The Durham County Board of Commissioners plans to consider Monday whether to invest $4.1 million in a site that may or may not become the county's next public high school.

Hugh Osteen, assistant superintendent of Operational Services, and Tim Carr, Construction and Capital Planning Program director for Durham Public Schools, asked the commissioners Monday to approve the purchase of 58 acres at 2900 Duke Homestead Road from Duke University next week.

The school's land acquisition, design and construction would be funded by a bond approved by voters in 2007. When the bond was approved, the school was proposed to relieve over-crowding at Riverside and Jordan High schools, which together were about 800 students over capacity, Osteen said.

Riverside's enrollment has since dwindled to about 300 students over capacity and Jordan a little less, Osteen said. The proposed three-story high school would be built for 800 students, with the ability to grow to 1,200 students.

On Jan. 28, the Board of Education approved a request to put the school's design and construction on hold pending a detailed review of capital needs and funding for the next several years. The Board of Education, however, recommended that the property still be acquired, Osteen said.

There are "very few places within in city limits" that are the large enough and don't include expensive environmental site challenges such as wetlands and steep slopes, Osteen said.

"This is really kind of a catch for us," he said.

The commissioners asked why they should approve the purchase considering current budget challenges and pending state legislation that could allow more charter schools across state, which could reduce the need for public high schools in the area.

"Because the way the legislators are going right now, they are opening up the door wide open," said Commissioner Becky Heron, about proposed changes that could allow more charter schools across the state.

If commissioners don't approve the purchase and the school system decides to move forward with a new high school in the area, it will leave the system "in bad shape," Osteen said.

"The goal here is to get the land in hand, and not wait," he said.

Commissioners Vice-Chairwoman Ellen Reckhow pointed out that the system has been looking for an appropriate site for at least two years, and the proposed location is an ideal fit.

DPS has 12 high schools, which include the Southern School of Engineering, and Hillside New Tech.