Durham Public Schools has a $1 billion deferred maintenance backlog and has identified 16 schools for possible consolidation or closure. The district is planning for action around 2030.
- Club Boulevard Elementary is at the top of the watch list. Schools were identified based on enrollment trends, building condition, and proximity to other facilities.
- The district is weighing two bond options: a general obligation bond, which requires voter approval, and a limited obligation bond the county can issue without a referendum.
- Durham County Manager Claudia Hager told the school board the county is not ready to take a bond to voters.
DPS has $1 billion in deferred maintenance and no funded plan to address it. The consolidation process narrows the problem to something manageable. Whether the county will fund what remains is a separate question.
The board is expected to narrow the watch list before the 2030 consolidation target.