Durham School Board approves $708 million on superintendent's budget proposal

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Members of the Durham School Board approved a more than $700 million budget proposal during a vote on Thursday.

There was a unanimous vote on the superintendent's $708 million budget proposal which would increase teacher and bus driver pay. However, some from the Durham Association of educators had been calling for more to help other staff like bus monitors.

"Now that I work with parents and students, I make just $17.50," said Tabitha who works as a bus monitor for students with special needs.

It's a labor of love she now worries may not be enough to pay the bills.

"If you treat people what they're worth and acknowledge our worth, then people will stay longer," Tabitha said. "I love my job, I really do, and I'm not planning to leave. But there may come a time when my co-workers and I can't afford to stay."

ABC11 spoke with Superintendent Dr .Anthony Lewis who said he appreciates the many meetings and public input that went into the budget and the tough choices that came with it.

"I hear them and I totally understand," he said. "I want to invest in our staff. We hear that. We see that. We see the work that they do and we hear from our community in terms of investing in our staff; however, we have to make sure we are operating within our means."

Lewis also said a big lingering question is how much money will come in from both the state legislature and the federal government, and whether that can make into the classroom.

"That's the uncertainty too. We don't know what is coming from the federal government in terms of federal funding," he said.

The budget will go to County Commissioners next so that it can be included in their own budget process heading into the summer.