Charlotte Post Editorial -
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.