CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — More than 60 of the 178 schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district will be affected by changes approved at a Tuesday night Board of Education meeting.
• Click here for details on the approved changes.
The changes, most of which will go into effect in the 2011-12 school year, come after a five-month comprehensive review of district schools. They are expected to save nearly $10 million in the first two years after implementation and more than $6 million every year after that. The savings are equivalent to preserving 200 teaching jobs in the first two years and 120 teaching jobs every year after that, according to CMS officials.
• Timeline: CMS Comprehensive Review
In addition to closing 10 school buildings, the changes include consolidating students and programs at five schools, relocating two programs, expanding one school to grades 6-12, adjusting boundaries for 13 schools, creating two new home schools and two new magnet programs and providing targeted assistance to nearly 30 schools.
School closures -- click blue dots for details View School Closures in a larger map
More than 100 students, parents and teachers spoke at Tuesday's meeting.
• RELATED STORY: Community Members Question Role Of Race In CMS Decision
"Are we really thinking about the kids? You know? Think about all the tensions and relationships," said parent Cedric Scott.
"Nobody wins, nobody wins at all in the whole situation," said parent Rhonda Allen.
• SLIDESHOW: Angry Crowd Faces CMS Board For School-Closing Vote
• VIDEO: Emotions Run High, More Arrests At CMS Board Meeting
Many urged the board to delay its vote, but board members decided against doing so.
"We made painful decisions to close and consolidate schools and move children, teachers and staff based on whether schools were underperforming, underutilized, or both – with the goal of putting affected students in better-performing, better-utilized schools and cutting buildings first before teachers and programs," said Board Chairman Eric Davis. "It was crucial to make decisions now so families, teachers and staff throughout the system would have time to make plans for the school year ahead. We believe the changes being made will give children in this community the best education possible during these trying times."
The most controversial decision made Tuesday was the 5-4 vote to close E.E Waddell High School. It was initially placed on the list of schools that might be closed, prompting outrage from many parents and students. Last month, board members said Waddell would remain open and that Harding University High would replace it on the possible closure list. That move also incited anger, with hundreds of Harding students gathering for a silent protest outside of their school.
On Wednesday morning, Waddell students gathered outside the school for a vigil.
• VIDEO: CMS Votes To Close Waddell High School
• SLIDESHOW: Waddell Students Hold Prayer Session
• VIDEO: Waddell Students Start Day With Prayer Rally
Parent DeAndra Alex said she plans to ask the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights to look into the decision to close Waddell. "We will look into every, every avenue that we have to stop this and to fight it," she said.
• VIDEO: Waddell Parent Plans To File Federal Complaint Against CMS
Board member Trent Merchant said he hopes community members can come together to make the changes work.
"Now the decisions are made, we need to show the next phase of leadership, which is trying to pull the community together and helping us to make this work," Merchant said.
Despite the approved changes, district leaders still expect to have to cut $50 million to $100 million from its budget for the 2011-2012 year, following two consecutive years of budget reductions and re-directions totaling nearly $186 million.
"These were tough but necessary decisions," said Superintendent Peter Gorman. "Unfortunately, we will still have to plan for personnel and program cuts in the 2011-2012 budget, but we hope these decisions will reduce those cuts. CMS will continue to work with the community and our families so that all students can succeed."
Gorman said the responsibility to implement the sweeping changes is now on his staff.
"We've got to move the textbooks, we've got to move the food service things," he said. "We've got to reroute all the transportation."
Some buildings, such as the one that currently houses Smith Language Academy, will be demolished. Others, such as Bishop Spaugh's current home, will sit vacant until CMS decides how to use them.
Teachers at the schools that are set to close also face uncertain futures. Many will be placed into a pool and will be able to apply to other jobs throughout the district. But officials said fewer schools will mean fewer positions for support staff and likely layoffs.
Gorman acknowledged that the changes will be tough on many people.
"This is not about winners," Gorman said. "This is about tough decisions that impact kids and, in some cases, not a positive way."
Previous Stories: November 4, 2010: CMS Leader: No School Immune From Possible Closing November 4, 2010: CMS Proposal Could Undergo More Change October 26, 2010: Spontaneous Protests Lead Police to Shut Down CMS Meeting October 26, 2010: Latest CMS Plan Creates New Concerns, Frustrations October 22, 2010: CMS Proposal Could Mean Busing Students For Extracurriculars October 22, 2010: CMS Board Chair: Ideas From Forums Good, But Expensive October 8, 2010: Parents, Students Lobby CMS To Keep Schools Open September 29, 2010: Latest Proposal May Bring Big Changes To CMS Students
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