Why keeping the Durham School of the Arts downtown matters | Opinion

Durham School of the Arts has long been a cornerstone of Durham’s vibrant downtown community. Originally opened in 1922 as Durham High School, it has evolved over the decades, embodying the spirit of progress, diversity and cultural enrichment that defines Durham.

Its historical significance is deepened by its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement and integration of Durham Public Schools — a significant step toward equality in our city.

Today, as DSA continues to thrive and nurture creativity and critical thinking in students from diverse backgrounds, its at a critical juncture. The Durham school board has voted to move DSA to a new location, away from its historic downtown home.

While modernization and improved facilities are necessary, it is important that we consider the profound implications of relocating such a pivotal institution.

For many of us, our family histories run deep in the building that now houses DSA. My father David Gergen and his three brothers attended Carr Junior High School and Durham High School, both on the site of the current DSA. He graduated in 1959 in the last all-segregated class of Durham High School. It was a formative experience that strengthened his consciousness and led him to work with the late-Gov. Terry Sanford promoting the Good Neighbors Council, a pioneering racial integration initiative.

During this same period, my father, Floyd McKissick Sr., a prominent civil rights leader, and my mom Evelyn fought tirelessly to integrate Durham Public Schools. My sisters and I helped integrate North Durham Elementary School and Carr Junior High. My sister, Jocelyn, was in the first integrated class at Durham High School in 1960. The integration wasn’t just about entering a building. It was about breaking barriers and fostering a community where every child, regardless of race, could access quality education.

Keeping DSA downtown isn’t merely about preserving historic buildings. It’s about maintaining the cultural and educational heartbeat of our city. Downtown has undergone significant revitalization over the last 30 years, and DSA has been a key player in this transformation. Since 1995, its downtown presence has fostered a unique synergy between education, the arts and the local community. Students benefit from immediate access to downtown’s rich cultural resources.

Moving the school to a less central location also risks disenfranchising students who may rely on public transportation or who live in more remote areas. The current site isn’t just geographically central, it’s symbolically significant. It represents the unity and diversity that make Durham special.

Renovating DSA at its current location is an investment in Durham’s future. Modernizing the facilities can be achieved without uprooting the institution from its historic roots. This approach respects the legacy of those who fought for integration and equality while ensuring that current and future students have access to state-of-the-art educational resources.

Let us honor their legacy by keeping DSA downtown, where it can continue to be a beacon of creativity, inclusivity and community spirit.

Floyd McKissick Jr. is an attorney, Durham native and former state senator. Durham resident Christopher Gergen is Chief Growth Officer for 4P Foods and co-founder of Forward Cities.