Frustrations grow over CMS student assignment plan

CHARLOTTE — Local leaders and parents are still frustrated with a plan that could impact where thousands of Charlotte-Mecklenburg students go to school. Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster took their questions straight to Superintendent Ann Clark in a one-on-one interview.

As the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board reviews input and talks about whether to move kids to different schools, others are not waiting for their decisions.

"It doesn't make sense to me," CMS parent Jessica Stayshich told Channel 9.

She's moving her family to South Carolina next month and said one reason is because she doesn't want her 10-year-old son moved to another school after she chose to live in Pineville within walking distance of Pineville Elementary school.

"It seems like that's being taken away from us as parents. It's our right. We want to do what's best for our kids," Stayshich said.

As Channel 9 first reported, the mayors of Matthews and Mint Hill are exploring forming their own school district.

"If CMS' goal is to redistribute the population in Mecklenburg County, I can see the results, some of our better schools going down and I don't want that to happen," Matthews Mayor Jim Taylor said.

When asked if she's disappointed in that discussion, Clark said, "I feel in fairness, I need to wait until I have an opportunity to talk directly with him."

Channel 9’s Liz Foster was the only reporter at a meeting Wednesday night as parents posed questions directly to Clark.

After the meeting, Foster asked Clark, “There seems to be a lot of people opposed to student assignment, petitions online, hundreds of people signed up to speak at school board meetings. What's your response to those people?"

“I really hope our families will stay connected to our process and not assume decisions that haven't been made yet," Clark said.

Clark made it clear the board hasn't decided on any specific plan for student assignment and Clark said board members won't for 4-6 months.

Foster asked, “Do you feel like the board members are somewhat dragging their feet? Why not just get everything done as soon as they can when there are all these parents up in arms?”

“It has taken the board eight months to get to those goals [voted on Tuesday night.] They've taken the job very seriously,” Clark said.

Clark added, "We may have a clearer picture of what student assignment may look like after the next meeting when school board members discuss guiding principles."

That meeting is on March 10.

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Cox Media Group