The Durham Public Schools Board of Education voted during its work session to terminate two service contracts and to end its contract with SiteLogic, the district's energy‑conservation vendor, after extended public comment and internal review.

Finance staff said the district faces enrollment-driven revenue pressure and identified contract reductions and hiring freezes as near-term measures to close a budget gap. Staff highlighted three vendor actions that would free roughly $235,004 in the near term: two lawn-care contracts (B & B Triangle Enterprises and BJNL Painting) and a reduction to an HR virtual-interpretation contract. Administration also recommended terminating the SiteLogic contract by convenience, citing concerns about the vendor’s documented savings and potential remaining payments that would exceed the board’s contract threshold.

Students and community advocates from the Durham Sustainable Schools Coalition and Sunrise Movement urged the board to retain SiteLogic, saying its energy program “saves the district millions” and that SiteLogic provides the district’s only energy managers. Board members and staff questioned whether the public-facing dashboard and vendor presentations contained up-to-date, auditable bill-by-bill evidence, and asked administration to gather and present that evidence. Administration told the board it has hired internal staff and purchased equipment to perform some sustainability work in house.

After debate, the board voted to terminate contracts with B & B Triangle Enterprises and BJNL Painting immediately and amended a motion to also terminate SiteLogic; the board directed staff to bring more detailed documentation and a broader sustainability update at the January work session so the board and public can review evidence of savings and the district’s capacity to manage sustainability efforts internally.

Board members repeatedly asked for transparent, bill‑level evidence of claimed energy savings and for a public presentation about how the district will maintain or expand energy‑efficiency work after contract terminations.