The Observer asked: "Do you believe significant changes in the CMS student assignment plan are needed? If so, what?" Answers are edited for length and clarity. Lisa Hundley and DeShauna McLamb are not actively campaigning and did not answer.

Larry Bumgarner

Kids go to school where they live. The only real equality is education and nobody but the person is going to attain it. So my idea of a charter school in each challenged neighborhood is going to provide the choice and make the difference for those who really want to go places.

Elyse Dashew

Parents and students are craving stability. While the current system is far from perfect, in general, we should strive to avoid adjusting school assignments unless absolutely necessary.

Ericka Ellis-Stewart

There is a need for a healthy mix of options that include neighborhood and magnet schools. I believe that diversity is important and that our schools should reflect the diversity of this community. In order for our district to thrive, we must work to prevent the creation of schools with high concentrations of poverty. CMS data and other benchmarks from across the country show a direct correlation between low-performing schools and high concentrations of poverty.

Keith Hurley

Some changes to student assignment may be on the board in a few years, but let's not forget we just closed 10 schools. We need to let that dust settle and look at down the road opening a few of those back up to relieve some of the overcrowding we just created. I am not a fan of busing long distances. I want kids to go to school as close to home as possible.

Mary McCray

I feel for our families and children who have had to endure multiple changes in their school assignments. It is time to stabilize our schools and communities and focus all available resources on making each school a high-performing school no matter the poverty level. Along with stabilizing assignment, we must place faculty and staff members in schools who are committed to staying long enough to ensure initiatives are sustained.

Tim Morgan

No (to significant change). The plan that I helped develop and support two years ago as a CMS board member keeps neighborhoods together, takes into account proximity when making student assignment decisions, and creates stability by setting a five-year review of our plan.

Ken Nelson

Yes (to significant change). A real neighborhood assignment plan which tells students and parents that they will attend the closest school to their house. If there is too much overcrowding, there should be a permanent solution for that student.

Hans Plotseneder

Yes, the current CMS student assignment practice needs to be revamped. I do not think we can call the current 'practice' a comprehensive 'plan'. After having made every CMS school a 'School of Excellence' we need to allow our parents to choose the school for their child, just like it is done in most countries of the civilized world.

Aaron Pomis

With the closing of schools and recurring issues of overcrowding I believe that now is a good time to revisit the student assignment plan to ensure we are as efficient and strategic as possible. And if we really want to provide the community with long-term stability, the student assignment issues should be a part of a comprehensive review of district policies.

Darrin Rankin

Significant changes, no. But we need to look at the boundaries and make some well-needed adjustments to provide students with the opportunities to go to other schools.

Lloyd Scher

There are things that could be strengthened; they include maintaining boundaries that do not move every year or two. We need a system that is stable, that when parents and students are told this is their school, then it stays their school until they are ready to move on to a new school. Continuity should not just be in classrooms, but it should be in our student assignment plan.

Jeff Wise

We should continue to evaluate the student assignment plan but always with a priority of sending students to neighborhood schools. This is the best overall option for students, with the added ability to apply for magnet school programs if a student so chooses. The key is ensuring that each school has the necessary resources, good teachers and a solid administration to be successful.