CMS leaders concerned about funding security in proposed budget

CHARLOTTE — The investment of just under $1 million to sustain school resource officer operations in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools isn’t enough for some school board members even though district staff members have touted the proposed $2.1 billion budget for next year to include investments in safety and security.

“Are we reevaluating?” said Summer Nunn, a school board member. “Should we be doing more and I say that as a concerned elementary school parent.”

“We don’t have SROs in the elementary schools. How are we working through that?” said Lenora Sanders-Shipp, a school board member.

The desire to have a dedicated SRO at every CMS elementary school isn’t supported by all.

“That’s what my concern is because there is a large portion of the community that does not want that,” said Melissa Easley, school board member.

CMS Police Chief Lisa Mangum said it’s not feasible and the reason has nothing to do with available funds.

“Even if we were able to place an SRO in every elementary school, if we were given that order to do so, the difficulty is in hiring enough police officers to facilitate that,” Magnum said.

However, it is a possibility for the Mecklenburg County towns because they have fewer elementary schools.

“Many of those departments have inquired as to placing an officer, or having a police officer patrol their elementary school, not in contract, but just to do so on their own,” Magnum said.

Bus driver shortage

Increased funding in the proposed budget for transportation, or the lack of it, is also a major sticking point for board members.

There has been discussion to alleviate the impact of bus driver shortages by using express stops to service magnet school students.

“I’m concerned that we are doing this from a non-equity standpoint,” Magnum said. “We’re singling out magnets because they cost the most versus doing the work to decrease costs across the board.”

Things need to happen despite the plan that has sparked an outcry, district officials said.

“We need to continue moving forward with express stops as planned,” said Adam Johnson, the executive director of CMS Transportation Services. “This really does boil down to three inherent risks of undoing expressing stops.”

Johnson said those risks are staffing, teaching and learning, and the student experience, which is to get them to school on time.

There is a community engagement session on the proposed budget at noon on Thursday at Quail Hollow Middle School.

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