Madison Park

All- I would like to share with you an email I recently sent to the school board and to Peter Gorman. I have done research (I can email you specifics if you'd like) and truly believe we have a legitimate case to be in the Myers Park High School district. This would fall in line with CMS' priority of establishing "neighborhood schools". We have several options to begin this fight. I will continue to work the school board, but we may need to attend their next public meeting. I would like to use this post to determine if there is a widespread interest in putting a strong effort into this initiative. Thanks.

I am a 30 year old resident of the Madison Park neighborhood across from Park Rd. Shopping Center. I recently welcomed my first child into the world, and am naturally starting to plan for his future.

As you know, there is a continuing trend of young families moving to various areas and even outside of the county so that their child can attend a more desirable school. This issue is not unique to Madison Park. Like myself, many young professionals have moved to this neighborhood in the past decade, and these people are now starting families. To the disappointment of many of us, the current schools in our zone have less than average academic scores. I have had many friends move out of the neighborhood already in search of a better school district.

As your #1 priority has become establishing neighborhood schools, I would strongly encourage you to put Madison Park in the Myers Park High School district. This high school is between 1-2 miles away from the neighborhood, while the current assignment, E.E. Waddell, is over 4 miles away. I guarantee you that us young professionals would then stay in the neighborhood and also send our kids to Pinewood Elementary as it would be on the Myers Park track. By these kids attending Pinewood (which CMS is heavily invested in with building the new school, demolishing the old, etc.), you would inevitably solve the Tier 1 issue for Pinewood, and truly put Pinewood on the right track for success.

I appreciate your considerations and I would be happy to discuss in more detail.

Thanks.

Jarrett

Hi Jarrett,

Having lived in Madison Part for 29 years, I can't agree more with your posting.  There were not enough school aged children to organize( although some of us tried!) a change in school assignment when our child - now young adult - started CMS but now there is another opportunity.  This is a neighborhood issue as we want younger people such as yourself to stay in Madison Park.  Our district representative who also happens to be our school board chairman needs to be made aware of our concerns.  Our former neighborhood middle school  (Smith ) has been taken out of the neighborhood to be replaced by very low performing Sedgefield and Waddell is not even near our zip code. 

Even our IB option is at Harding rather than Myers Park where it should be. I plan to at least send e-mail to our school board representive and CMS and would be more than willing to circulate petitions .  

Hi Jarrett,

Thank you for touching base with Mr. Gorman.

My daughter is a rising 1st grader at Pinewood. Even though I could have moved her this past year due to Pinewoods rating, I have decided to keep her at the school. I think Principal Sexton is terrific and she and her staff are dedicated to giving students the best education that they can. And I feel they deserve the opportunity. I think with more involvement from the community and support from the parents they can succeed.

I personally believe if they were not associated with being a feeder school into Sedgefield Middle and especially  E E Waddell as the HS they would be an even more desireable choice for many in the neighborhood.

I am very much in support of Pinewood being moved into the Myers Park School district.

Shelly Abbott

Regards,

Shelly  

Jarrett:

Right On!  There are plenty of parents in Madison Park who would line up on this effort and we are defintely in.  We volunteered up at Pinewood last year to help the school and to learn more about it as our son approaches pre-K age. We plan to volunteer again this year.   

Should we create an email list of parents who want to get involved and who can speak as 1 loud and tenacious group! and the group can synchronize efforts to influence discussions with CMS and the Board of Education.

Thanks for cranking up this effort Sir!

SR