CHARLOTTE, NC — Less than two weeks from the start of school for CMS and still no education budget from the North Carolina General Assembly.
The largest school district in the state needs to hire more than 200 teachers, and Superintendent Ann Clark calls the situation “chaos”.
“Our General Assembly has not approved a budget for the 2015-16 year, and yes, we are eight business days from the opening of school,” says CMS superintendent Ann Clark.
395 open positions, the bulk of those teaching vacancies, and expectations for more than two thousand new students. Superintendent Clark is frustrated.
“With eight business days until our students come, we will be using everything, including business days and weekends, to continue to make those recommendations so we have as many teachers in place as possible,” says Superintendent Clark.
Staffing has been an ongoing issue for CMS, and the state in general, with many teachers bolting for greener pastures.
“We must let the public, especially our county commissioners and our state legislators, know how dire this situation is,” says Erlene Lyde with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators. “And inform them that it is only going to get worse if something isn’t done.”
The state legislature has reduced funding for North Carolina schools in recent years, and pushed back the budget process leaving the districts in a bind.
“Disappointed in a lot of ways,” says North Carolina State Senator Joyce Waddell from Mecklenburg County. “And we must get something done, and must get it done quickly.”
Former CMS board member and current state senator Joyce Waddell says the budget debate has gone on too long, and the senate and house must find common ground.
“You know it takes a lot of negotiation, giving and taking,” says Senator Waddell. “And nobody wants to give up anything. But in order for it to be resolved, there must be compromise on both sides.”
The first day of classes for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is Monday, August 24th. The General Assembly was originally scheduled to pass a budget on July 1st.
