If you haven't' seen it yet, we wanted to share the recent IndyWeek article that's been circulating: DPS is facing nearly $1 billion in deferred maintenance, and at last week's Board of Ed/County Commissioners meeting, the focus was on the BoE's proposal to close and demolish Watts, Club, and other older/smaller elementary schools, and consolidating the students at a new, yet-to-be-built school in a different location. While the BoE stressed that the proposal to shutter and consolidate Watts, Club, etc. is hypothetical, the county’s budget deficit is not, and the proposal to close and consolidate a number of DPS schools may very well materialize.
A few of us are planning to attend upcoming meetings of both the DPS Board of Education and the Durham County Board of Commissioners. Why both? Because these two groups have distinct but interconnected budgeting roles: the school board sets the district's budget and makes decisions about which buildings to repair, consolidate, or close. But the school board can't control its own funding -- under NC law, it's the county that is responsible for funding school buildings and capital needs, and it's the county commissioners who will decide whether/how to fund the budget proposed by the school board.
We could use some help attending these meetings. We're looking for other families who have questions about what is happening and how we got here to watch, listen, take notes, and try to get our questions answered. Afterward, we'll put together a plain-language summary and next steps to share with families.
Would you be willing to join us at one of these meetings? Here are the upcoming meeting dates, which are open to the public:
If you're interested in attending, please complete this form so we can make sure all the meetings are well covered.
Thank you,
Andrew, Annie, Bethany, Paige, and Brigid (George Watts PTA Advocacy Committee)
UPDATE 1:
Happy Friday before spring break. I am writing with an update about Watts closure concerns. Thank you to Amber Sniff who attended last Monday's County Commissioners' meeting. Amber's recap of the meeting is:
The meeting did not specifically address DPS's closure and consolidation proposal.
The meeting discussed the upcoming county budget.
The notes are "budget looks grim" and "the county is going to have to make hard decisions."
Key takeaway: It is important to have people from the Watt's community participate in the next couple of months of budget meetings if we want to better understand what might happen to Watts in the near future.
For now we are asking for help with the following:
People who can attend the County Commissioners' Virtual Budget Discussion March 30, 7:00-8:30 pm which will include a Q&A.
People to prepare comments for and attend the County Commissioners' May 26th Public Hearing, 7:00 pm on the recommended budget.
If you can attend either or both, please complete this form so we can make sure all the meetings are well covered.