raised that many classified employees do not have written contracts and asked for clarity about where duties and expectations will be documented. Administration said classified staff have job descriptions and plans to make job descriptions and reclassification processes clearer.
- Reclassification and salary review committee: Members supported the proposed committee to review reclassification requests and wanted that process defined in policy or procedures.
- Stipends and extra pay: Board members asked for consolidated lists of stipend recipients (coaches, arts chairs, etc.) and clearer language about how stipends and extra-duty pay intersect with the FLSA and budget constraints.

Timing and next steps: Administration said the working group will continue to develop an accompanying procedures document and that the goal is to bring an action-ready package before the board before the end of the school year. The board voted to approve the draft on first read, and administration will return with refined language and procedures; the item was scheduled to come back for further action on June 10.

Why it matters: The draft seeks to standardize long-standing personnel pain points: inconsistent extra-duty practices, compression on salary schedules, lack of clarity about reclassification pathways, and the need to align pay practices with legal requirements and equitable administration across schools. Board members emphasized the importance of aligning the policy with practical school-level constraints and ensuring transparency for employees.