CMS, County Commissioners Remain At Odds Over Funding Despite Private Meeting

CHARLOTTE, NC – A private meeting Tuesday did little to bring Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Mecklenburg county commissioners closer together when it comes to the budget.

Earlier this month County Manager Dena Diorio unveiled a plan to withhold $56 million dollars from CMS until the school system provided more details on how they would close the achievement gap and improve racial inequities. School officials say it will only hurt the students.

“The work is too important to be distracted,” said Superintendent Earnest Winston.

Winston was speaking publicly for the first time since having his credentials questioned by the county commission chairman.

“Anything that people say or think about me that does not get us closer to successfully educating every child in our school district. Doesn’t matter,” said Winston.

Winston met with the county manager and commission in a closed-door meeting. The hope was to find common ground about the $56 million dollars that is currently being withheld.

“If there are issues that prevent them from developing a plan that has metrics in it that we can monitor, then we would like to know that,” said Commission Chair George Dunlap.

He says the money will only impact administrative and support staff and that students in the classroom won’t feel the pinch. He says commissioners simply want to see a plan with measurable results.

“What we don’t want to do is to continue to fund a process or program that we have no idea as to what the results might be,” said Dunlap.

“We’ve been very transparent. We’ve been very clear that we have a strategic plan,” said Winston.

Winston didn’t go into detail about the plans during a news conference.

School board members have taken issue with the county commission’s approach saying they’re overstepping their authority.

“This is our work. This is what the voters elected us to do. This is what the general assembly tasked us with doing and we’re not going to abdicate that responsibility,” said School Board Chair Elyse Dashew.

County commissioners will vote on the budget next week. On Wednesday, they’re expected to take a straw poll to see where everyone stands.