Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board meeting, Sep 8, 2026
34 public speakers
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What happened
What happened at this meeting
CMS board approves consent agenda, hears report of 87.9% graduation rate 42:29
- With Vice Chair Gregory 'Dee' Rankin presiding, the board approved the consent agenda. 42:29
- During public comment, speakers asked the board to block student-driven YouTube access on one-on-one devices, raised questions about an agreement between the district and Dilworth Youth Sports Association, and spoke about net-zero schools. 44:40
- A district staff member reported that 35% of students in grades 3 through 8 scored college and career ready in reading at the end of 2025-26, against an annual target of 43%. 2:02:44
- Staff reported a cohort graduation rate of 87.9% and said 136 schools earned a school performance grade of A, B or C. 3:05:21
Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →
Item by item (10)
- Opening and pledge 28:01
- Third grade student recognitions 33:27
- A district staff member recognized 3rd grade students with certificates for their work. 33:34
- Consent agenda 42:29
- Public comment 42:55
- Several speakers asked the board to block student-driven YouTube access on one-to-one devices, and one speaker asked the district to pull data on how much time students spend on YouTube by grade and school. 44:40
- Other speakers spoke about net-zero and solar energy for schools, demolition of the former Smith Middle School building and an optional 12-month pay schedule for employees. 46:18
- Several speakers at public comment raised questions about an agreement between the district and Dilworth Youth Sports Association covering facilities on district-owned property, asking for written answers, environmental due diligence and a written legal opinion before the project proceeds. 55:16
- Routine reports 1:57:50
- Stephanie Sneed called for the voluntary promotions and separations report, the 25-26 budget amendments for June 2026 and the Guardrail 1.2 end-of-year monitoring report, each as presented. 1:58:03
- Reading goal monitoring report 1:58:21
- A district staff member reported that 35% of students in grades 3 through 8 scored college and career ready on the reading end-of-grade test, against an annual target of 43%. 2:02:44
- Lenora Shipp asked what contributed to 3rd grade missing its target, and a staff member said 3rd grade had stayed flat at 29% before moving to 33%. 2:09:18
- One board member said the staff response made them a bit uncomfortable and asked what would be done differently to accelerate growth and close achievement gaps. 2:48:07
- State accountability results 2:58:45
- A district staff member reported a cohort graduation rate of 87.9%, an increase of 3.3 percentage points, and said 136 schools earned an A, B or C. 3:07:11
- Anna London asked principals what their schools did to make the change. 3:25:06
- Charlitta Hatch asked principals and administrators to name three things the board should be most concerned about despite the overall positive trajectory. 3:35:27
- Superintendent report 3:54:35
- The superintendent's report said 11 school leaders were named Principal of the Year for their school performance areas. 3:54:52
- A staff member said 3 schools built through the 2023 bond opened to students on August 25th: Cato Ridge Middle, Dilworth Elementary and the J.T. Williams Secondary Montessori upfit. 3:56:08
- The report said the communications team launched the 321 Family Weekly, a district-wide update for families each Wednesday. 3:56:43
- Attendance boundary review update 3:57:19
- A district staff member said Phase 2 of the 2024 comprehensive review focuses on attendance boundary changes for Edward Waddell High School and New Middle School Number 2, and that no action was being requested. 3:57:42
- Shamaiye Haynes asked how the bond project timeline was estimated, and a staff member said it was set with the county based on logistics and available cash flow. 4:03:00
- Lenora Shipp asked whether the district would continue with the timeline for a new middle school in Southwest Charlotte, and a staff member offered to provide specific information on why that middle school landed where it did. 4:09:47
- Board member reports 4:12:31
- Lenora Shipp reflected on school tours and congratulated staff on the state accountability results. 4:12:46
- Shamaiye Haynes told District 2 residents that they are still holding people accountable to achievement gaps. 4:17:18
- Liz Monterrey Duvall said Black students trail the district average by nearly 17 points in math this year. 4:20:54
Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.
What was said
What board members said, in order
Most schools earn A, B, or C, and graduation has increased. Um, but I don't want our overall improvement to obscure the children in schools furthest from the goal.Charlitta Hatch · Board member3:35:28
I will celebrate that CMS is approving, but I will not hear we're doing better than before or better than most and automatically accept that as good enough. It is not good enough for my child, and I will not accept it as good enough for yours. So expect me to keep asking, better for whom?Charlitta Hatch · Board member4:23:06
Other meetings
Other meetings of this board
Video: posted by the district as “CMS Board of Education Business Meeting - Sept 8, 2026”