Photo Caption: Catty Moore speaking during the press conference introducing her as DPS’ new interim superintendent. Credit: Liz Schlemmer, WUNC
DURHAM, N.C. — Incoming Durham Public Schools interim superintendent Catty Moore introduced herself at a press conference Wednesday morning.
The introduction follows weeks of protests, intermittent school closures, and the resignation of former superintendent Pascal Mubenga on February 7th.
The district’s chaos began in January when it announced it would be cutting pay raises to classified staff, including bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers. According to an investigation released by DPS and their legal representatives, the Board of Education paid these staffers more than intended from July to December 2023.
DPS’ Board of Education has voted unanimously to maintain the previous pay raise for classified staff through the month of February, but discussions surrounding long-term salary plans are tabled for next week’s board meeting. In the meantime, the Board of Education and the Durham Association of Educators are scheduled to meet to discuss next steps at 5:30 p.m. on February 15th.
Malcolm Gay is an electrician with Durham Public Schools. He says it’s unsettling to not have a plan beyond February.
“Now we know that next month we’ll get paid the same, which is great,” Gay said after the February 8th meeting. “That’s a great step. But, people planned for winter vacations, people planned for summer vacations. Now you can’t plan for that.”
Parents like Kenobie Quinn have been similarly affected. She made a series of TikTok videos describing the confusion these school closures have created for her stepson. She says she is glad he is old enough to stay home alone, as childcare would be a serious concern otherwise.
“My heart goes out to parents that have to arrange childcare, they have to make arrangements on their job,” Woods said. “They might not have childcare in a timely fashion, so, to me, it’s just disturbing.”