CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Monday is the first day of class for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and this year the district is opening four new schools.
Eyewitness News learned the schools were paid for with your taxpayer dollars and there is more to come.
On Monday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools opened four new buildings paid for by your 2007 bond money.
"I was so excited to be part of a new school," said teacher Ashley Gill.
Pineville Elementary, Bain Elementary and McClintock Middle School are all replacement schools that were built because older schools were not up to building or learning standards.
"No longer meets our education needs and was not energy efficient and was not up to today's standards," said Guy Chamberlain the Associate Superintendent of Auxiliary Services.
After years of overcrowding at Torrence Creek, the brand new school, Grand Oak will open providing relief.
"We have been waiting, but we are very excited that it is finally here," said parent, Marissa Gilbert.
As some parents and students get relief, others said they are waiting. Like a family, from Albemarle Road Elementary School.
"And in a mobile classroom, that is not enough room for kids to learn," said Tarama Kidd.
"Albemarle Road Elementary School has the highest number of mobile classrooms in the county. It is overcrowded. We need to provide additional seats in that part of the county," said Guy Chamberlain.
This fall, the county will ask voters to approve another bond referendum for new CMS or CPCC projects. Much of it will be used to pay for renovating or building schools.
"They need it. They need a new school," said Kidd.
The district said, as it does the new projects, it will be thinking about the educational programs inside to make CMS schools more competitive with schools of choice.
"We want to build schools to attract parents not as the only option. We want them to want to go to these schools," said Chamberlain.
As the new school year goes on, more 2007 projects will get underway – like new stadiums and field houses for Olympic and West Mecklenburg High School.
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