North Mecklenburg towns show support for neighborhood schools

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Local governments across North Mecklenburg County plan to send a strong message to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District about its student assignment review. The process and talks of possible changes have become so controversial that towns like Matthews and Mint Hill have even discussed breaking away from the district.

The mayor of Huntersville told Eyewitness News on Monday that town leaders are all on board to pass a resolution to show CMS leaders they want every child to have a seat in a neighborhood school.

John Aneralla said his constituents are keeping a close eye on CMS leaders as they review the districts assignment plan that dictates where students go to school.

The board has only laid out goals for the plan so far. Among them, they want to reduce overcrowding and break up concentrations of poverty.

• CLICK to read the board's explanation of their goals for the project here.

"They forgot or did not include a guaranteed home school for every student so we felt it would behoove us to make a statement that we believe it should be included,” Aneralla said.

Aneralla and other town leaders are calling on CMS to guarantee each student will have a seat at a neighborhood school.

"I think it's very important they get involved," said Jean O’Neil, whose granddaughter will be entering the district soon.

"Oh, it's very important all her friends will be going to the same school, she will get a local bus to school," O’Neil added.

"I don't have to worry about him going to school 10 to 15 miles away," CMS parent Tierra Jones.

The resolutions aren't binding but leaders hope they influence the board’s final decisions.

"I think people are looking stability and predictability in their student assignment and if you are not going to guarantee home school you kind of throw that out," Aneralla said.

Huntersville and Cornelius plan to vote on resolutions Monday night. Davidson town leaders plan to follow suit Tuesday. All three are working with CMS board member Rhonda Lennon and they plan to present these resolutions to the CMS board before their board of education meeting Tuesday.

Cox Media Group