Cabarrus Today

A school superintendent in Cabarrus County seeks answers to the question of non-certified staff pay in the midst of COVID-19 related school closures. 

According to Independent Tribune, Cabarrus County School Superintendent Chris Lowder, along with his fellow North Carolina school superintendents, have been seeking out some allowances to pay hourly staff since their schools have closed. Getting information and aid, however, has not happened yet. 

Since the schools closed on March 14, which was ordered by the state, superintendents have been pulling all the strings that they can as they advocate for their hourly staff.

“Every call that we’ve had with the state superintendent, we’ve had calls with the state school board, we’ve had a call with all superintendents on with the state school superintendent, everybody’s No. 1 question is about hourly employees,” Lowder said in an education board meeting on Monday, March 23.

Lowder said that he has sent emails to try to find out more information, given the importance of this question.

In addition to the hourly staff pay question, there are many other inquiries ranging from the schooling for students who are no longer able to attend classes and whether graduates will be walking for their diploma. 

While the schools are closed until at least May 15, Gov. Roy Cooper has not yet answered many of the questions from superintendents and employees of the school system. 

Lowder said that he is committed to getting answers for the school staff and will inform them upon hearing word of the plan. 

Cabarrus County Board of Education member Barry Shoemaker believes that it is imperative that employees and superintendents have this information moving forward. 

“I just think it’s really important that our employees understand we really are trying to do the best we can for them and to make sure that everyone at the end of the day gets a paycheck,” Shoemaker said.