High Crime in Union County/Charlotte? (Weddington, Waxhaw: high school, income, tax)

[Robin2007]

WE LOVE this area. The schools are fabulous...easy access to anything you could want...the people here are so wonderful. I think you will be really happy.

[Robin2007]

Originally Posted by mathteacher09

I have to disagree with this statement. Yes, the infrustructure has mostly been in western UC, but that is more out of necessity to keep up with demand.

The schools however work a bit differently. The clusters in the eastern portion of the county have benefited greatly from the new found tax base in the western part of the county. For instance, if the schools were funded locally, not county district wide, you would see a much greater discrepancy between schools and thier financial conditions.

Well said, I often hear a lot of "chatter" about the Western part of the county benefitting more from tax money. However, the community does contribute a TON to the schools. The playgrounds...computers...white boards are just a few of the things that I know are contributed by parents and community members through the fundraising that is always going on in local schools.

[thebalogas]

Originally Posted by Robin2007

WE LOVE this area. The schools are fabulous...easy access to anything you could want...the people here are so wonderful. I think you will be really happy.

Just wanted to say I totally agree with this statement.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by jlat

Sure, there is a single pot for all schools in UC just like most school districts in the area, but I don't think that the board spends the pool equally. For example you haven't seen any new schools in the east or significant renavations (with the exception of Monroe city schools) taking place like the mass building or renovations that is that is taking place in the west. I may be mistaken, but I can't think of a new schools coming online anywhere near Marshville or Wingate and some of those schools have a lot of years on them. Meanwhile if there are more than a couple of trailers on a western school the community is up in arms until there are brand new schools are built.

There has not been any new schools in the eastern portion of the county because there simply has not been any demand. That end of the county is not seeing the growth that western end has been facing for the last decade. Yes, some of the Forest Hills cluster have old buildings, but big deal they are still fully functional. It's difficult, and pretty much pointless, to take on major renovations in unchaging areas, when demand is so high in other regions. UCPS has been busy building and opening 23 new schools in the past decade. Trailers are not the reason new schools are being built - astronomical numbers are. The Sun Valley and Weddington clusters especially, have been severely over-burdened by large population growth. They needed relief - period. Trailers were just an indicator of the problem, not the problem.

Building monies aside, the instructional monies have been distributed very evenly. Actually, to a point that it does not adequately represent the tax input. For example, the Forest Hills cluster will generate much less tax revenue than the Marvin Cluster, yet the expenditures per student will remain the same. So actually, if you want to really look at this way, proportionally the eastern side of the county more enjoys much more bang for their buck than the western side of the county.

[MissGraceRN]

where are you coming from? I moved from upstate last year and im in union cty its alot like upstate out here

[jlat]

Originally Posted by jstn

Yes, some of the Forest Hills cluster have old buildings, but big deal they are still fully functional. It's difficult, and pretty much pointless, to take on major renovations in unchaging areas, when demand is so high in other regions. .

Go tell that to the kids that have to sit in those old buildings, I'm sure that they would appreciate knowing that

[md to nc]

Originally Posted by Robin2007

Well said, I often hear a lot of "chatter" about the Western part of the county benefitting more from tax money. However, the community does contribute a TON to the schools. The playgrounds...computers...white boards are just a few of the things that I know are contributed by parents and community members through the fundraising that is always going on in local schools.

Right but remember the income difference between the two areas. The western area can give all that to the schools plus take the tax money and keep building. But when you are in a lower income bracket and just trying to make ends meet, then also those "perks" can't be bought by the parents and the tax money needs to be used for that. Is it any fault of the residents of Eastern UC??????

[diamondplayer]

Originally Posted by jlat

Go tell that to the kids that have to sit in those old buildings, I'm sure that they would appreciate knowing that

Maybe those kids need to move to a four room 400sq ft apartment.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by jlat

Go tell that to the kids that have to sit in those old buildings, I'm sure that they would appreciate knowing that

You are completely missing the point! There is NO NEED to build new buildings in the east because the buildings are just fine. Their buildings are no older than 95% of the schools across America. I'm assuming you have not been to Parkwood, Piedmont or Sun Valley, becasue those buildings are identical to Forest Hills. Why are you not raising a fuss about their situations? You are simply crying foul when it is not necessary.

New schools are being built because of GROWTH not wealth!

[jstn]

Originally Posted by md to nc

Right but remember the income difference between the two areas. The western area can give all that to the schools plus take the tax money and keep building. But when you are in a lower income bracket and just trying to make ends meet, then also those "perks" can't be bought by the parents and the tax money needs to be used for that. Is it any fault of the residents of Eastern UC??????

Robin's quote that you dispute is actually dead-on. The reason that the western communities have to step up and do fund raisers for things like whiteboards, computers and playgrounds is because their tax money is eqaully dispersed to the eastern schools. The county will use tax payers money to fully equip lower income schools first, because they know wealthier communities will step up and fill the void.

So actually the burden to support the schools is felt to a greater extent by the western areas. However, like one poster said, their burden is usually still so much lower than where they came from that it is not considered a problem.