Oct. 10, 2023 Just over 30 days from when Mecklenburg voters weigh in on a $2.5 billion bond proposal for CMS school construction and renovation, Forum participants today peppered representatives from the Vote Yes for Bonds group and from CMS with questions: Why is new construction sold as a ... Continue Reading →
History doesn’t make people; People make history
Feb. 1, 2023 “Black history is a lifetime. It is not a month. Stop letting other people control the narrative.” – Forum participant Gary Marion Jan. 24, 2023 Perhaps there is no middle way between the stout defenders of Black History Month and Gary Marion's ... Continue Reading →
McCray offers update on CMS school board activity
April 19, 2016 CMS Board of Education Chair Mary McCray addressed the Forum at the end of the meeting. Among her messages: The board would move toward "more magnets, more options" but not wholesale busing as it adjusts the district's student assignment plan. She pleaded for more residents ... Continue Reading →
Pastoring the flock, in nontraditional ways
April 19, 2016 One pastor has a church. The other serves a community resource center. Both are finding small ways to take the church into the community to support their flocks. Pastor Hamadi Fisher is senior pastor at City Dive Outreach Center. He mentioned that his 75-member congregation moves ... Continue Reading →
Election 2015 Winners
Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts (52.26%); Council At-large Julie Eiselt (16.98%) Vi Lyles (16.36%) Claire Fallon (15.81%) James Mitchell (14.30%) Council Districts 1: Patsy Kinsey (93.35%) 2: Al Austin (79.56%) 3: LaWana Mayfield (76.12%) 4: Greg Phipps (71.53%) 5: John Autry ... Continue Reading →
7 CMS candidates on November ballot address Forum
Sept. 8, 2015 Seven candidates for three at-large seats on the CMS Board of Education addressed the Forum today. All nine were invited; Angela Ambroise did not attend, and Larry Bumgarner said he would be out of town and would come to a later Forum. Two decisions made the Sept. 8 Forum ... Continue Reading →
Mary McCray: Board to start Supt. search by consulting community
March 10, 2015 Mary McCray is chair of the CMS Board of Education. In her presentation to the Forum, she talked about a budget preparation period this spring in which the board will have to pare programs down to the funds available – which will leave even current undertakings either cut back or ... Continue Reading →
CMS Board members on events surrounding resignation
The session today began with Chairperson Mary McCray reading a prepared statement. After that, McCray and board members Tim Morgan, Ericka Ellis-Stewart and Joyce Waddell fielded questions. Observer reporter Andrew Dunn was in the room. His online story is here. The five videos from this ... Continue Reading →
Mary McCray on CMS budget
Mary McCray, Chairperson of the CMS Board of Education, discussed the just-approved school budget at the Forum Tuesday. ... Continue Reading →
Doing right by children in crisis
March 19, 2013 Principal. Minister. Counselor. Doctor. Police officer. Judge. Probation officer. Lots of specialists can be involved with a family whose child is in emotional turmoil. Listen as some of the experts describe the "System of Care" that it takes to succeed for the good of the child, ... Continue Reading →