Commissioner proposes to delay magnet school funding for safety at CMS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools laid out his budget proposal for next school year Wednesday night.

He's asking the county for almost $40 million more than last year.

LINK: Budget proposal

The most prominent requests fall into four categories: safe schools, great educators, strong support and positive learning spaces.

Dr. Clayton Wilcox is asking for more than $14 million for school safety, with more than $9 million of that addressing physical changes on campus.

“We did walk through a number of our schools, and we saw some of our security vulnerabilities,” Wilcox said. “The unfortunate reality is we have those vulnerabilities across the county."

The proposed changes would include bulletproof doors and reinforcing or strengthening glass windows and doors.

The money would also go toward more fencing, locks and cameras.

Almost $5 million of the safe school allotment would fund more counselors, social workers and school psychologists.

The superintendent is also asking the county to help pay for more officers and training with local law enforcement agencies.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Puckett said safety is a priority at schools, but he said the district may have to postpone bringing a new magnet school to Charlotte in order to fund some of those improvements.

Kathey Beebe, who has grandchildren at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, said she supports spending the money necessary on safety.

“I don't think you can put a price tag on a life, so I would be the person who says raise my taxes because I want to see our kids grow up," Beebe said.

Puckett said the district could fund those improvements with bond money set aside for new magnet schools.

“I would strongly encourage CMS to look at delaying some projects from their last bond package and re-dedicate some of those bond dollars into this,” Puckett said.

Puckett said the district could fund those improvements with bond money set aside for new magnet schools.

Last fall, voters approved $922 million in funding to help with CMS capital needs, including several multi-million dollar magnet schools.

“I know magnet schools benefit the children, but what is the biggest thing on our plate right now? The safety of our children,” a parent said.

Puckett is also concerned that Wilcox didn't include a suggestion by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney to put metal detectors at schools.

“The only way to protect against (a) gun, knife is catching them before they get into the building,” Puckett said. “I would be looking at spending money there instead of bulletproof doors.”

Puckett said he wants to see a cost estimate from CMS on metal detectors.

The school board will discuss the budget again later this month, and it will be presented to county commissioners in May.

Low pay driving good teachers out of North Carolina

Wilcox also proposed raises for teachers and staff that would cost $11 million.

North Carolina is one of the 10 states where teachers get paid the least, and if teachers in Charlotte can't afford to live near the neighborhoods they serve, more of them will keep leaving for better-paying states.

That's why the superintendent is asking the county for $11 million to give teachers and staff raises. It sounds like a lot until you break down how much teachers would take home.

For teachers with more than 10 years of experience, it's only an extra $40 a month.

Administrative and non-certified staff members would get an estimated 3 percent raise.

Certified staff members would see a 7 percent increase.

A new study from Trulia puts the median income for teachers in Charlotte at a little more than $47,000. Compare that to the median list price for homes, which is more than $342,000.

That means teachers can only afford a fifth of the current listings, and it’s becoming more of a problem every year.

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