Durham Public Schools staff demanding $25/hr. wages as crucial budget vote nears

For many people who keep Durham’s public schools running, $25 an hour is more than just a number — it’s the difference between keeping a home and paying for important medicine.

Yamileth Ramirez, a former custodian at Githens Middle School who resigned in February, described a “broken system” within Durham Public Schools that led to significant paycheck errors and understaffing.

During a Durham Association of Educators (DAE) rally before Thursday night’s school board meeting, Ramirez told the crowd she left her job to protect her mental health and to find better job options to pay her rent.

In January, her paycheck was $1,100, short $300.

“Prices are going up; stress is affecting my health,” Ramirez said, speaking through an interpreter. “Other people leave because they have no other option and can get better pay elsewhere ... Leaders need to make sure the paychecks are correct. We shouldn’t have to call more than five times and have people come up with five different answers to get paid correctly and on time for the hours worked.”

As school board members weigh Superintendent Anthony Lewis’ $244.7 million budget request, they are being asked to choose between a “competitive” wage and a “living” one. DAE, the group advancing many demands from teachers and staff, is calling for a $22-an-hour minimum for classified workers, including bus drivers, cafeteria staff, and custodians, with a plan to raise that number to $25 in the coming years. Lewis set the floor at $19.22 in next school year’s draft budget.

Over 50 DAE members and supporters rallied outside the Fuller Building in downtown Durham where the school board meets. They held signs reading “Living Wage Now” and “Extra Duties Require Extra Pay,” while they marched along the sidewalk, repeating chants like, “Education is a right. That is why we have to fight!”

Mika Twietmeyer told the crowd the pay raise would help keep classified workers from burning out and feeling forced to leave the school system , which impacts students.

Lewis’ budget is a recommendation to the DPS Board of Education, which will likely vote on the spending plan March 26 before sending it to the county manager and Durham County Board of Commissioners for final consideration.

“We’re really hoping that the school district will ask for the money that they need to retain the workers in Durham Public Schools,” Twietmeyer said.

The budget breakdown

The school board didn’t vote on the budget Thursday night and can still make changes before the final request is drafted and sent to the county.

Lewis’ budget request is a $25.7 million increase over the current year’s budget. The request is divided into three key areas:

• Continuation budget ($10.9 million): Funding to maintain current operations, including rising costs for salaries, benefits, utilities and insurance
• Expansion budget ($14.8 million): New investments on personnel, including a $12% pay increase for classified workers to meet the county’s $19.22/hour minimum wage and salary adjustments for physical and occupational therapists.
• Capital outlay ($7.8 million): Support for facility maintenance, security improvements, and instructional technology (replacing Chromebooks for 17,173 students)

Overall, the school district projects its total budget across all state, local and federal dollars to be about $807.7 million for the 2026-27 school year.

During the budget presentation, Jeremy Teetor, the district’s chief financial officer, said the most significant change in the budget was the 5% increase ($19.22) for classified staff to “remain competitive with other local government entities.”

“The pay is not enough for how hard we have to work,” custodian Maria Lopez said at Thursday’s rally. “We don’t earn enough to be able to cover our own expenses.”

This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 10:50 AM.

Kristen Johnson

The News & Observer

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Kristen Johnson is a local government reporter covering Durham for The News & Observer. She previously covered Cary and western Wake County. Prior to coming home to the Triangle, she reported for The Fayetteville Observer and spent time covering politics and culture in Washington, D.C. She is an alumna of UNC at Charlotte and American University.