A new superintendent for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

New leadership on the county and school boards.

A new push for consolidation of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County governments by a city council that just had its biggest turnover in 12 years.

Those are some of the changes ahead for the new year in Mecklenburg County.

And they're good reasons to learn more about local government with Civics 101.

The course, a primer on local government sponsored by the League of Women Voters, starts Feb. 13.

"After this year's particularly low voter turnout, I think it's more important than ever that people pay attention to and learn about their local governments," said Republican Warren Cooksey, a council member who has both taken and taught Civics 101 classes.

Turnout in Charlotte's city elections was 16 percent, the lowest in years. Voters elected four new members to the 11-member council and re-elected Mayor Anthony Foxx, who has made consolidation of city and county governments a priority.

Hows and whys of spending

Cooksey says the course helps people understand the roles of the governing bodies.

"One of the constant themes of emails to council members is, 'Why is the city spending money on "x" when teachers are being laid off?' " says Cooksey. "Civics 101 will show you what responsibilities the city does have."

Democratic county commissioner Jennifer Roberts says the course "does a really good job of explaining who does what and how city, county and courts operate."

"It helped me think more about which issues I was interested in and which body had an impact on certain issues," she says.

Most classes meet at the Government Center and coincide with meetings of the city council, county commissioners or school board. There are also classes on North Carolina courts and on the media.

Like Cooksey and a handful of other local officials, Roberts took Civics 101 before she was first elected to public office in 2004. Now other Civics graduates could follow her footsteps.

She's one of at least two commissioners who don't plan to run for re-election in 2012.

A Civics 101 primer

The monthlong series of five classes costs $40. Here's the schedule:

Feb. 13: Charlotte city government.

Feb. 21: Mecklenburg County government.

Feb. 28: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

March 6: North Carolina courts.

March 13: The media.

The cost includes materials, snacks and dinner on March 13. Classes begin at 6 p.m. with registration and end by 8:45 p.m.

Register at www.goleaguego.org or call Jean Burke at 704-892-7506.