Map shows the parcel where Davidson Day School hopes to put a second campus.

MOORESVILLE – Mooresville commissioners last week approved the rezoning of 190 acres between Faith and Mackwood roads, clearing the way for Davidson Day School to build a separate campus for its upper school – grades 7-12.

The rezoning request had been on hold while commissioners considered the proposal. Last month, Davidson Day officials said they hope to purchase the land this month. The parcel lies east of N.C. 115 and north of Faith Road. Read the full story

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
CorneliusNews.net

The parcel of land Davidson Day aims to purchase for its second campus, east of N.C. 115 in Mooresville. Click to enlarge.

Davidson Day School hopes to purchase land for a second campus in early January, but its plans depend on whether town officials agree to rezone the property, which lies east of N.C. 115 and north of Faith Road. The school had hoped to close on the sale this month, but Mooresville town commissioners delayed a vote on the rezoning Dec. 5, saying new board members needed time to review the school’s request.

After months of searching for a second campus site, the school’s board of trustees and developer WGM Design selected the 190-acre parcel in Mooresville, between Faith and Mackwood roads. BB&T Bank owns the property, which is known generally as the “Stafford Property” and is zoned for a residential subdivision with single-family housing. Read the full story

A burst of fall color for your garden

Tomorrow is the first day of fall.  Hooray!  Summer is a wonderful time of relaxation but just speaking the word “fall” brings visions of bright leaves, carved pumpkins and candy corn – not to mention a respite from 90 degree days.  Every garden shop has a bountiful display of mums and Halloween decorations.  Welcome fall!

Around Davidson has notes about two artists, Sophie Ratcliff and Anna Wittstruck, news of the Mabry family’s summer in Maine and a report on three journalists who gathered in Davidson, Rita Simpson, Dot Jackson and Pat Gubbins. Read the full story

Plans are moving forward for a Davidson Day School expansion, and board members are scouting possible locations for a second campus. Also in this column, Cannon School staff members complete a rigorous relay through the mountains, and CMS hires a search firm to find a new superintendent. Read the full story

J.M. Alexander Middle School in Huntersville will have an interim principal when students return to classes later this month. JoElla Ferrell, a retired Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools principal, will be filling in indefinitely for Alexander Principal Jo Karney, who is out on medical leave. Also in this column, area schools’ open house and back-to-school events schedules, and CMS adds cricket to its 2011-12 sports program. Read the full story

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education voted at its June 28 meeting to seek a one-year waiver of the state’s new bill adding five instructional days to the school year. Also in this column, Davidson Day School is named among the top 100 area small businesses, and Davidson Elementary School fifth-grader Kendall Kinsley Miller receives a citizenship award. Read the full story

The Bailey Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade band performed Friday at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., and finished at the top of the competition. Also in this column, Davidson Elementary collects more than 2,000 books for Alabama tornado survivors; Davidson IB plans a closing ceremony Thursday, Davidson Day School raises more than $26,000 in a parking space auction and its students compete in a Math Olympiad. Read the full story

Bailey Middle School Wednesday night hosts a silent auction of student artwork and plans to donate some of the proceeds to a CMS school in need of funding assistance. Also in this column, Davidson IB students and staff plan a ceremonial last walk to the Village Green, and area students are recognized for academic performance. North Mecklenburg High School student Raul Gonzalez receives a Broad scholarship, five area students are National Merit Scholarship winners, Cannon has 13 National Spanish Exam medal winners, and Davidson Day School recognizes department award winners. Read the full story