CMS Works on Student Assignment Before Vote
CHARLOTTE, NC — Too rushed, social engineering, trying to fix things that aren’t broken, and no plan to fix things that are. The list of community complaints about Phase 2 of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ student assignment plan is long. Many parents say the board of education is not responding to their input as a final vote looms.
“I’m a walker,” says Dilworth resident Jamie Brown. “We live two blocks from Dilworth, and now my kids will not be walking to school.”
Brown has a student at Dilworth Elementary. Phase 2 of the CMS student assignment plan would put her child on a bus, taking her away from the neighborhood.
Dilworth residents know there will be an impact, but they want to see a balance in the reassignment of middle school students at Alexander Graham and Sedgefield.
“We really want to go about this in a very positive way,” says Brown. “We want to work with the board and create a solution that will be positive for everybody. You know I want this middle school to be amazing too.”
Dilworth parents have presented alternative proposals to the CMS board, but have yet to hear a reply to their input.
The board met for a 3-hour Tuesday night work session, with Superintendent Ann Clark presenting a 65-page review of her plan.
“Morehead STEM, why do we see a need to disrupt?,” asked District 3 Board Member Ruby Jones. “What of the guiding principles are we seriously trying to address there?”
Board members gave their input to CMS staff, who have also been working to include clarifications and revisions based on community feedback. But it doesn’t appear that any major changes are coming.
Incoming superintendent Clayton Wilcox, who has been involved in the process, will be the one tasked with implementing the plan.
“What’s important for people to realize is this plan doesn’t take place next school year,” says Wilcox. “We have another year, after we make some decisions, to really kind of iron that out. To get the plans together, so we can say to parents, here’s exactly what’s going to happen for your kids.”
Superintendent Clark says implementing the phase 2 plan will cost the district $5.8 million.
The board is set to vote on the proposal May 24th.
