More Trouble Ahead Thursday for DPS Families

Durham Public Schools is expected to remain short dozens of school bus drivers on Thursday.
Parents who dealt with a two-hour morning delay on Wednesday due to cold weather found themselves needing to pick up their children after school because about 50 school bus drivers called out.
It’s not likely to improve Thursday and may worsen in the wake of concerns about DPS employee pay rollbacks that have roiled staff throughout the district during the past week.
In a statement Wednesday night, DPS announced:
“We regret to inform you that due to an ongoing bus driver shortage, we are facing challenges in providing transportation for our students tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 18. In light of this situation, we kindly request your support in transporting your children to and from school for the day. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and sincerely apologize for any disruption to your routine. Your continued understanding and support are crucial during this challenging time. We are actively working to address this situation and appreciate your patience. Please be assured that we remain committed to your child’s education.”
District officials announced last week that a board-approved salary schedule from October 2023 contained errors related to the pay for classified staff. The mistake, described as an overpayment between July to December 2023, affected at least 1,300 classified employees.
The district’s chief financial officer, Paul LeSieur, was suspended with pay.
On Tuesday, staff and parents held a sit-in outside the DPS headquarters downtown, demanding action.
On Wednesday, bus drivers called out and left the district scrambling to recruit parents to pick up children or arrange last-minute alternative transportation.
Wednesday night, Sheena Cooper, senior executive director for public affairs at DPS, sent a message to families about the crisis.
“At Durham Public Schools, we understand the gravity of this situation and the impact it can have on our employees and their families,” Cooper said. “Please be assured that we are actively working to resolve this issue with the utmost urgency. Our Board of Education and district attorney are diligently reviewing this matter and we are working to rectify this situation as soon as possible.”
The district’s explanations about the situation haven’t landed well with all DPS parents, including Beth Reid, who sent a letter addressed to Cooper, Board of Education members, and Superintendent Pascal Mubenga. It says, in part:
“If you ‘deeply value’ the work of the classified staff, show you value it the way employers traditionally express how much they value their staff, by paying them what you promised to pay them. This situation is outrageous and as a Durham resident and DPS parent, I’d really like some direct answers on how this happened and how it will be rectified, not vague platitudes about support and how much we all want the best for the kids.”
A meeting with the superintendent and staffers was scheduled for Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, be ready for tangled traffic as more parents than usual try to get students to school on time.
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