June 8, 2006

Charlotte, NC – What do you think the school system needs when it comes to building schools? The citizen committee charged with developing a school construction package has rescheduled a series of district public forums to seek input from the public.

The School Building Solutions Committee, chaired by former Governor Jim Martin, is seeking comments from the public on a draft set of recommendations. Those comments will be used in finalizing the recommendations that will eventually be presented to the Board of County Commissioners and Board of Education. The draft recommendations are available for viewing here  Each forum will be from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Monday, June 12:  Sugar Creek Branch Library, 4045 North Tryon Street (District 3)
-Temple Israel, 4901 Providence Road (District 5)

Tuesday, June 13:  Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius (District 1)
-West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2400 Kendall Drive (District 2)
-Belle Johnston Community Center, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville (District 6)

Wednesday, June 14:  East Mecklenburg High School, 6800 Monroe Road (District 4)
 -Vance High School media center, 7600 IBM Drive (general)

No registration is required to attend or speak at the forums, nor is any special knowledge of school construction or school needs. Members of the School Building Solutions Committee are interested in the opinions and ideas of all citizens. Residents can also submit ideas via email at schools@co.mecklenburg.nc.us

The 35-member School Building Solutions Committee is working to craft a school capital package the community can support. The Committee was formed by the Board of County Commissioners in response to voters rejecting the school bond referendum last November. The Committee is charged with building a school capital package that will be supported by the community. Committee members were appointed by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, the County's seven mayors, and Martin.

The Committee is scheduled to provide its recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education at a joint meeting on June 27 at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 East Fourth Street, Charlotte.