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In the month since Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools rolled out controversial plans for reducing crowding and setting new student assignment boundaries for some schools, new proposals emerged - some promising. But CMS administrators still have failed to address fundamental issues we've said they must, to be consistent and fair and provide all students access to the best education possible.
Among the issues unresolved? The plans do not provide a firm strategy to keep East Mecklenburg High School strong now that it will lose hundreds of students following the creation of an assignment zone for a new high school opening next year in Mint Hill. The loss of students will mean a loss of teachers, and possible loss of courses.
The plans also include no strategy to reduce crowding at Myers Park High School. We've said before that a school with 3,000 students is too big. Such girth presents discipline and academic challenges that are unacceptable and unnecessary. School board member Joe White became one of the few board members to finally say that out loud Tuesday.
We're grateful this item was left out of staff plans - moving math/science magnet students from Harding University High to East Meck. The implications of creating a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) magnet at East had real potential for hurting the strength of much smaller Harding, the only CMS math/science magnet. CMS just completed a $14 million expansion and renovation at Harding, designed partly to add science labs and strengthen the magnet. The new plan still calls for a STEM program at East but open only to the students in that attendance zone. That's a good idea.
Most school board members were skeptical about a plan to make Dilworth Elementary a neighborhood school and First Ward an arts magnet. But it at least accomplishes the goal of relieving crowding at Eastover. (Some students from Eastover would be assigned to Dilworth.)
These aren't easy issues, but board members must address them now. Overcrowding at Eastover and Myers Park show clearly what happens when the board fails to act, or apply consistent and fair rules. Things just get worse.
No more. It's decision time.
