http://www.wbtv.com/story/23771208/290-million-bond-referendum-for-cms

CMS has had a graphic on one of their "bond information" pages for weeks now... "No Tax Increase related to bond vote"  (http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsbondinfo/Documents/Voter%20Information%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf)

In an interview with WBTV's Dedrick Russell yesterday, Dr. Morrison said "that is the structure of these bonds... is they SHOULD not increase taxes."

So is there a guarantee that taxes will not go up, or is that simply the "intent" or "plan"?

I do not support Common Core in its current form.  I support Lt Gov Dan Forest in his quest to get his questions answered from NCDPI.  Common Core has too much government bureaucracy and is too expensive, etc.

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/08/27/update-north-carolina-lieutenant-governor-dan-forest-reveals-the-bureaucracy-behind-common-core/

I've referenced an article below that touches on so many points I can relate to:  "misplaced stress on literary nonfiction or information reading,"  "Common Core mathematics standards are worse than the standards jettisoned by most states," "between the time of adoption and the statewide implementation of the Common Core standards, the standards had not been subject to field-testing," "researchers estimated that NC public schools may spend as much as $525 million over the next seven years..." "the federal government has bankrolled the development of Common Core tests," "(assessments have) relatively few English language questions and no traditional grammar, spelling, mechanics, or usage questions"

http://johnlocke.org/research/show_story.html?id=294&spotlights

I am not against school bonds, just these bonds that short change District One Schools AGAIN. In the approval of the 2007 Bonds, Davidson IB was supposed to get renovated, but was actually CLOSED, and Highland Creek Elementary's relief school has STILL not been built.

Our District One schools are over crowded, especially our Elementary Schools. This bond package will only give us a net gain of 3 more classrooms at JM Alexander Middle in 4 years, and an addition in 6 years at Davidson Elementary.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/10/12/4383663/cms-bonds-show-new-tactics-for.html#.UltCdVBJOBI

Davidson lost its IB school. Highland Creek Elementary STILL has not had its relief school built. "But half the projects (from the 2007 Bond vote) remain unfinished." "When school leaders and citizen boosters conduct a bond campaign, they spell out projects the money will be used for. But those projects AREN'T LISTED on the ballot and AREN'T LEGALLY BINDING."

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/10/11/4380944/cms-bonds-successes-and-setbacks.html#.Ulv9y1BJOBK

I've been "removed" from Ms. Lennon's CMS Facebook page again this morning... I bet this is close to 6 or 7 times now over the past two years. I cannot understand why she's opposed to me seeing her posts. I've asked her numerous times to "like" my CMS Facebook page so she can see everything I post. I'm not trying to hide anything.

Is this the kind of representation you want in District One?

“There’s so many points in there (the SPARK/SMART Position Paper) that really resonated with me, especially the cost of living adjustments for the teachers,” Mast said of the position paper. She told the crowd that she felt teacher pay was more important than brick-and-mortar issues right now.

http://www.huntersvilleherald.com/news/2013/10/3/7725/school-board-candidates-clash-on-bond

For the record, I understand that the Capital Budget is separate and apart from the Operating Budget.  What is more important right now, in my opinion, is to raise the morale of some of our most important School Staff... the teachers.  We need to increase teachers' pay, instead of funding capital projects six years into the future.  We need to get Mecklenburg County and other local systems to contribute funds towards giving out cost of living adjustments.

Since CMS has decided NOT to defer the bonds to address the critical needs of District One and other issues, I am NOT supporting the $290 million CMS Bond package. See the article for more reasons why, especially when the teachers need more money, instead of more brick and mortar. Ms. Lennon's rationale for supporting the bonds being b/c CMS stayed within the $290 million limit put forth by the County?? That's just a numbers game to find projects that added up to the $290 million! That's not being fiscally conservative... that's just working within the limits the County gave you. And, if JM Alexander is so "...dark, dingy and is not meeting the needs of the students," then why does Ms. Lennon think a completion date of FOUR YEARS into the future is acceptable for the JMA replacement school? Shouldn't we want that done sooner, if the conditions are so bad today?

http://www.huntersvilleherald.com/news/2013/10/3/7725/school-board-candidates-clash-on-bond