DPS Seeks Growth Planning Collaboration with Durham City, County Leaders

Durham Public Schools could see enrollment climb by as many as 4,802 students during the next 10 years based on residential development data tracked by local planning officials.

Mathew Palmer, senior executive director of school planning and operational services for DPS, is expected to make a presentation during Thursday’s Board of Education work session about forecast growth in the district. Among the main points in his presentation:

• DPS currently has 35,000 K-12 seats to support curriculum and instruction of students. During the 2023-24 academic year, the district has 31,000 students enrolled, which means 89% of capacity.
• The district is updating its 10-year Student Enrollment Forecast, reflecting approved and pending residential development applications within the city and county of Durham.
• An expected 165 residential developments under construction in Durham are liable to yield nearly 5,000 more students in DPS by 2033-34.
• It would be ideal to formalize the integrated planning efforts of the City of Durham, Durham County, and DPS staff. School district administrators want to develop a memorandum of understanding with the local governments “to ensure shared expectations and accountability with respect to managing both student enrollment and K-12 built capacity within educational facilities.”

Other topics scheduled for discussion include:

• The district’s legislative agenda.
• LGBTQIA+ Pride Month proclamation.
• American Recovery Plan/ESSER III update.
• Discipline update and implementation of restorative practices.

Items on the board’s consent agenda for Thursday include:

• Curriculum and instruction contracts for 2024-25, with $1.75 million in federal and local funds spent on iReady, Canvas, and partnerships with the Museum of Life and Science.
• AT&T easement relocation at the new Durham School of the Arts site on Duke Homestead Road. That easement contains fiber cables serving one of three primary East Coast transmission lines connecting several states. Moving that easement is expected to cost about $200,000.
• Approval of a contract for commissioning services for the new Durham School of the Arts with WorCx. That’s expected to cost nearly $600,000.
• A $5,500 change order for the district’s contract with school bus technology provider Edulog to add School Web Assist, which will allow school administrators to track current student bus stop information.