VoteNoBonds.com

Please don’t turn the fight at North Meck into a reason to vote for school bonds. The proposed package includes no relief for crowding at North Meck.

CMS should have built two high schools to accommodate the north’s true growth, instead of simultaneously building Hopewell in the north and Waddell in the south under the apparent belief that “if we put one here, then we have to put one there.”

Today Waddell has been turned into a partial magnet for foreign languages because in its four years of existence it has failed to fill its seat capacity.

Throwing more money at CMS will not fix its mismanagement of money.

Amy Hallman
Huntersville

Observer Article

Charlotte Post Editorial - Oct 22, 2005
Excerpt...

The school bond package is the most challenging of these four. That is why it is important to distinguish between myths and facts surrounding this issue. The proposed $427 million will be used on school construction projects, including 10 new schools, renovations and additions to 14 schools and numerous life-cycle replacements and structural improvements throughout the system.

Several of these projects directly affect schools with large populations of African-American students. With current enrollment at 120,000 and 53,000 new students expected in the next ten years, existing facilities cannot handle that. We must prepare for growth as we struggle with the current capacity challenges.
There are two different groups of citizens who oversee how bond money is used. The Bond Oversight Committee is appointed by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education. There are three African-Americans out of nine serving on this committee. The Citizens Capital Budget Advisory Committee is appointed by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. There are two African-American members out of 11 serving on that committee.

SARAH STEVENSON is chair of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum, Community Affairs chair of the Black Political Caucus and is involved with numerous other social and civic organizations.

Just received my mailing from voteyesbonds! They helpfully included a map that shows no new schools built up in the most Northern part of the county. It looks like the work is mostly center city. There are no new schools planned in the most northern part of the county. There is a huge amount of growth in that area…Has anyone noticed the growth in the area?

Look for your well-financed, shiny, three color foldout in the mail. It is clear on the map. Or check out their well-financed by the construction companies web site. The link to the map is at the bottom of the page.

‘Naysayers’ needed to battle boondoggles

The Observer for years has called those who disagree with its position on spending or taxes “naysayers.” But more naysayers are needed to say no to giveaways of arenas to billionaire owners, to massive bond issues that plunge the county into more debt, to light rail boondoggles, to ill-conceived art programs, to mismanaged school spending, to feel-good programs that don’t produce results and to foolish business grants.

Elton Shoemaker
Charlotte

Newcomers have money we can make use of

If Charlotte-Mecklenburg leaders want rampant growth, then they should manage it. The only solution is charging these “equity rich” newcomers who purchase McMansions here.Stop letting special interests make critical decisions for this community, and listen to the taxpayer you always ask to bail you out.

Rick Marshall
Charlotte

Why impact fees over bonds? Simple! Bond payments are added to the property tax rolls and are regressive — they tax the poor, the unemployed, the sick and people living on Social Security.

People have to eat, but they don’t have to buy a new home.

Romaine Horn
Charlotte

A homeowner with $175,000 house will pay an extra $100/year. Wouldn’t it be nice if that amount of money would fix the schools? That seems cheap. That is just the tip of the iceberg though. Tax increases for Charlotte and Mecklenburg county must be included to that $100/year.

That combined with the fact that the favorites to win are incumbents in several districts make me think this is a referedum on the schools system. There is no real reform of this failing school system in sight. Without reform the tipping continues.

Tara Servatious’s archives are not available so I will use a source from Alabama. Article

Though the candidates for town board gave similar responses to most questions, voters were presented with a stark contrast between school board candidates Larry Gauvreau and Rhonda Lennon.

One of the main differences between the incumbent Gauvreau and challenger Lennon is their views on the $427 million CMS bond referendum.

Gauvreau told the audience the bond is “as misprioritized this time as it was in 2002.” He said the bond won’t relieve crowding in North Mecklenburg schools fast enough because it won’t ensure that enough schools are built in one of the county’s fastest-growing regions.

Lennon said she “reluctantly” supports the bond, although it is “an awful lot of money.” Lennon said she believes the bond will adequately support growth in North Mecklenburg and reduce dependability on mobile units.

Article

In response to “Bonds aim to put seats where they’d be filled” (Oct. 9):My reason for voting against the school bonds: the reluctance of county and city officials to require developers to pay for more of the costs of growth.

Progressive communities require impact fees, the dedication of land for parks or schools or a financial equivalent.

This will be my first no vote on a school bond issue. The message is for city and county officials: Move from the influence of real estate interests to the welfare of us all.

Russ Brown
Charlotte

Letters to Editor

The candidates also disagreed about the proposed, $427 million school bond. Gauvreau is squarely against it.

Lennon, who served on a citizen’s board that made recommendations about the bonds, said she doesn’t like all of it, but believes they’re a big improvement over the 2002 bonds and should be passed. “District 1 will be getting $1 out of every $3 that’s spent,” says Lennon. “That’s a pretty good deal.”

Replied Gauvreau, “One out of three is nowhere near enough. … They’re putting a chicken in every pot again and holding you (north Meck voters) hostage.”

“Well,” retorted Lennon,“at least this time is one chicken out of every three. We are moving in the right direction.”

Huntersville Herald Article