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Davidson IB Families Oppose Potential Closing

Davidson IB students speak with CMS Board Chair Eric Davis
Davidson IB students speak with CMS Board Chair Eric Davis

http://66.225.205.104/LM20101008.mp3

Dozens of Davidson IB students and parents urged CMS officials at last night's forum not to close the middle school to save money. Davidson IB has 250 students. It's one of the district's top-performing schools, but CMS also considers it to be housed in its most dilapidated building. About one hundred Davidson parents and students came to last night's forum to tell staff and board members the old building isn't getting in the way of learning. Nan Buckley has a 7th grader at Davidson IB. She said what the quarters lack, the community more than makes up for. "There's not another school in this city that is in the town of Davidson," said Buckley. "They get to use the performing arts center. They get to go downtown to the mayor. They learn government." District staff recommends closing Davidson IB and moving the International Baccalaureate magnet to Alexander Middle, a school that has room to spare. Davidson IB parents last night worried their kids wouldn't learn as well at Alexander. Only a few who attended the forum spoke in favor of the changes. Board Member Rhonda Lennon represents the northern part of Mecklenburg County. She says she's heard from many people who support closing Davidson IB. "With DIB there's two groups of people. There's a group of people that are attending or did attend the school and are part of the DIB family and then there's everybody else," said Lennon. CMS officials say transferring the IB program to Alexander will allow the district to accept more students in the program. The next forum on school closings will take place Tuesday evening at the Government Center.