Some of the week's top stories: The fight between Mecklenburg County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools over funding continued with the county adopting a budget that temporarily withholds millions of dollars from the school district, a Guatemalan father in North Carolina shares how he got four of his children into the U.S., COVID-19 vaccine administration in the state stalls, and the waning pandemic leaves mask makers with more supply than demand.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles declined to say whether she supports Mecklenburg County's decision to withhold $56 million from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The county wants CMS to present a detailed plan for closing achievement gaps between white and Asian students and Black and Hispanic students.
WFAE
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said last night it would initiate a dispute resolution process with Mecklenburg County after commissioners approved a roughly $2 billion budget that, for now, withholds $56 million from the school system.
Under that state statute, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board and county commissioners will meet within seven days. If no resolution is reached, then the two sides will begin mediation.
The county says CMS can receive the $56 million money once it presents a detailed plan for how it will close achievement gaps between Black and Hispanic students and white and Asian students. CMS has said it’s already presented the county with its strategic plan and that withholding the money will “indisputably harm students, teachers and schools.”