Mar 26 2008
CMS Receives $1.4 Million Donation from Bill Gates
A $1.4 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will help Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools tailor lessons to students in five low-performing high schools, officials said this morning.
The grant, announced today at West Charlotte High, will pay for data analysts at West Charlotte, West Meck, Garinger and Waddell, as well as the new Midwood High, serving freshmen who didn’t pass eighth-grade reading or math exams.
CMS already has reams of data documenting low test scores, high dropout rates and other woes at the schools, all of which have high poverty levels. The new analysts will help principals and teachers track individual students’ and teachers’ accomplishments, allowing schools to revamp lessons and learn from teachers who succeed.
As charitable as this was for Mr. Gates, I hope it doesn’t amount to an investor’s folly. The 2007-2008 budget for CMS schools is almost $1.2 billion. How can they possibly not enough money? I think this money from the Gates’ could have been better spent on someone who really needs it.
