Local

Officials offer possible solution to Union Co. school redistricting

WAXHAW, N.C. — Union County commissioners said they can end the need for redistricting by spending $3 million on mobile classrooms.

Angry parents protesting a plan to shuffle thousands of Union County students may have the solution they've been waiting for.

Union County leaders proposed a resolution Monday night in Waxhaw.

The Board of County Commissioners voted to allocate the $3 million to purchase trailers for mobile classrooms to ease the overcrowding, but parents who gathered at the meeting to protest the redistricting said that's not enough.

Parents said it's not a real solution because there is simply no more room for trailers.

"I know for a fact there is just no room, there isn't any room, they can't add any more," said Sarah Berlin, a parent.

It was a united front inside the Waxhaw town commissioners meeting as they adopted a resolution against the board of education's redistricting plan.

Town officials said the board of education hasn't considered the public input on the issue and didn't consider the adverse effects of busing kids across the county to new schools.

"If the education is right, you will travel the distance for your kids, but don't send me the distance for a school that is not as prepared, not as interested at educating the kids, whose teachers aren't on the same standards," said Tonya Cureton, a parent.

Parents like Cureton spoke out against redistricting, telling town officials they not only worry about the value of their children's education but also about the value of their homes.

Other parents were concerned about the safety of more mobile classrooms in the event of something like a tornado.

Channel 9 reached out to the board of education president for his thoughts on the commissioners' proposal and he said it's too early to respond.

Parents will get to weigh in at the the Board of Education meeting at Marvin Ridge High School Tuesday night at 7 p.m.