By KAREN CIMINO WILSON
DavidsonNews.net

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education will host a forum tonight (Tuesday) in the University City area and again on July 29 in Matthews to gather ideas and input from the community about the future of local schools.

The forums are part of a second phase of the board’s “comprehensive review” that began in June.  Called “The Case for Continuous Improvement: A Comprehensive Review of CMS,” the review aims to refine the guiding principles that are used to set policy in areas including transportation, student assignment, magnet lottery and other district operations.

The forum tonight will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at James Martin Middle School, 7800 IBM Drive, Charlotte.

Another forum is planned from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 29 at Crestdale Middle School, 940 Sam Newell Road in Matthews.

DAVIDSON IB SCHOOL’S FUTURE?

Officials at local schools, particularly Davidson IB Middle School, have been urging parents to attend the community forums during the CMS review. Among other things, the board is studying the future of busing and magnet programs.

In an email to parents last week, Davidson IB principal Jo F. Karney said: “Changes are coming in CMS and these changes will most likely impact Davidson IB.”

Forum participants will be asked to provide feedback on the following board priorities that were set in June: student achievement, equity, magnet programs, predictability, effective use of facilities, stability, proximity, diversity, neighborhood schools, share sacrifice and benefit, transportation costs, sibling guarantee and capping enrollment at home schools.

The review is expected to be completed by November and is intended to help the board align decision-making in multiple areas with the goals of the district’s strategic plan as well as take a consistent, strategic approach to individual issues.