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Community Gardens - an Action Plan for Success

Submitted by Susan H.
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 9:58am
Community Gardens - an Action Plan for Success

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Are you an involved community leader, a neighborhood captain, an educator or someone wanting to "get back to basics" in the local food chain? If so, and you are unsure of where or how to start, join us as an experienced community gardener, teacher and writer, focusing on food gardening in the Carolinas, walks you through the steps to organize, establish and maintain a successful, sustainable community garden. Learn how a garden can foster communities by providing fresh produce, promoting physical activity, encouraging opportunities for friendships and cooperation and ultimately benefit the community at large.

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Congratulations to the winners!

Submitted by Donna Lepre on Thursday, April 26th, 12:26 pm
Congratulations to the winners!

For the tenth consecutive year, The Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo L.L.P. is presenting its “Arrive Alive!® Don’t Drink and Drive” community outreach program to area high schools to help reduce tragedies related to underage drinking and driving.

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Senate wants merit pay, end teacher tenure

Submitted by Chris Dyches
Tuesday, April 24th, 2012, 6:44am
Senate wants merit pay, end teacher tenure

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Republicans in the North Carolina Senate are rolling out a package of public school initiatives they say would create performance bonuses for teachers but end their employment tenure so that districts could more easily dismiss ineffective ones.
           
Senate leader Phil Berger unveiled his plan Monday in Raleigh.  It's Senate Bill 795.  The politician says it must pass.

"In order to fix our state's broken education system," Berger said.  "We must stop constantly reaching for our checkbook and focus on reforming our playbook."

In addition to abolishing teacher tenure, Berger wants to abolish social promotion.  The bill states if a 3rd grader cannot read on 3rd grade level, that student will not go to the fourth grade.

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Morrison on CMS superintendent job: "I have decided to move forward"

Submitted by Nick Needham on Monday, April 23rd, 12:17 am

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - New Charlotte Mecklenburg  school (CMS) district superintendent Heath Morrison will be back in Charlotte on Tuesday.  He will be present at the school board meeting as members will officially approve his appointment.

No contract has been signed yet.  Negotiations are still pending.  Morrision could sign his contract on Tuesday.

He has already talked to current Chief Academic Officer Ann Clark about her status in his administration.  He has not offered her a job yet, but Clark is willing to stay in the district no matter her title.

"I am prepared to be a part of his leadership team," Clark said.  "In any way he chooses."

Morrison says he can handle CMS despite coming from a school district that is much smaller than CMS.

The new top educator says he is for pay for performance, but has a different way of presenting it.

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School board approves $1.2 billion budget; include raise for teachers

Submitted by Steve Crump
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012, 8:38am

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education approved a new $1.2 Billion budget for the 2012-2013 school year, but may run into a road block with county commissioners who have to approve the request.

The billion-dollar-plus budget includes a 3% raise for teachers.

Acting Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh framed the budget conversation with sacrifices in mind.

"We have had a reduction in budget cuts," he said. "We have had a reduction in force something that we have not seen in this district since the 1930s."

Improving teachers' salaries was the goal of the majority of CMS board members.

Board member Richard McElrath favors a bump in salary.

"I don't see how we can keep the teachers in this system, if we don't pay them."

Before voting, Joyce Waddell raised the issue of equity.

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Register now for Summer Film & Acting Camp

Submitted by Susan H.
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012, 5:07pm
Register now for Summer Film & Acting Camp

PINEVILLE, NC (WBTV) - This workshop, intended for ages 9 to 14, and 15 to 17, incorporates classroom instruction and hands-on experience with on-set production.  Students will learn to translate their ideas from script to screen by learning storytelling techniques, screenwriting, directing, camera operation, sound-voice recording and editing. 

Event Details
Dates:  June 11th - August 24th
Hours:  8:30am to 5:30pm
Fees:  $155 to $175
Venue:  Light of Hope Church
Address:  413 N. Polk St., Pineville

Need more information?  Please click HERE or call Jermaine Coles at 704.550.7275.

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CMS budget battle: teacher vs student

Submitted by Dedrick Russell on Tuesday, March 27th, 7:16 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Charlotte Mecklenburg school (CMS) district parents are ready to fight to get their children home earlier from school.

That's why they spoke at Tuesday night's school board meeting, with signs in hand, to convince board members to pay to reverse bell schedules.

"They think this is a minor inconvenience for us," CMS Parent Susan Plaza said. "But we see at it something much greater than that."

CMS changed bell schedules last year to save money. As a result students are getting home later. Parents claim it's getting harder and harder for students to finish homework or participate in other activities.

"It has created a big time crunch at the end of the day" Plaza said.

CMS says it needs about $4 million to reverse all bell schedules.

While parents want CMS school board members to reverse bell schedules, CMS teachers want the district to use all the

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