CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Nov. 7, Charlotte voters will be asked to vote on a $2.5 billion bond referendum for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district. If this referendum passes, the money will go towards funding 30 different CMS projects.
As WCNC Charlotte previously reported, this bond referendum marks the largest ask by a school district in North Carolina history. if the bond is approved there would be a one cent tax increase.
The bond will tackle a slew of issues. Many schools within CMS have seen better days -- built over half a century ago, some schools are showing their age.
According to a statement by CMS, these 30 projocts "will improve educational environments, offer more academic options, alleviate overcrowding, and renovate and replace aging CMS facilities."
WCNC Charlotte is breaking down the 30 different projects for voters in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district.
Here is the list of CMS bond projects:
- Albemarle Road Middle School ($97,732,036):
- Replace the onsite facility with 54 modern classrooms.
- Cotswold/Chantilly Montessori/Billingsville elementary schools ($80,555,856):
- Onsite replacement of Cotswold Elementary School
- Collapse the paired school into Billingsville for the project's duration
- Repurpose Billingsville Elementary School for the relocated Montessori PK-6 program
- Demolish Chantilly.
- East Mecklenburg High School ($201,339,353):
- Replace the balance of campus building
- Comprehensive athletics package.
- Montessori Secondary at Marie G. Davis ($9,174,783):
- Convert to a 7-12 Montessori to replace use at J.T. Williams and expand the program
- Complete renovations at J.T. Williams to use this building for alternative education programs
- Park Road Montessori/ Sedgefield ES/Dilworth Elementary School ($89,491,970):
- Relocate Montessori PK-6 program to converted Sedgefield ES
- Replace Park Road Montessori with a 45-classroom school for Dilworth paired schools;
- Repurpose Dilworth to be a middle school magnet.
- Cochrane Collegiate Academy/iMeck ($7,506,657):
- Design the onsite replacement with a 54-classroom facility
- Relocate the 9-12 iMeck program to Garinger High School
- Garinger High School ($54,905,692):
- Funds the next phase of work, including a new kitchen and cafeteria, new specialty classrooms, gym and athletics
- Renovate and repurpose the existing kitchen and cafeteria
- J.T. Williams ($1,647,753):
- Design the final phase of work to support alternative education use
- New Second Ward Medical & Technology High School ($176,810,460):
- Fund a full magnet high school on the old Metro site
- Relocate the program from the Hawthorne site
- Villa Heights Elementary School ($6,247,870):
- Design a 45-classroom school to be built on the Hawthorne site
- Demolish the existing Villa Heights school
- Cornelius Elementary School ($76,471,997):
- Onsite replacement with a 45-classroom facility
- Huntersville Elementary School ($66,235,904):
- Onsite replacement with a 45-classroom facility
- New middle school #2 ($92,371,482):
- Construction of a baseline 54-classroom facility at Stumptown Road to relieve Bailey Road Middle School, Davidson K-8 and J.M. Alexander Middle School
- North Mecklenburg High School ($228,464,171):
- Funds the final phase, including the onsite replacement of the balance of campus
- Comprehensive athletics package
- Allenbrook Elementary School ($74,244,220):
- Offsite replacement at Freedom Driving Range
- Demolish the existing facility
- Berryhill School ($104,286,451):
- Offsite replacement
- Demolish existing building
- Coulwood STEM Academy ($92,706,982):
- Onsite replacement with 54-classroom facility
- STEM program to remain in place
- Harding University High School ($202,879,499):
- Funds the final phases of work, including a comprehensive athletics package and balance of campus replacement
- West Regional Athletic Complex ($8,999,791):
- Funds the design of new multi-sport regional athletic competition complex with a gym, natatorium, stadium, fields and ancillary spaces
- Wilson STEM Academy ($92,471,565):
- Onsite replacement with 54-classroom facility
- E.E. Waddell High School ($1,563,349):
- Funds the design for a building addition to support program(s)
- Matthews Elementary School ($79,874,929):
- Replacement with 45-classroom facility
- New middle school #1 ($101,089,262):
- Baseline 54-classroom to relieve Community House Middle School, Jay M. Robinson Middle School and Rea Farms STEAM K-8
- Possibly Quail and South Charlotte
- South Charlotte Middle School ($7,741,099):
- Design onsite replacement with 54-classroom facility
- Beverly Woods Elementary School ($71,237,700):
- Onsite replacement with 45-classroom baseline school
- New middle school #3 ($98,436,153):
- 54-classroom baseline facility on HWY 160 to relieve Southwest and Kennedy middle schools
- Possibly Quail and Hollow
- South Mecklenburg High School ($127,909,253):
- Final phase of work, including onsite replacement of balance of campus to +/- 100 classroom baseline
- Comprehensive athletics package
- Steele Creek Elementary School ($80,830,528):
- Onsite replacement with 45-classroom baseline facility
- Northwest School of the Arts/ First Ward ($93,654,147):
- Final phase of work, including new specialty classroom space and 9-12 conversion/expansion
- Renovate First Ward as a full 6-8 magnet
- University Park Arts ($73,119,088):
- Onsite replacement with 39-classroom baseline facility with arts-specific spaces to support the program
The total cost of the bond referendum comes to $2,499,155,983.