More than two dozen students, parents and alumni of the School for Creative Studies urged the Durham Public Schools Board on Thursday to reverse a plan to end the high‑school program, saying the proposal would dissolve long‑standing mentorships, erase career pathways and harm vulnerable students.

"Our school is shutting down the high school section," Abigail Hedgepeth, a junior and student‑council vice president at the School for Creative Studies, told the board during the public‑comment period. "I couldn't imagine myself at any other school. I couldn't imagine any other relationship to have formed the way it did here at creative studies."

Speakers described the school as uniquely supportive, citing small class sizes, long teacher‑student relationships and programs such as Young Male Achievers that mentors younger students. Former student Samuel Earl Dixon said his experience in middle‑and high‑school mentorship programs at the School for Creative Studies shaped his college success and service: "This program is built to shape and introduce young boys into manhood. It provided me with older guys to learn from, seek advice from, and ultimately bond and have fun with," Dixon said.

Teachers and staff—who also addressed the board—said a phased closure announcement had reduced enrollment and undermined stability. "When I was called in about my possibility of losing my position due to the loss of so many students, I was crushed," said Lakisha Holiday, an English teacher at the school. Parents and alumni said the proposed change would force students to choose different high schools and disrupt ongoing arts, theater and career programming. One parent said students with disabilities would particularly lose a consistent support structure.

Students described practical consequences: disruptions to extracurriculars such as cheer and theater, transportation challenges and loss of the school’s small‑school culture. Several speakers said the district's enrollment assumptions were flawed and asked board members to visit the campus and consider alternatives. "If the foundation is not broken, please don't break it," said parent Joseph McMillan, who has two sons who attended the School for Creative Studies.

Board members did not take an on‑the‑spot vote on the school's future during the public‑comment period. The item is tied to wider facilities and enrollment planning and will be considered later in the district’s capital and program reviews. The public comment concluded when the board moved to the consent agenda; the record shows widespread and emotional opposition to the proposed phasing out of the high‑school program.

Ending note: Speakers asked the board to pause the plan, examine enrollment and transportation data, and hold more community meetings before any final administrative action.