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Residents ask board to transfer historic West Street School to preservation group
Summary
Cleopatra Hardy Lawton, a New Bern resident and alumna of the West Street School, asked the Craven County Board of Education on Sept. 18 to deed the West Street Historic School to the newly formed West Street Society for Historic Preservation.
Cleopatra Hardy Lawton, a New Bern resident and alumna of the West Street School, told the Craven County Board of Education on Sept. 18 that she and a coalition, the West Street Society for Historic Preservation, have submitted a petition asking the board to deed the West Street Historic School property to the society for restoration and preservation. "We formed this coalition of citizens of New Bern who want to save, restore, and preserve our and your first school for freed slaves," Lawton told the board, and she attached historical photographs and a short history to the petition.
The request drew an immediate response from a board member who said the district is not using the property for school purposes and "we can't donate property. It's not something the statute allows us to do," and that the district must put unused property to its "highest and best use." The board member's remarks were made during the public‑input discussion that followed Lawton's presentation.
The petitioner described West Street School as the first school for freed enslaved people in New Bern and asserted the site and surrounding West Street businesses form a unique historical district. Lawton referenced family history and community connections, including local alumni and the Craven Arts Council, and said the society is incorporated to pursue restoration and possible recognition.
Board members did not take formal action at the meeting on the petition. The board member who addressed the item said the property is not presently used for public school purposes and noted legal restrictions on donating district property; the board did not identify a specific statutory citation during the discussion and did not schedule a follow‑up vote or hearing at that time.
The board did accept public comment under its public‑input rules, which limit speakers to five minutes and require statements to be civil. No board motion or vote concerning a transfer or disposition of the West Street property was recorded during the meeting.
The petition and attached materials were entered into the record as part of public input. The board suggested that disposition of unused property must comply with state law and district policy and will be considered under those constraints if formally brought forward for a future agenda.
