UPDATE: CMS south Charlotte boundary decision to be delayed until spring
Plans to build a new middle school in south Charlotte will be considered in the planning for the new high school boundaries, CMS officials say
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CMS posts update on high school boundary changes with new timeline, putting a decision in April or May; plans for a new south Charlotte middle school being added to the process
by Cristina Bolling
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials will wait until April or May to decide on where new South Charlotte high school boundary lines will be drawn, according to an update recently published on the CMS Planning Services department webpage.
The new school boundaries, which were expected to be voted on by school board members next month, are being drawn as the district prepares to open a new high school in the fall of 2024 to relieve overcrowding at Ardrey Kell, South Mecklenburg and Myers Park high schools.
Creating the new school boundaries is proving to be an arduous task for CMS, with some families resisting proposed changes that have been outlined in draft maps the district has been circulating and presenting at community meetings. Some of the most contentious debates have been coming from families whose children attend Myers Park High School and under some proposed scenarios would be moved to South Mecklenburg High School.
The reason for the delay appears to be twofold, according to the update posted online:
CMS is in the process of buying land for a new middle school to relieve overcrowding in south Charlotte, and the district wants to add that planning into the high school boundary decision. “To fully incorporate all schools potentially impacted in the south county area, the boundary for the new middle school will be considered in this process,” the update said.
The district is “exploring alternatives to how and when students will be assigned to relief schools, reflecting clear feedback that was received." A common theme among parents who spoke during community meetings about proposed boundary changes last November and December were requests that their children be allowed to either start at a new school a year before they would normally be moved, or that they be allowed to remain at their original school for their junior and senior years.
CMS has been working to gather parent input by circulating a survey, hosting in-person meetings and convening a “work group” of parents whose children attend schools in the area.
The update posted online says:
All of the feedback that has been provided to staff and the board of education regarding the current scenarios and process will be considered as we reinitiate the community in March. Proposed action on the Ardrey Kell/Myers Park/South Mecklenburg relief high school boundary will take place in April/May, which is consistent with the timelines for opening a new school.
CMS planning director Claire Schuch said in an email to The Ledger that there will be more community meetings in March and potentially April, and that new draft maps will be released in March for the public to view and comment on.
Links to the three most recent proposed boundary maps are in this CMS presentation.
Schuch said a new middle school could open as early as 2025-2026.
Adding to the challenge of drawing new boundary lines for south Charlotte, the district is working on a comprehensive review of school assignment boundaries district-wide, which undoubtedly is consuming CMS planning department staff.
Lisa Cline, a new school board member who was sworn in last month and represents a portion of the county affected by the south Charlotte boundary changes, said the delay gives the board more time to make the decision.
“The Board has to get the new boundaries “Right”. We are a new board, having only met once the night we were sworn into office and the original timeline did not give us enough time to make such an important decision affecting so many children and families,” Cline wrote in an email to The Ledger Tuesday.
“Many families have shared their concerns and opinions about the timelines and they differ of course depending on the individual family's circumstances. Regardless, we want to get it right to the best of our ability,” Cline wrote. “We have been receiving a great deal of feedback from families, and we welcome it! Their input is extremely valuable, after all they are the ones affected in this process.”
Summer Nunn, another new school board member whose district will also be affected by the boundary changes, said in an email Tuesday to The Ledger: “This is such an important decision that affects a lot of families in both districts (5 + 6). We have had some community engagement and feedback which is valuable in helping determine plans. We need to get this right now and for the future growth of Charlotte as adding a new high school is exciting but also means change for all in the surrounding areas.”
Cristina Bolling is managing editor of The Ledger: cristina@cltledger.com
Related Ledger articles:
“CMS narrows list to 3 draft maps in south Charlotte school boundary shuffle” (🔒, Dec. 7, 2022)
“CMS eyes shake-up of south Charlotte school boundaries” (🔒, Nov. 11, 2022)
“South Charlotte parents raise concerns on CMS boundary reshuffle” (Nov. 21, 2022)
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