CMS Board Members Again Considering Moving Myers Park Students

Weeks after the option was brushed to the side, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board could be leaning toward moving Myers Park High School students to East Mecklenburg High School.

The options are limited when it comes to how to increase the student population at East Mecklenburg, which will lose several hundred students to the new Mint Hill High School when it opens next fall.

The school board has discussed several options, but ultimately it'll come down to two: do nothing or move the International Baccalaureate magnet from Myers Park to East Mecklenburg.

A majority of board members said they have to do something.

"It's unacceptable to go through all of the mess we've gone through and put the public through this mess, and to come back and say, 'Oh, we're not going to do anything,’" said school board member “Coach” Joe White.

The vote will take place on Nov. 10.

Tuesday night, Superintendent Peter Gorman gave his recommendations for East Mecklenburg and Eastover Elementary School, which is overcrowded.

The board didn't embrace either plan.

The recommendation for Eastover is to make Dilworth Elementary a neighborhood school that'll split neighborhoods with Eastover. The arts magnet that's currently at Dilworth would be moved to First Ward Elementary.

Many board members said they didn't love the plan, but they know they have to do something to fix Eastover overcrowding problem.

There will be public comment before next month's vote and dozens are expected to sign up.

Next year, Gorman plans to talk to the board about a district-wide student assignment plan, which could include changing boundaries for every school in CMS.

• PDF: Eastover Elementary Assignment Options • PDF: East Meck/Myers Park Assignment Options

Previous Stories: October 28, 2009: CMS Leaders Refuse To Rubber-Stamp School Overcrowding Plans October 14, 2009: More Options Added To CMS Student Population Moves October 6, 2009: CMS Shows Overcrowding That May Prompt Boundary Changes September 29, 2009: Second Wave Of CMS Parents Mobilizes To Stop Attendance Moves September 23, 2009: CMS Community Meetings To Discuss Student-Assignment Options September 22, 2009: CMS Favors No Change In Myers Park Attendance Zone September 22, 2009: CMS Board To Talk About Moving Students August 26, 2009: CMS Working To Alleviate Overcrowded Classrooms August 11, 2009: CMS Board Approves Boundaries For Mint Hill High School