Charlotte - Mecklenburg school (CMS) district is adding 8th grade to three magnet schools next year, while at the same time the district may slash security at those schools.
Next year Collinswood, Morehead and Oaklawn will have more students. And CMS says security may not be present at those new K8 schools.
"Budgeting is always a consideration," CMS Executive Director Scott McCully said. "When it comes to personnel matters, but at the same time safety and security is a top priority and we'll see what we can do with our budgetary constraints."
Next year CMS has to pay about $2 million to keep School Resource Officers, who are Charlotte Mecklenburg Police officers in the classrooms. Before, CMPD paid for that expense.
Parents believe with a K8 school, security needs to be in the classrooms.
"You have small children 4, 5 and 6 years old," CMS Parent Susan Edgeworth said. "Along with teenagers and with peer pressure like it is today - I worry."
CMS says security wasn't present at those schools last year and will do a review to see if security is needed since next year those schools are adding 8th graders.
"We are still looking at that information," McCully said. "And that decision will be forth coming."
In the meantime parents want CMS to have security at those schools.
"I think it's going to put a lot more on the school staff," Edgeworth said. "The teachers, who are totally overworked right now - just one more headache they have to deal with."
Collinswood principal believes if security isn't present at her school, her students will keep the peace.
"Our students are very well behaved," Collinswood K8 principal Nicollete Grant said. "We do not have a lot of discipline problems here. Our expectations are very clear to our students and our parents."
No word when CMS will decide if School Resource officers or Campus Security Associates will be stationed at those schools.
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