http://66.225.205.104/SO20091015.mp3
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools continues to look into redrawing boundaries. This week, the district released new options at Eastover Elementary and Myers Park High. WFAE's Simone Orendain reports CMS has been talking school boundaries for the past seven months. Superintendent Peter Gorman says he can think of three other periods when this much time was spent on CMS boundaries. "When we were going through issues in the early 90's with magnet schools proliferating, we spent a lot of time," he explains. "Also during the desegregative efforts both in going to a court-ordered desegregation plan and moving them to a unitary plan." This is the most time in his career that he's put into boundary issues. In the Eastover redrawing, attendance zones in at least five schools would be affected. Easing overcrowding at Myers Park is dependent on how available space at East Mecklenburg will be used. This could affect high schools in the southern half of the county. The high school redrawing came up after the board finally approved plans in August for a new school in Mint Hill. These talks started back in March. Gorman says the latest plans for both Eastover and Myers Park are particularly tough. "You're not offering folks, 'You get to go to a brand new school!' There's none of that involved with this, it's moving folks who are happy with where they are at! And that ads extra complexity to it," he says. Public input's been wide-ranging, heartfelt and abundant. Gorman says it's hard work trying to balance the public's wishes with the district plans. The school board is scheduled to vote on the options on November 10th.