Potential Changes To Schools Raise Questions Among Parents

Classes inside Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School went on as usual on Wednesday, but outside of the school, parents had many questions.

The school is one on a list of 32 that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education said could undergo some type of change.

“This school has been a wonderful blessing to all of the families and parents in the area,” Renee Leak, the parent of a 4th grader, said, adding that she is surprised her daughter’s school made the list.

The board said Tuesday it will examine schools on the list as it works to lessen the expected budget gap for the 2011-12 school year. (Click here to see the full list.)

The schools are all under consideration for some sort of change. The changes could range from the minor, such as implementing new programs, to the significant, such as changing boundaries or closing schools all together, CMS leaders said.

Of the 11 elementary schools on the list, Eyewitness News found that seven, including Elizabeth Traditional, are considered over-crowded by district standards.

CMS planning specialist Dennis Lacaria said solving over-crowding could mean redrawing boundaries.

“A change to Elizabeth Traditional obviously would ripple through, as would any change to any other school,” he said.

Lacaria said the district is limited in its options, because it doesn’t currently have the money to build new schools. That means that some over-crowded schools that aren’t near less-full schools, like Ballantyne Elementary, may have to bring in mobile classrooms.

“Ballantyne (Elementary) is an interesting case because there are not any schools nearby that have significant room," Lacaria said.

CMS leaders stressed that not every school on the list will see the same change, but said that all will likely see some type of change.

Leak said she'll do what she can to keep her daughter's school the same.

“I understand that there may be cuts necessary, but this is one we really, really want to rally around,” she said.

Previous Stories: September 8, 2010: CMS Considering Changes At 32 Schools