High school health score gets a 75.5

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Roaches, chemicals in reach of children, leaking units and black buildup on a water fountain are just some of the violations in a recent county health inspection at North Mecklenburg High School.

Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster read parts of the report to Shakayla Garrison, who graduated from the school two years ago. Just this week, North Meck got its lowest health score in years -- a 75.5.

LINK: Inspection Report

Garrison said she would not eat at a restaurant with a 75, “let alone go to school with a 75 from the health inspection. That’s disturbing. It’s nasty.”

County health inspectors went to the school Monday, one business day after Channel 9 talked to Jana Johnson, a North Meck teacher, about disturbing conditions in her classroom. Johnson shared pictures of moldy pipes, pest droppings and other issues in her classroom on Facebook. The post went viral with thousands of shares.

Johnson told Channel 9 Wednesday the findings in the report are not surprising because schools with limited resources get bad inspection scores and schools are underfunded. She said this is not a North Meck problem, it’s a North Carolina problem.

Foster asked Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials about their plan to address the violations.

“CMS is aware of the recent health and safety inspection at North Mecklenburg High School. The district and school staff are responding first to the conditions described and will review cleaning and maintenance procedures to ensure focus remains on teaching and learning at North Meck,” Tracy Russ, CMS chief communications officer, said in a statement.

“I hope they get it sorted out as soon as possible,” one woman said. “You wouldn’t think they could keep operating like that.”

The lowest score a school can have and stay open is a 70.

As part of its budget request, CMS is asking for close to $2 million to be used for school maintenance, that covers custodians and pest control specialists.

Cox Media Group