Parents weigh in after compromise proposed on Matthews charter school issue

MATTHEWS, NC — CMS parents weighed in Wednesday night on a bill that would allow the town of Matthews to open its own charter schools.

There were about 60 to 80 people at the forum at Providence High School.

After weeks of wrangling over a controversial House bill that would allow the town of Matthews to operate its own charter schools, Matthews Commissioner John Urban and CMS District Representative Sean Strain have proposed a compromise.

"I just don't agree with it,” parent Naschica Morrison said. “I'm happy with the schools in my town."

As the CMS Board of Education created its new student assignment plan in the last couple years, the town of Matthews started a task force to explore spitting from the district. Matthews town leaders said they're worried about overcrowding and children being sent to schools too far from home.

The Urban/Strain compromise calls on both boards to vote up or down on a plan whereby:

Matthews Board pulls support for HB514.
CMS commits to having the municipal governing body approve student assignment changes.
CMS commits to a 5-year plan to replace trailers at schools in Matthews with new construction to accommodate projected 2030 student population by the 2022-23 school year.
Matthews Board will actively support HB866, a bill establishing a bond referendum to approve $1.9 billion for school construction projects statewide.
CMS commits to construct a new school in Matthews within 10 years.

"It's going to set up a system of ‘have and have nots,’" CMS School Board Chairperson Mary McCray said.

McCray said that charter schools should not be set up so they can draw tax dollars that could potentially shrink the pie for public schools.

Matthews Mayor Paul Bailey strongly disagreed and believes the town should use House Bill 514 to take care of its own.

"It would put a priority on Matthews students and it would also build seats for kids to sit in," Bailey said.

Urban and Strain said the compromise would “satisfy the most pressing requests of both sides, while rebuilding the commitment and trust between CMS and its partner municipal bodies.”

“We hope that both boards will seriously consider a resolution to this impasse by finding a compromise in the middle,” they said in a joint statement.

The new deal is the first time the town of Matthews and the CMS board have found any middle ground in the debate, which has stretched on for two years.

Although they've finally reached a compromise, discussions about House Bill 514 still are not over.

One of the big complaints of parents is the number of portable classrooms in Matthews-Mint Hill.

The biggest concern for the district is what kind of precedent this could set and that other cities across the state may want to make the same move.

"They are looking to see what’s going to happen here, because trust me it's not going to be one place, one city," McCray said.

The bill has passed the House. The Senate could approve it as soon as it's back in session, which is May 16. And because it's a local measure, the governor doesn't even have to sign it.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: