CMS 2023 budget headed to Meck County commissioners for approval

CHARLOTTE — The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners talked about the district’s 2023 budget request on Tuesday afternoon.

The request includes funding for improvement projects district wide and support to hire more staff at underperforming schools.

Last month, the CMS Board of Education unanimously voted to ask the county for a $578 million budget -- a $40 million increase from last year. The district’s total budget is $2.1 billion, but the county only needs to approve $578 million of it.

Plans for a new school, a major focus on English learner students and efforts to recruit talented educators to Mecklenburg County are among the district’s budget requests.

CMS is asking for $3.7 million to hire 32 English learning teachers and create a special academy with extended hours that would open in the fall of 2023. Another $5 million would go toward preventative maintenance and indoor air quality initiatives.

An additional $1.7 million is earmarked to support student wellness and academic support, as well as $400,000 for a new early college high school and $400,000 more for teacher professional development and support.

CMS 2023 budget headed to Meck County Commissioners for approval

Along with teacher support, CMS hopes to hire top-tier principals and teachers to help students who are struggling in 10 schools consider to be low-performing by district standards.

Allenbrook Elementary, Military and Global Leadership Academy, Martin Middle, Turning Point Academy, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Academy, Bruns Avenue Academy, Renaissance West STEAM Academy, Sedgefield Middle, Harding High and Garinger High would be among the targeted schools.

The district said the schools will continue to use the same curriculum as other CMS schools, but will get extra support by hiring the right staff for the challenges.

CMS is proposing to offer principals an $18,000 signing bonus and will be eligible to receive and additional $18,000 a year as long as they meet foals for student achievement and school climate.

Principals would also be eligible to receive a $7,500 bonus for staff recruitment. The plan also calls for bringing in strong assistant principals who support improvement.

Last year, commissioners held $56 million from CMS and demanded an acceptable plan to improve student outcomes.

The county ended up settling with the school board and gave the district everything it asked for, plus an additional $11 million.

CMS agreed to provide more info on college readiness.

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