Board OKs $6.49 million contract with 35 North and appoints CIP task force to plan 10-year facilities needs

The Durham Public Schools board voted Thursday to approve a contract with 35 North for project-management services on the 2022 bond and ongoing facility work and to form a capital improvement plan task force to prioritize needs across the district. Administrators asked the board to approve a new 35 North staffing-plan contract for program and project management services at a not-to-exceed amount of $6,491,837. The firm has been working with district staff on the Glenn Elementary renovation and other 2022 bond projects. Project manager Scott McEntee presented the Glenn update earlier in the meeting. Board members also approved the creation of a capital improvement plan task force that will assess needs across every school and produce a 10-year prioritized plan with associated cost estimates. Administration proposed a 12-to-16 member task force that includes central office leaders, facilities staff, school leaders and community representatives; the board asked that two or more members represent the board on the task force. The board approved appointments of Wendell Tabb, Joy Harrell Goff and Natalie Byer as board representatives. Task force work will include public engagement sessions (two rounds), development of objective prioritization criteria, school-by-school plans and a final report with a 10-year spreadsheet of projected projects and budgets. Administration said it will present the task force's recommendations to the county in the spring so the county has time to review ahead of any proposed bond next year. The board approved the contract and the task-force appointments in separate motions during the meeting.