Board vote expected in November on a name for the new school

Terri Cockerham stands in front of the architectural drawings of the new high school under construction on Bailey Road. Dr. Cockerham is the school's principal

Terri Cockerham works in an office surrounded by architectural drawings, photos and work folders devoted to the new public high school under construction on Bailey Road.  She makes weekly trips by the construction site.  She meets with all sorts of people who are involved with the project. But she has no students around her.

“There are no kids in the halls,” she noted with dismay about her temporary office space at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) North Area Learning Community building in Huntersville.  “There is no night stuff to attend – no athletic events, no plays.  That’s an unusual experience for me.”

Dr. Cockerham is principal for the new Bailey Road high school, which is scheduled to open for the 2010-11 school year. She’ll be at Davidson Town Hall Monday for a meet-and-greet with the community. Read the full story

What's with all the ping pong balls being dropped onto Woodlawn School? See below to find out.

Fall is fund-raiser time for area schools.  We have several to report on, including Woodlawn‘s “Fun at 5,” and the Bailey Middle kids at the farmer’s market.  We also have news below of Davidson Day artwork on display, a meet-and-greet planned for the principal of the new Bailey Road High School, CMS school board election updates and classes being offered through Davidson Parks & Rec for the CMS school holiday next week.

In sports, find out about Davidson Day’s volleyball tourney, Woodlawn’s successful soccer team and Bailey’s undefeated girls sports teams.  We have all that plus an events calendar that lists the Davidson IB fall fest Friday, a seminar on “Internet Safety,” a holiday bazaar at Cannon and more.

Read the full story

District 1 school board candidates at Thursday's forum were, from left, Robin Bradford, Rhonda Lennon and Gail Summerskill. (David Boraks photos)

The three candidates for District 1 on the Board of Education for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) spent 30 minutes Thursday night discussing the merits of community versus neighborhood schools, the need to be green, and the level of discourse on the current school board. Read the full story

From left: Gail Summerskill, Rhonda Lennon, Robin Bradford

Davidson residents will have a chance over the next two Thursday nights to learn more about candidates for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board District 1 seat.  Three candidates – Gail Summerskill, Rhonda Lennon and Robin Bradford – are seeking to represent District 1, which includes Davidson. We have introductions to the trio and also the schedule of candidate forums to be held Oct. 15 and Oct. 22 in Davidson. Read the full story

Construction work was underway Tuesday morning on the front entrance to the new high school on Bailey Road.

Bailey Road High?

Davidson-Cornelius High?

What should be the new name for the high school currently under construction on Bailey Road in Cornelius?  The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are seeking input on what to name the building, and also offering the public a chance to learn more about construction progress and to check out the school’s attendance maps. Principal Terri Cockerham is holding two drop-in info sessions this month about the high school.

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School board candidate Robin Bradford will be meeting voters at a “Children 1st” reception and fund-raiser this evening, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Forte (formerly The Grape) in Northlake Mall, Exit 18 off I-77, Huntersville. Ms. Bradford is one of three candidates running for the District 1 seat now held by Larry Gauvreau, who is stepping down. Details: http://vote4robinbradford.org/.

A van rear-ended a school bus heading toward Davidson on Concord Road. The driver of the van can be seen in the foreground.

UPDATED WITH MORE PHOTOS 5:20 p.m.

A van rear-ended a  bus delivering students home from the second day of school at Bailey Middle Wednesday afternoon.  Students evacuated the bus and firefighters said there were no injuries to either students or drivers. Read the full story

A gang of kids boards the bus in the McConnell neighborhood.

Tuesday was the first day of school for local public school students.

Read on for a collection of photos by readers and DavidsonNews.net staff members. Read the full story