Mountain Island

Budget woes present major decisions for CMS

Financial cuts, layoffs loom in every projected scenario

Regardless of what financial scenario plays out, budget cuts and layoffs loom for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Under the best case presented to Board of Education members Feb. 17, CMS would cut 124 positions. The worst? Job losses for 879 people, including 658 teachers, with a one-year delay on the opening of both Mint Hill’s Rocky River and Cornelius’ William Hough High.

Student-assignment lottery deadline approaching

CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ student-assignment lottery application closes Monday, Feb. 8. The online lottery will remain open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day through Feb. 7.

School district institutes hiring freeze

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has announced a hiring freeze on all open non-instructional positions.

Superintendent Peter Gorman informed district employees in an e-mail Wednesday, Jan. 27. The freeze applies to personnel who do not work in classrooms, except positions funded through grants like Title I, After-School Enrichment Program and Child Nutrition Enterprise Funding.

Charter school holding community meetings

The Mountain Island Charter School is progressing in its plans to open a new school and will hold two community meetings to inform parents of prospective students.

The  N.C. Board of Education chose the school out of seven finalists to open in 2010. Kelly Pledger, chairwoman of the school’s board, said the school will begin with about 600 students, with a cap of 800. She plans to hire 28 teachers and eight support staff in the school’s first year.

Mountain Island Charter School recently debuted its Web site, www.micharter.org. 

School system looks at more teacher layoffs

Area schools could see more teachers laid off as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools begins working on its 2010-11 budget.

Jonathan Travers, a consultant with Education Resource Strategies, told members of the Board of Education Tuesday night they have two options: increasing class size or eliminating smaller high-school elective classes.

Either option would mean a reduction in teachers, Travers said.

Gov. Bev Purdue has asked the school system to prepare several budget options: a 3 percent increase and 3, 5 and 7 percent cuts.

Lake Norman Charter lottery deadline approaching

HUNTERSVILLE – The deadline for submitting an application for the charter school’s lottery for the 2010-11 school year is Jan. 31. 

Applications are available on the school’s Web site, www.LNCS.org. Parents can verify the school has received and is processing an application by calling the school at 704-948-8600 on Feb. 2. The lottery will take place Feb. 4 in the middle school’s cafeteria.

Lake Norman Charter School is a public charter school for fifth through 12th grades. For more information about the school, visit www.LNCS.org.