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Durham Public Schools begins redistricting study
Jan. 24, 2017—As a response to changing population trends in Durham County, Durham Public Schools is beginning a study that may lead to some changed school assignments in the 2018-19 school year.
“For the most part, our attendance areas have not changed significantly since the city and county school systems merged in 1992,” said Hugh Osteen, deputy superintendent for operational services. “They have only been adjusted when a new school or program opens. Over time, that means that some of our schools are overcrowded while other schools have too many empty seats.”
In 2011 the Durham Public Schools Board of Education adopted guiding principles for student assignment including taking action if enrollment at a school drops below 85 percent of building capacity. This school year, 11 schools are below that threshold while nine are beyond 105 percent of building capacity.
The redistricting study will involve extensive public engagement, beginning with the first step: a review of the school board’s guiding principles. Families, educators and citizens are invited to review and suggest changes to these priorities, which will guide DPS staff and the board in proposing and adopting a redistricting plan. Feedback will be taken at DPS’s new “Redistricting Study” web page.
With the growth of charter schools in Durham County, the school district’s enrollment has begun to decrease even as overall K-12 enrollment including charters has increased. At the same time, the county’s uneven population growth and family movement have left some schools overcrowded and others under-enrolled.
“It is now even more important that we spend our funds wisely,” said Superintendent Bert L’Homme. “Our priority needs to be on excellent teaching and instruction. That will be our focus during this study.”
A projected new elementary school on Scott King Rd. was left out of the 2016 bond referendum despite a residential building boom in southern Durham County. County and district leaders agreed to review student assignment options in the region to see if families could be accommodated without requiring new construction.
“This is going to be a careful, thoughtful process,” said Mike Lee, chair of the DPS Board of Education. “We’ll want to hear from our families, teachers and staff every step of the way. Families have choices, and we want DPS schools to be the best one for every family regardless of race, ethnicity, or home address.”