Madison Park

     This neighborhood has a lot of wonderful qualities, however, it will not be a place chosen by young families as long as the school system is not a primary concern of the homeowners association.  Even if children are not in your household, having good schools helps property values.  There is a reason why young families with school age children routinely move from this neighborhood.  The schools are not up to par, and the fact we aren';t at each meeting discussing how to change are middle school and high school is disappointing. Has the neighborhood association taken a look at how many families are leaving this neighborhood with children?  Why are there no middle school age children in this neighborhood? No teenagers? 

thanks

Thanks for your post. 

The community is working hard to start with Pinewood and make that a neighborhood school.   Many families are committed to sending their children to Pinewood to help change that school.  Other neighborhoods across Charlotte have begun the same effort.  The Principal Trish Sexton and her staff are great. 

CMS is a large beast and they have not been that receptive to change.  That is why it is important to elect leaders for the 3 openings on the board this fall.   One that care about our issues. One thing CMS did tell our folks working on Schools is to show support for Pinewood and we would have something to talk about in the future.

Jarrett Hunt our board members has worked hard over the last several months on School issues.  You can help/work with him and others families he has been working with on the subject of schools in Madison Park.   

Have you attended and spoke at any public forums at CMS School Board Meetings? 

Jarrett and others have met one on one with several of the current school board members. They are very aware of the desires of Families in Madison Park.

You are correct it does impact the families moving in and out and our properties values. 

You can read the topic of schools documented online under minutes multiple times in recent months.  There are also post on our site under the same subject.

There were pushes in the past to change schools and CMS pushed back

Contact Jarrett at jkhunt6@hotmail.com

Things are not going to change over night for sure. 

I have to agree. I attended the meeting tonight and I was disappointed.  I personally think the schools should be a topic at every meeting...at least an update.  As Marty said, voting is very important and I believe we should be talking about who is running that would share our concerns for our neighborhood.   I also realize that Jarrett can not and should not shoulder sole responsibility for this change.  I do think it is a very important issue to this community and should be considered a priority.  However, I do not think we meekly accept that this will be a long process.

Jarrett is actually working with other parents and residents of Madison Park.  There is an entire group.   I personally attended a meeting on our schools last fall with many residents from our community.  That meeting was so overan with the switch to Harding folks that our cause of school assignements were lost in the mess. 

Several families along with the HOA arranged a meeting of concerned parents last fall at Pinewood.   

Various board members head up various topics.   Jarrett is schools.  That is one reason he is on our board.  Just because he heads the effort does not mean he is soley the person working on it.  He does provide updates from time to time.  They were in a regrouping mode earlier this year. 

I told the group last fall to get behind those folks that are running for school board,  or the ones that are listening to what they are saying on schools.  I suggested they get on their campaigns ....back them and build relationships.  I have also told them to get before the school board during open forums and stay on them.  

These boundary school assignment issues go back to the 60's from what some long term residents told me.   

I know Sedgefield's Neighborhood told their folks they were not taking on the school issue in their neighborhood, but they provide their folks a place to communicate.  Reason I know there are a couple of neighbors from Sedgefield that met wtih Jarrett and myself a few months ago and told us they wanted to duplicate the community support that we are working on at Pinewood.   

We communicate with thousands every month.  So get on board with the program Jarrett is trying to move forward or if you have ideas post them on this web site.   I have put Jarrett in contact with Keith Hurley who was at our meeting tonight running for School Board.   I already had conversations with  Keith on the topic and he  personally told me he agrees Harding is not the right choice for Madison Park, but did say he was not sure if there is room at Myers Park and South Meck.  

Jarretts group has looked at numbers and did all kinds of data studies.   

They have done public meetings, surveys and more over the last few months.  Jarrett is the lead but that as you say does not mean he has to shoulder the effort.  Help him. Looks like to me he should be hearing form at least two posters on our site this evening.  

We always have open discussions and residents can bring forth whatever they please at the meetings each month.   

Get with Jarrett and see how you can help. 

He normally does update residents on his efforts and future plans.   He did not attend tonight due to a prior obligation.

Not sure if someone gave the impression this was going to be the topic of the evening....but to my knowlege it was not an agenda item.  However we do give updates on the topic.    We went years without anyone bringing up schools at all at any HOA meetings.  Jarrett actually posted like you two and that is how he got involved and headed the current movment.

I also can tell you I have heard from  many frustratred residents that have told me they tried for many years to make change and finally threw in the towel and yes some moving.    CMS has flat out stated the change will not happen anytime in the near future.  

Even with this being stated it does not mean folks should stop trying.