Durham Public Schools Faces Pay Crisis and Potential School Closures

Durham Public Schools is paying nearly $300,000 to its departing superintendent, Dr. Pascal Mubenga, and allocating $25,000 per month to interim superintendent Catty Moore. The district is facing a budget shortfall and uncertainty about fulfilling promised employee raises. Documents reveal that Mubenga was aware of the budget issues before the raises were implemented. The pay raises, initiated by consulting firm HIL Consultants, were estimated to cost $10.8 million but are now projected to cost around $20 million. The district's Chief Financial Officer also resigned after bringing the pay problem to Mubenga's attention.