CHARLOTTE -- A multimillion-dollar push by Charlotte's wealthiest donors to bolster eight schools in northwest Charlotte launches a renewed quest to unite a fractured community behind public education.
On Monday, corporate and foundation donors will unveil Project LIFT, a five-year plan to support talented educators, extend the time kids spend in classes, beef up technology and strengthen family and community involvement in the schools that feed into West Charlotte High.
Project leaders wouldn't disclose numbers last week.
It's the latest high-profile bid from a citizens group to rally support for the embattled school district.
As budget cuts force school closings and teacher layoffs in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, frustration, fear and anger are mounting.
Urban neighborhoods say they're bearing the brunt of cuts.
Suburban schools, which get less aid to start with, have classrooms bursting with students.
Across the county, teachers feel battered.
The makeup of other citizen groups that have announced intentions to help range from working-class parents to corporate titans.
Many civic leaders are trying to break the barricades of race, class and geography to get people working together.
Before drafting their plan to be announced Monday, the philanthropists who dubbed themselves the CMS Investment Study Group met with more than 650 students, parents, educators, clergy and business leaders in the West Charlotte area.
"At first, the skepticism was, 'OK, corporate Charlotte, philanthropic Charlotte is helicoptering in,' " said Michael Marsicano of Foundation for the Carolinas, which is working with Project LIFT (it stands for Leadership and Investment For Transformation).
For decades, West Charlotte High has symbolized Mecklenburg County's highest hopes and biggest challenges in education.
In the 1970s and '80s, the school's successful integration was a point of pride.
More recently, white flight, rising poverty levels and the academic challenges of minority students have played out on the West Charlotte stage.
The project will serve all the children who will eventually move up to West Charlotte, starting with 4-year-olds. Four of the school system's new pre-K through eighth-grade schools - Bruns Avenue, Byers, Druid Hills and Thomasboro - will be part of the effort, along with Allenbrook and Statesville Road elementaries and Ranson Middle.
