CMS parents encouraged to fight against student assignment plan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A letter about a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools student assignment plan that is circulating has parents worried, but the vice chair of the board of education said it’s just a distracting rumor.

The letter encourages CMS parents in Districts 4, 5 and 6 to fight against the student assignment plan and lists specific changes the board has already proposed.

“It is completely unfounded,” Vice Chair Elyse Dashew said. “I have not seen any specific recommendations for student assignment changes.”

The board of education debated Tuesday night on how they will go about making changes to home school boundaries.

“If we’re not doing anything to break up the concentrations of poverty, then what are we doing?” Chair Mary McCray said.

“This is not a 'fix it overnight' issue,” Paul Bailey, of District 6, said. “We are going to have schools that provide diversity, schools that are close to children’s homes and schools that are going provide them the best education they can get.”

“Let’s just get on with it and get some proposals out there so this community will quit wondering what the heck is going on,” Rhonda Lennon, of District 1, said.

The board will move forward using these four criteria in drawing the lines: