In late September, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced a list of schools that qualify for the newly created North Carolina Innovative School District (NCISD).
Under this, schools that qualify would be operated under charter or education management organizations for a period of five years. Every year the schools would be monitored for improvement to then be returned to the local school district at the end of that five-year period.
Initially, the list of potential schools was at 48. That number was then narrowed down to six:
Durham Public Schools Glenn Elementary
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools
Williford Elementary
Northampton County Schools
Willis Hare Elementary Robeson County
Schools Southside Ashpole Elementary
On Friday, it was announced that Glenn Elementary and Williford Elementary were not selected for the final phase for the NCISD.
"We are excited to hear that Glenn Elementary School is no longer being considered for state takeover," said Mike Lee, chairman of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education. "We are moving forward with our Restart planning and implementation for Glenn, Lakewood, and other schools needing additional support. We will continue to stand for our students, families, teachers and staff. Durham's schools are Durham's responsibility."
On Thursday, parents and students of Glenn Elementary went to the Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh with hundreds of signatures on a petition and passionate pleas to keep their school off the list.
"Communities, parents, and educators have been standing up for weeks to this state-led charter takeover of public schools approved by the General Assembly," said NCAE President Mark Jewell. "The big out-of-state money that led to this unproven and unaccountable school takeover scheme was exposed by the media this week. Instead of handing over our students to those who want to dismantle public schools and make big profits, our elected leaders should be investing in the resources it takes to help our students be successful."
READ MORE: With a decision looming, Durham parents make last-ditch effort to prevent school takeover