Huntersville, Cornelius send message to CMS by passing resolutions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Davidson leaders will join others Tuesday in sending a message to CMS leaders that they're not interested in bussing students miles away to other schools.

This all comes as CMS continues to formulate a plan to address diversity and academic performance.

The Davidson Board of Commissioners will vote Tuesday on a resolution declaring that they want every student to be guaranteed a spot in a school within their own neighborhoods.

They'll join Huntersville and Cornelius and present the resolutions to the CMS board before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. meeting at town hall.

Huntersville’s mayor and council members voted unanimously Monday night in favor of a similar resolution.

CMS leaders said they are very early in the student assignment process, but overall they hope to reduce overcrowding and break up concentrations on poverty.

Town leaders and parents told Channel 9 their main concerns are a lack of stability and predictability.

"I think primarily what should dictate where your kids go to school is where you live,” said parent Jeff Bartosch. “That's kind of how it was when I grew up. I'm not for options really, I think we should have one option, and have it be the best option."

Parents also expressed concerns about students being bused to schools farther away.

CMS leaders have not revealed if bussing will be a part of the plan but thousands of parents took a district-wide survey to weigh in on several options.

Since the survey was launched, two towns in southern Mecklenburg County -- Matthews and Mint Hill -- have discussed leaving CMS. The mayors of both towns have each formed task forces to gauge interest and will vote in the coming weeks to support neighborhood schools and possibly to split from the district.

Any school district changes would have to be approved by the General Assembly in Raleigh.

The Cornelius Board of Commissioners voted on a similar resolution Monday night. That vote was also unanimous, passing 5-0.

Last week, Channel 9 reported that the towns of Matthews and Mint Hill went as far as discussing breaking away from the school district.

That requires legislative approval.

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