Durham bonds offer a sound investment in education

Durham County commissioners have stepped up with a $170 million bond request that voters will be asked to approve this fall. It is a timely and wise decision.

Four referendums will be on the November ballot.

One will give schools $90.9 million for buildings, including remodeling and reconstruction. More than half of the money, nearly $52 million, would go for a new Northern High. This is a painfully obvious need, as the school was built in the 1950s and has long been in need of serious attention.

Durham Tech would get roughly $20 million for improvements, another serious need at a time when the state’s community colleges are more important than ever. Starting in community colleges helps some students save money given the ever-increasing expense of the state’s four-year public universities.

And the Durham Public Library would get $44.7 million for improvements. Again, these are needed to speak to needs for high-tech services for patrons.

The bond issue also would benefit Durham’s Museum of Life and Science.

Commissioners are being bold here, and rightfully so.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Durham bonds offer a sound investment in education."