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CHARLOTTE – The best year so far for Charlotte Mecklenburg schools is overshadowed by impending budget cuts. Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman outlined an increase in student achievement during his annual "State of Our Schools" address.

Staff was applauded for making strides towards closing the achievement gap, improving test scores and increasing the graduation rate. However, Gorman did warn of a tougher road ahead, with even deeper budget cuts expected.

"Will we be able to continue to make progress," Gorman asked during his speech. "For the first time, I have to say I don't know."

It's a reality that makes the future for CMS students uncertain. At the end of June, in hopes of taking a proactive approach to tacking expected budget cuts the board embarked upon on Comprehensive Review. After weeks of philosophical discussions and altering policies, district staff presented a plan that would close schools, re-draw boundaries and consolidate programs. It has drawn harsh criticism from the community, even leading to a silent student protest at Harding University High School on Thursday, where 800 students refused to go to class.

Critics say the plan unfairly targets low income and minority students. They also say district staff was inconsistent in applying the methodology used to identify specific schools across the district.
 
Dr. Gorman explained, given the bleak economic outlook, closing schools will have to be just one of many strategies utilized as they prepares for a $50 to $100 million cut next school year.
 
"It's hard to say [that] there are things we won't be considering anymore because of the money situation," board member Tom Tate said.
 
After consecutive years of massive cuts, that have resulted in larger classes and teacher layoffs, it can be hard to fathom what else the district can afford to do away with.
 
"Cut district staff again. We will cut programs," Gorman said of the options.
 
It's all happening as national pressure to reform schools intensifies. Increasing teacher effectiveness is at the core of that charge, especially as reductions in funding threaten to negatively impact student achievement.
 
"What we want to do is develop measures of teaching to tell us who's great, who's good and who needs help," Gorman said.
 
Critics of the current system, that relies on test scores and performance evaluations, say the process is too subjective. Gorman added that test scores are often returned in the year making it harder to make the necessary adjustments. He also said test scores alone do not give the complete picture.

Gorman introduced the beginnings of a plan that would not just look at test scores, but would also use an equation to measure how far students are advancing each year. He has also been very clear for months about his intention to link pay to performance throughout the entire system. He assured the crowd, this new methodology is not "anti-teacher" but "pro-student."
 
The first order of business is voting on the Comprehensive Review.  With another community forum expected next week, and more protests planned, board members say they are still considering the feedback.
 
"I'm not making a decision until the day we have to vote," board Chairman Eric Davis said.
 
The vote is scheduled for November 9. It will mark the beginning of a new reality.
 
Watch the entire news conference below.

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