This video is no longer available.
MONROE, NC — The redistricting battle in Union County is far from over. As parents continue their fight in court, they worry kids will be sent to schools in desperate need of repairs.
The main concern parents talked about during a public comment period Tuesday night is that redistricting will send thousands of students to schools before needed renovations take place. “Schools that have severe needs are going to now get an influx of hundreds of kids next year, and yet these repairs still aren’t being made,” said Kim Hillegas, a Wesley Chapel resident. At the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, Union County parents asked the board to renovate schools and add classrooms before redistricting take place in the fall.
The board approved bids for repairs at five schools. They include roofing, restrooms, and sidewalks, and the district says the work should be completed by mid-summer. Many parents say they’re worried repairs will be pushed to next school year. “They’re proposing to do it while these schools are full of kids, and these are schools that are full of lead paint, Asbestos, full of mold,” said Hillegas.
At the top of the list is leaking roofs. “Patched them and patched them and patched. But unfortunately, that’s not good enough. The proper repairs have never taken place, and that can cause bigger issues like a roof collapsing,” said Molly Gickling, a Matthews resident.
Gickling took her concerns to the state superintendent, proposing an engineer come to inspect the roofs. The school board liked the idea and voted to do their part to make it happen.
Also, parents are focused on a lawsuit against the board. “We can have a court date by the last week in April, first week in May, so we can get this settled, one way or another,” said Hillegas.
