HUNTERSVILLE - Returning and incoming students and their families converged on J.M. Alexander Middle School Saturday, Aug. 13, for a Back to School Fair.The fair welcomed back existing J.M. Alexander students and their new classmates from Davidson IB Middle School, which is now a school-within-a-school at Alexander. Read the full story

Following success in the Palmetto Regional Robotics competition last week, Pine Lake Preparatory‘s Team SPORK moves on to compete in the state regional competition next week. Meanwhile, the 2010 Charlotte Woman of the Year will address seniors at Cannon School‘s May graduation ceremony. Also below, news from Hopewell High, Cornelius Elementary and Davidson IB Middle schools.

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AWARD COMES ON EVE OF MEETING ABOUT FUTURE OF SCHOOL

Davidson International Baccalaureate Middle School was recognized as one of the top magnet schools in the country at a conference in Tampa, Fla., over the weekend.

“It’s quite an honor,” said Principal Jo Karney.

“We are proud and humbled – but not surprised,” said Student Leadership Team Chair Jim Brueggemann.

The award comes at a time when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are bracing for budget cuts and preparing to make difficult decisions about magnet schools like Davidson IB.  One school board member has even advocated folding the school into a larger building closer to Charlotte, to allow cost savings and program expansion.

Wednesday night, May 5, Davidson IB will hold a public meeting about proposed changes, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Read the full story

Davidson IB Middle is among several CMS magnet schools reeling from proposed changes to bell schedules and transportation policies that are the result of deep cuts to the county-wide public schools budget for the upcoming year.

The international baccalaureate middle school will hold two information meetings for parents about the changes, on Thursday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday, May 5. Read the full story

Plan to save $5 million affects 6,000 students, would push start time back 90 minutes at Davidson IB Middle, other schools.

By ANN DOSS HELMS
The Charlotte Observer

About 5,900 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools magnet students from kindergarten through high school are likely to lose neighborhood bus service next year. Instead, they’ll have to go to nearby high schools to catch a bus.

Letters will go out Monday notifying families at 11 schools that their transportation options are likely to change. And four of those – Davidson IB Middle, Davis Military Academy, Piedmont Middle and Smith Language Academy – can expect to start school about 90 minutes later. Read the full story

Was that Benjamin Franklin at Woodlawn Saturday?  Indeed it was.  The founding father, AKA amateur historian David Sherrill of Kannapolis, strolled the Woodlawn campus as part of the school’s annual Living History Day.

We have news about that event, plus a report on Earth Day at Davidson Elementary, Saturday’s “Walk for Darfur” by students at Davidson IB Middle, and the upcoming Bailey Orchestra festival.  Our school calendar is also loaded with upcoming spring events.

Were you wondering who won the annual Davidson Elementary versus J.V. Washam hoops showdown?  Well, you’ll have to click on our sports page to learn the outcome.  Read the full story

It’s not quite the season for sunflowers yet, but because they were the favorite flower of Harrison Nichols, students at Davidson Day made sure the bright yellow flowers were blooming on campus in time for Harrison Nichols Day, celebrated this year on March 22.  The annual event honors the courageous battle with cancer by a former Davidson Day student.

We have news about that, plus a number of upcoming school events, including a leadership seminar at Cannon, “Living History Day” at Woodlawn, a college admissions workshop at Lake Norman High, a lecture on picky eaters at McKinney Academy, and the dates of upcoming golf tournament fundraisers (see the calendar listings below).

In addition, we have news of Stephen Curry reading with Bailey Middle students, French lessons at Davidson IB that sent students out to try their skills on Main Street, and yoga classes at Woodlawn.

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Would it save money to fold the small but successful program at Davidson IB Middle into a larger school building somewhere else?  Will Hough High open this fall?  How will it impact North Meck?

These were the kinds of questions school board representative Rhonda Lennon took on at a meeting with about 100 constituents Monday night at Cornelius Town Hall.  She wondered aloud whether Davidson IB is too small and expensive to stay as is, said she wanted to see the new W.A. Hough High School in Cornelius open on schedule in August, and hoped North Mecklenburg High School parents would come to terms with the boundary changes the board has approved.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg school board meets today (Tuesday, March 30) to discuss its options for cutting up to $80 million from its 2010-11 budget. Those options include hundreds of school layoffs, pay cuts, and school closings – with Davidson IB Middle School under scrutiny. Today’s meeting could provide a clearer picture of what the board will ultimately decide to cut when it votes on the budget April 13.
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