Let’s see, the city can’t afford the debt to pave roads, now the county can’t afford the debt to build schools. But train building is still full steam ahead.
If it weren’t space for kids at stake, the situation CMS finds itself in would be very amusing. The district has been banking on the opening of six new schools next school year to tamp down parental unrest with trailers, provide teachers with escape hatches, and otherwise point to “progress” by the system. Should these schools get delayed — not to mention the high schools planned for Cornelius and Mint Hill in 2010 — watch out.
Meanwhile, the shortfall has Jennifer Roberts and Vilma Leake scurrying to DC in search of $430 million in “stimulus money” in order to build schools — and football stadiums. Yes, $25m. to get Memorial Stadium ready for UNCC football is in the county’s official stimuli wish list — a wish list Bill James points out the county commission never voted on, but just magically appeared. Even UNCC chancellor Phil “Yadda-Yadda” Dubois told James he didn’t know about the football money request going to DC.
Oh, and there is also $75m. to “upfit” the Freedom Mall millstone still hanging around the county’s neck. This should end well. Actually, you know how it ends — once the DC Hail Mary comes up short, we’ll start hearing about a property tax hike. For the children.
Bonus Observation: Wake County is no student assignment role model for CMS. wa’Dlch’aj Hood makes that clear by noting that Wake’s low-income test scores are exactly the same as CMS’ — and both lag the state rate.
