High schools

Seems i'm not the only one who thinks an Environmental Sciences magnet high school over in West Durham makes sense:

What better place to create a magnet school for environmental studies? Durham Public Schools are already on the cutting edge of delivering topic-based curriculae that go beyond basic NC curriculum requirements and prepare students for future studies and careers that are timely and competitive in this difficult economy. For example, consider Hillside's Technology High School in partnership with Nortel or Southern's School of Engineering in partnership with Duke. Why can't we consider a high school located in our beautiful environment that could serve as a laboratory for the future stewards of what we love so much and where Durham schools can produce leaders in the fight against global warming?

. . .

I'm sure there are many, many other ways that an Environmental Studies magnet could benefit our community and our children. When we look out into the future, they are our only hope for preserving our natural areas and reducing the devastating impacts of global warming. What better way to prepare them for this kind of leadership than to bring them into the heart of what we love so dearly and show them first-hand what it means to all of us, indeed to our whole world?

JoEllen Mason

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High schools

As i mentioned below, i don't have strong feelings one way or the other where any new high school in Durham ends up being built. I can see the advantages of putting a school over by the Lakewood shopping center, but i have to say that anyone who thinks that suddenly high schoolers will start walking to the school just because it's located there is dreaming. Especially in the "urban" parts of the city like Lakewood (urban in quotes because the density over there is much more suburban than anything, and Lakewood itself is a strip mall not like anything you're likely to see in a real urban setting), walking remains a pretty uncomfortable if not outright unsafe activity.

But here's a thought for all those people in the rural part of the county who are already organizing against putting a new high school west of the 15/501 bypass.

Wouldn't it be a coup for Durham to have what i think would be the East Coast's first environmental sciences/sustainable agriculture magnet school? The proximity to Duke Forest, the Primate Center, New Hope Creek and other wetlands makes the location very conducive to that kind of study. Partnering with, say, the Nicholas Center is another obvious advantage. Orange and Chatham counties are also centers of sustainable agriculture. Taking the thought a few steps further, the building itself could be designed using best practices, and instead of paving a parking area large enough for the entire faculty, staff, and student body, a la Riverside, parking could be kept to a minimum. Let the staff and faculty bid on who really wants to drive to work the most. Give financial incentives to faculty and staff for riding the bus or biking, and make sure that DATA is on board with providing frequent and reliable service during the morning and evening from a central parking location, perhaps in the inner city or somewhere near Duke.

Just saying there are a lot of options here if people are willing to get creative, and not look for cookie cutter solutions.

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High school flap?

Is there a tussle in Durham's future over the location of the next district high school?

Just askin'.

UPDATE: Kevin and i discussed this briefly on StB tonight. His post is here. My post was inspired by an email which appeared on the Erwin-Neighbor listserv this afternoon which contained an email thread that i suspect a number of people wish had not been included on the listserv post.

I don't really have a dog in this fight, seeing as how my kids are grown and out of the house. But i will say that i like the idea proposed by one of Kevin's commenters about Lakewood as a high school site better than i like the NIMBYism shown in the email exchange on Erwin-Neihbor. Even if the results are the same.

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Start spreadin' the news

Thanks to Michael, i learned that Durham has the best public school system in the state of North Carolina.

Yeah, really.

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School's in

I suppose starting school the week before Labor Day is better than starting in early August, but not by a whole lot. With a three day weekend on the horizon, and summer temperatures still in the forecast, there's little chance of any real learning taking place the next five days.

Still, remember that there'll be a bit more traffic in the mornings on local streets, with school buses and parents running their kids up to school, and in some parts of town, expect to see kids actually walking or riding bikes to school.

Drive a little bit more carefully, OK?

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