INSIDE ▼ Playhouse picks semi-finalists for Playwrights Festival PAGE 2A Friday, April 29, 2022 • Vol. 15 • No. 17
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BOND ISSUE INCHES FORWARD by Justin Vick
“
Our citizens are demanding these things. The beauty of a general obligation bond is that we don't decide. The taxpayers decide.
justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Town Manager Becky Hawke said town commissioners will be asked to consider a resolution of intent to pursue general obligation bonds during their May 23 meeting. Town staff sought feedback from commissioners April 25 regarding nearly $33.3 million in potential bond projects. Projects were split into two buckets: transportation and parks/recreation.
Higdon
• Mayor John Higdon
Transportation projects, totalling nearly $20.5 million, are as follows: • Downtown Projects (streetscape, mobility and parking improvements) – $11,334,600 • Greylock Ridge Road Extension (segments C&D) – $4,221,400 • Sidewalk gaps – $3,092,200 • East Charles Street/Crestdale
Road railroad crossing improvements – $1,348,000 • John Street widening (U-4714 AB) costshaare – $500,000 Parks and recreation projects, totalling $12.8 million, are as follows: • Purser-Hulsey Park – $9,120,968 • Matthews Downtown Loop multi-use path – $2,830,100
• Park improvements – $849,,054 • Additional greenway projects – TBD The consensus among commissioners from the April 25 meeting was to pursue $35 million in bond projects. Opinions differed on how see BOND, Page 5A
WHAT'S INSIDE:
McCool recovering from COVID Hattabaugh by Justin Vick
Ken McCool CMG file photo
justin@cmgweekly.com
Pretty Colors Crayola bringing interactive exhibit, 2A
Opening Doors 53 Ideas competition can fuel business, 5A
MATTHEWS – Mayor John Higdon not only prayed for unity among the Matthews Board of Commissioners, but he also sought God’s healing grace for colleague Ken McCool who is recovering from COVID-19. McCool has been in quarantine since testing positive for COVID-19 over Easter weekend. “I’m thankful that my symptoms are minimal and manageable,” McCool told social media followers on April 17. “I’m fully vaccinated and boosted — and I’m grateful to have protection from the vaccine. I will be following the CDC quarantine guidance and will provide further updates as necessary.” He took that opportunity to
by Hugh Hattabaugh CMS Superintendent
Editor’s note: Hugh Hattabaugh provided the following remarks during his first school board meeting as interim superintendent on April 26. Remarks have been edited for space.
share prevention and vaccination information from the N.C. Department of Public Health. McCool was admitted to Novant Health Matthews Medical Center the next day for tests and treatment. He wasn’t released until April 21.
“I want to thank the incredible medical team at Matthews Medical Center — and I also want to thank you for your kind thoughts and well wishes,” he wrote on April 21. “I’m feeling better and will be resting at home for the next few days.”
CMS names new school by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
Good Vibes SOUL Expo highlights wellness, 1B
Special Tour Tickets go on sale for Lizzo performance, 1B
MINT HILL – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has decided on a name for the new elementary school going next to Mint Hill Middle School. It will be called Mint Hill Elementary School. A naming committee spent many months learning the history of the area, gaining feedback from the public and weighing the pros and cons for the most popular names considered. Mint Hill Elementary won out over Morning Star Elementary and Matthews-Mint Hill Elementary. One of the advantages of Mint Hill Elementary was its proximity to the middle school. “A shared name could help
gets to work
to build connections throughout the community regarding the transition from elementary school to middle school,” according to a memo shared with the school board on April 26. A poll of families and community members revealed that Mint Hill Elementary was the most popular choice (222 votes) but Morning Star Elementary was close behind (219 votes). Matthews-Mint Hill had 95 votes. The committee noted how Morning Star was a unique choice with historical ties to the area, but there was concern about its connection to a faithbased organization. “The term ‘Morning Star’ is a direct reference to a quotation from the Bible (Rev. 22:16), which could cause communi-
ty members of other faiths to feel excluded,” according to the memo. Several names were initially considered for the school. Those of geographic origin include: Golden Creek, Southeast, Irvins Creek, Mint Hill-Matthews, Stumptown, Roseland Park, Catawba Ridge, Matthews Community and Southeast Hill. Some of the suggestions honored notable people of the region, such as Dr. Selma Burke, Conrad Reed, Neubert Purser, Dan Hood, Tommy Rogers and Sam Boyd. Perhaps the most unique suggestion was Ye Iswą Elementary, which translates to “people of the river,” in honor of the Catawba people.
It was great to listen to the discussion that you had regarding the important goals that we have set. And I want to reiterate that it is truly a privilege to return to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as the interim superintendent. First, there will not be a superintendent doing a 100-day entry plan with the listening and learning tour. Hearing the dialogue here, we’ve got to get into the weeds here and get things working in the right direction. I have served CMS prior from 2007 to 2012 as an area superintendent for the North Learning Community, chief operating officer and interim superintendent. I’m very familiar with the challenges of a large urban and diverse school district such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. There have been a lot of changes since 2007. There were only 144 schools at that time and only 37 Title 1 schools. Today, in 2022, CMS is comprised of 180 schools with 85 Title 1 schools. The CMS board has established new expectations and direction for the superintendent and CMS staff, in the new goals and guard rails, which take effect in the coming school year until 2024. The governance model is student outcomes-focused and is the driving force to produce increased student achievement. The intent of the model is to ensure essential resources are driven rapidly to the students and schools in greatest need to decrease the achievement gap for our minority students and students in poverty. On my first day yesterday. I met with cabinet members who oversee all see LEADER, Page 5A
Construction delayed for Matthews Veterans Memorial Park by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Construction for Matthews Veterans Memorial Park will be delayed by several months as the town wasn't able to secure a construction entrance that doesn’t interfere with planned events at the adjoining Stumptown Park.
The town was banking on a temporary construction entrance into the site via the former Exxon lot at 110 Trade Street. “The Exxon lot project manager has demonstrated a willingness to consider the temporary construction entrance for the park project, but maintains that they have to navigate the permit process and confirm the schedule for their project before moving forward with the
conversation,” parks and recreation director Corey King wrote to commissioners in an internal memo. The plan was for construction to take place in July and August but King said the window has passed. “The participant experience during planned events in Stumptown Park would be negatively impacted if any other construction entrance area were used in an attempt to maintain the July - Au-
gust construction timeline,” according to King. Some of the events going on at Stumptown Park include the Beats ‘n Bites concert series, held on the last Friday of each month from April to September, BeachFest Matthews (May 13-14), Independence Day Celebration (July 4), Matthews Alive (Sept. 2-5) and Musica Matthews (Oct. 15). “Trying to navigate park con-
struction around events gets very challenging, so if we’re not able to keep this first timeline the next free space of time that does not significantly impact already planned events, we’re looking at a January construction,” Town Manager Becky Hawke told the board earlier this month. Town leaders now expect construction to span from January to March 2023.
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