The public forum was the fourth meeting of the first phase for the review titled “The Case for Continuous Improvement: A Comprehensive Review of CMS.” The review is addressing policies guiding district operations such as magnet schools, transportation, boundaries, projected enrollments, use of facilities and funding to align decision-making of the district’s Strategic Plan 2014: Teaching Our Way to the Top. 

After a brief overview of the process, the attendees broke into seven groups to offer their opinions and suggestions based on the district’s guiding principles.

“We saw a lot of common threads at tonight’s meeting, but we also heard some unique, new feedback,” said Board Chairperson Eric C. Davis. “This feedback will be discussed at the Board’s next work session.”

After the breakout sessions were complete, the attendees then met back as a large group to hear feedback from the seven small groups.

Opinions and suggestions at the June 28 forum included:

• Provide effective teachers and quality resources for every student
• Ensure accurate growth patterns (over capacity vs. under capacity schools)
• Do a better job of explaining how boundary lines are drawn
• Collaborate more with the six municipalities in Mecklenburg County
• Small or large schools don’t matter as long as the academic programs are strong
• Some families feel they have to pass a school to get to their home school
• Establish a definition of diversity
• Ensure safety on shuttle stops and efficiency in the transportation department
• One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to unique learning needs
• All teachers need training in meeting the needs of Limited English Proficiency students
• Consider e-mailing all forms and documents to parents to save on printing and postage costs
• CMS needs to offer more magnet programs that offer academic success
• What is the definition of an effective magnet program?

The next work session will be held June 29 in the Board Room of the Education Center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Click here to learn more about the next phase of the Comprehensive Review process. The review is expected to be completed by November.

Comprehensive Review Web site