The CMS board couldn't persuade county commissioners to support a bond package this fall for building schools. But the board may decide to ask for money Tuesday to at least prepare for future construction.
Building a school takes a long time. Even before construction begins, the district has to locate the land, purchase it, and design the school. All of that costs money. The CMS board Tuesday will consider asking county commissioners to spend $33 million to pay for that.
CMS Chief Operating Officer Carol Stamper told the board in February the district needs to start moving on that part of the process.
"That way we are as prepared as we can and we're ready to build as soon as we get the money to do that," said Stamper.
That could come with a bond package in the fall of next year. County commissioners say they're willing to entertain that idea.
The $33 million would go towardbuying land for a new elementary school in east charlotte, and two elementary schools and a high school in the southern part of the county. It would also pay for designing two new k-8 schools in north and south Mecklenburg County and begin the process for building new schools to take the place of Collingswood Language Academy, and Montclaire, Shamrock Gardens, and Briarwood elmentaries, along with renovations and additions at Harding High School and military magnet Marie G. Davis.
