CMS board votes on class sizes, school times; postpones other vote

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011, 6:17pm

By Tom Roussey - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Tuesday night the CMS board voted to increase some class sizes and lengthen the elementary school day, but postponed the most controversial decision it was scheduled to make -- whether to make a huge cut to the Bright Beginnings pre-kindergarten program.

The board postponed for two weeks a vote that would cut $10.4 million from the Bright Beginnings pre-kindergarten program. Right now there are about 3200 kids in the program, but if the cuts pass in two weeks there would be over 2000 less kids in it next school year.

If the board passes the Bright Beginnings cut at its next meeting, these pre-K centers would close:

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Indy grad completes basic training

Submitted by Cameron Easley

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011, 4:21pm

EAST CHARLOTTE/MINT HILL - Air Force Airman Matthew J. Hasty graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

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'Pro White' group picks Charlotte for convention, racial tension rises

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011, 10:43am

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Queen City is constantly pushing for a higher national profile and, to the city's credit, it has landed a string of big-name events.

Add to that list of events a self-described group of "racial realists," who picked Charlotte for their 2011 convention. Timing for the city, not exactly the best, as racial tensions are on edge after the battle between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the NAACP.

The group's name is American Renaissance, and they've been called "white supremacists," though its leader says they're not. American Renaissance publishes a magazine that calls for separating the races, and its editor, Jared Taylor, thinks Charlotte is the perfect place for its February convention.

"The notion that somehow racial diversity is a strength, and is a good thing for the country seems to be rather belied by what's happening right there in Charlotte," Taylor says.

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Board members could vote on CMS cuts Tuesday night

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011, 10:31am

By Becky Gulden - email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - School board members could vote Tuesday night on some proposed cuts within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district.

Superintendent Peter Gorman says $100 million needs to be cut from the budget, so school officials want to board to vote on some of the recommendations Tuesday night.

Three issues are up for discussion: Eliminating hundreds bright beginning Pre-K classrooms, changing bell times to allow busses to do more routes, and cutting about $8 million of funding for resources for poorer students.

That has some board members in disagreement.

District 1 School Board Member Rhonda Lennon says CMS gives more money to the poorer schools while the schools in her district are at the bottom of the spending barrel.

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State president of NAACP calls for letter writing campaign over race controversy

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011, 10:00am

By Brigida Mack - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) -- The president of North Carolina's NAACP calling for a letter writing campaign in response to what the organization calls the "re-segregation" of Charlotte's schools.

"Our first action is going to be a mass public education plan," said Rev. William J. Barber. "We're going to do a major open letter to every elected officials, to the media."

But when I asked him to address chapter president Kojo Nantambu's controversial remark that Charlotte is a "bastion of racism", I didn't get very far.

"I'm not gonna answer that question one way or the other," said Barber.

A bit later on in the press conference, I tried again, telling him it was a yes or no question. He responded by saying, "you're not asking the right question."

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Mayor Foxx holds first-ever 'Tweet Conference' with residents

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Monday, January 24th, 2011, 5:16pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Anyone who wants to get the ear of Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, may want to consider using Twitter to reach out.

Foxx held his first ever "Tweet Conference" with Charlotte residents Sunday night. Fellow twitter users fired off questions to which the Charlotte Mayor answered in real time."What is the game plan to bolster local funding of CMS, both short and long term," @tbrasse asked.

Foxx replied, "First City Council should work to restore school resource officers and crossing guards; second keep city budget revenue neutral..avoids adding pressure on taxpayers; and third; we need a sensible system to balance community priorities (consolidation).

More News (story continues below):

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Foundation awards grants totaling $22,500 to nine area Habitat for Humanity support programs

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Monday, January 24th, 2011, 4:11pm

The Charlotte Regional Realtor Association Housing Opportunity Foundation has awarded nine local Habitat for Humanity organizations a total of $22,500 through its Habitat Support Program.

The foundation is dedicated to making a difference in the regional community by creating housing opportunities, promoting homeownership, and positioning and educating Realtors as leaders.

The Habitat Support Program provides monetary support to area Habitat for Humanity organizations in areas served by the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc.

“We recognize the role that Habitat for Humanity plays in meeting crucial housing needs at a very basic level for many in the area," Association/Carolina Multiple Listings Services, Inc. President Laurie Knudsen said.

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