Update on Kenan School of Engineering closing

Angry parents in Duplin County are ready to take action against the county school board.

Controversy erupted last month when the board decided to close Kenan School of Engineering.

The school board told NewsChannel 3 the decision was a directive from State Superior Court Judge Howard Manning who told them they had to meet certain benchmarks, and that closing the school was their only option.

But Judge Manning’s office said that’s not true.

WWAY talked to officials with the State Department of Public Instruction to sort things out.

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton said, “Certainly they’re taking actions that they think are addressing concerns from the judge. I would suggest however is that’s not the only action they could take and there’s certainly not a ruling that they’re responding to.”

The Department of Public Instruction has to give its approval before the stem school is shut down.

Tuesday night parents met in Kenansville to discuss their course of action.

At the meeting, parents raised almost $2,000 dollars to hire an attorney to take legal action against the school board.

Parents hope to file an injunction to keep the school open.