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CMS And Cornelius Call Truce In Skirmish Over School Construction

ANN DOSS HELMS
/
WFAE
Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam (right) and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Miltich thank the CMS board for restoring the town's school construction priority.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board voted unanimously Tuesday to restore the town of Cornelius to the CMS priority list for future school bonds.

That leaves Huntersville, Matthews and Mint Hill facing the threat of going to the back of the line for future school construction. All four towns got permission from the state last year to create their own charter schools using municipal taxes.

School board member Rhonda Cheek, who represents the northern suburbs, said her board was rewarding Cornelius for extending an olive branch: "Their committee that studied education options after the passage of House Bill 514 basically said, 'We think the best thing that you can do for the children in Cornelius is to work with CMS.'"

Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam told the board that work remains to plan for growth in his town, but he looks forward to working with CMS.

"There is a lot of good feeling about the schools in my town right now." Washam said. "It’s the future that we’re worried about."

Ann Doss Helms has covered education in the Charlotte area for over 20 years, first at The Charlotte Observer and then at WFAE. Reach her at ahelms@wfae.org or 704-926-3859.