STEELE CREEK NEWS

CMS Board Approves Plan to Relieve School Overcrowding

(May 7, 2005) At its April 26 meeting, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board unanimously approved spending $2.7 million to provide additional space at five of the most overcrowded schools in the system, including Lake Wylie and Steele Creek Elementary Schools.

For the 2005-2006 school year, Lake Wylie Elementary School is projected to have 1461 students, which is 195% of its capacity. Specific problems identified at the school are lack of space for special programs, lack of dining space, and a shortage of car and bus parking. The plan adopted on April 26 will add five mobile classrooms and a modular dining facility for use beginning next fall. Total cost is $462,000.

Steele Creek Elementary School has a projected enrollment of 1169 next year, or 190% of capacity. Problems identified at Steele Creek were lack of space for classrooms and special programs and a shortage of car parking. Improvements approved were an 8-classroom modular unit and additional parking, at a total cost of $595,000.

The opening in 2006 of the new elementary school currently under construction on Winget Road is expected to relieve some of the overcrowding at these two schools. However, overcrowding is expected to continue at Steele Creek, which is why the decision was made to add a modular unit rather than additional trailers. The modular unit is expected to remain after the new elementary school opens.

Other system schools slated for relief were Coulwood Middle School, Alexander Middle School, and North Mecklenburg High School.