Durham students could soon see a public Montessori middle school in their backyard.

On Thursday night, the Durham school board voted unanimously to approve a development agreement between the school system, Durham County and the YMCA of the Triangle.

According to school board documents, Durham County is expected to purchase the Lakewood YMCA on Chapel Hill Road in Durham ,and lease 18,000 square feet back to the YMCA for 17 years.

The county will pay $ 8 Million to renovate the facility, and after renovation, the Durham Public school system is expected to step in to create the new Montessori middle school at the site.

This will be the first Montessori Middle school in Durham County.

Parents like Molly Reingruber say it's a welcome option for her two students who attend a Montessori elementary school.

"They'll be getting to go to a nontraditional school that includes project based learning, a strong community, mixed age groups, and so, we're really excited to have this opportunity for them," Reingruber said.

Durham's county government still has to finalize the agreement. The county is expected to vote on it as early as Monday night.