CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For years Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) parents have searched for ways to be a part of the conversation.
"It's easy for one parent to feel lost," Christopher James, one of the parents on the council, said.
Now the district has created a pipeline for parents to deliver concerns straight to decision-makers like the superintendent.
"To be able to get up close and personal with the superintendent is a huge opportunity," James said.
James said he is looking forward to working with district leaders to find solutions.
"You can't make decisions in a vacuum, the best way to know what each group of constituents needs is to ask the constituents," said James.
CMS board member Stephanie Sneed also echoed the importance of opening up the conversation.
"We all want the best for our students, and that starts with parents," Sneed said.
Sneed is a CMS board member and said they’re optimistic this multifaceted approach will contribute to student success.
"We all want the best for our students and that starts with parents like," Sneed said."We want to know parents' desires and what kind of experience they want their children to have at our school."
The Parent Advisory Board consists of 372 parents with two parents from each of the 186 CMS campuses.
They say their goal is to expand opportunities and share ideas together.
"We can have wide amplification of the different offerings that are possible while also honoring the individual desires and preferences of the families themselves," James said. "It’s a big challenge but I think CMS meets a lot of goals if we work together."
The parent advisory council will meet twice a year with the goal of creating an inclusive environment where all students can thrive.