CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools decided in an 8 to 1 vote Tuesday night to request a $2.9 billion dollar bond package be put on the upcoming November ballot.
CMS board members voted on a recommendation drafted by school staff. The $2.9 billion capital investment plan would fund 30 projects across the district, including renovating old buildings and building three new schools to help with congestion.
"I know what that means to have a state-of-the-art facility, a building where the infrastructure supports the technology. It's safe," Lenora Sanders-Shipp, a CMS school board member said. "You're not looking at mold and mildew, you're not looking at the air quality HVAC issues."
CMS opened the conversation to the public holding community engagements where many people gave feedback and addressed concerns.
"I think you said you've done over 90 sessions," Summer Nunn, a CMS school board member said to the school staff. "So I commend you guys."
The last bond referendum for CMS was in 2017.
“It is certainly not everything that we need, it certainly doesn't address every school, but it addresses, in my opinion, it gets the first stuff worst off first," CMS school board member Thelma Byers-Bailey said.
CMS At-large board member Jennifer De La Jara was the only no vote.
"I'm voting no tonight to make a point that may not help us now, but may give the community something to think about in the future," De La Jara said. "The truth is, I wish our approach had been different and that we were asking for more."
De La Jara criticized both local and state leaders for a lack of investment in students' education and facilities.
"There was an opportunity here for us to craft an equity message that should appeal to our nine democratic commissioners," De La Jara said in reference to the Mecklenburg County Commission. "It could be a political win for them if they embrace a direct investment in CMS students, 60% of whom are from low socio-economic homes, and 75% of whom are Black and brown."
Earlier this year, CMS reduced the projects it planned to include in the bond request from 40 projects to the current 30 due to inflation.
The current request for $2.9 billion would be a historical ask, the last bond referendum approved by voters in 2017 was for $922 million.
"I think our community understands that this is an investment that we cannot afford to walk away from," Elyse Dashew, the CMS board chair said. "The fact that we did not do a larger bond in the past means everything is more expensive now. So we also have to look at the cost of waiting."
The next step for the bond proposal is getting approval from the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. The commission could vote to authorize less money.
County Commissioner Leigh Altman said while she is a CMS parent and would like to approve every ask, if the bond does pass in Nov., taxpayers will be impacted. This as the County has other needs besides CMS on the overall agenda.
“I am looking at it in the context in all the other financial burdens on our residents," Commissioner Altman said. "We have a light rail that needs to be finished. That is a huge project."
Once the county commission lands on a number it heads to the state’s Local Government Commissioner, and then the November ballot for voters to have the final say.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Contact Shamarria Morrison at smorrison@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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