Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, weighs in on school pay crisis

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A community group called Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People weighed in on the Durham Public Schools pay crisis Monday morning.

The group called for new action to resolve the pay crisis and protect the interests of children.

The chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People said the group wanted to make a statement and put forth some recommendations regarding the current problems at Durham Public Schools that have led to school cancellations and other issues.

The group challenged Durham County's board of commissioners to become more active participants in this pay dispute and called on DPS and the Durham Association of Educators to take a 30-day pause on any action that could lead to more school closures. It also called on DPS to maintain the district's promised raises for affected employees through at least the end of the school year.

The committee's call to county commissioners came amid notable silence not just from the county officials but also from city leaders on the DPS pay issue.

So far, Durham City Council and Mayor Leonardo Williams have yet to address the education system crisis in an official capacity.

Walter Jackson, chairman of Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, said he wants the county's board of commissioners to step up now since they ultimately have the power of the purse.

"As I look at what's happening in the city of Durham right now, there is no greater current issue than this issue affecting the well-being of our children," Jackson said. "We think it demands action and we think it demands that the Durham committee step forth to make it known what a priority issue this is and should be for all of us."

This followed last week's high-tensioned board meeting where DPS voted to create an ad-hoc group that will iron out details of a possible future Meet and Confer policy, which would form a board advisory council partially made up of Durham school employees.

Some parents of DPS students said they would support any strategy that brings this crisis under control.

"Oh, absolutely," said Jen Hunt, a parent. "Any kind of politician or someone in that grade level can get involved. Maybe they can help change. Maybe they can give some ideas to whoever's in charge of this."

ABC11 reached out to the county's board of commissioners for comment but has not heard back.