In a major shift, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced plans Monday to close Harding University High School and keep open E.E. Waddell High.

CMS officials had earlier signaled their intent to close Waddell as part of a district-wide restructuring aimed at saving money and boosting academic performance.

But under the latest plan, announced Monday afternoon, Waddell would remain open and the partial International Baccalaureate (IB) magnet program now at Harding would move to Waddell. Harding’s campus would be used to house the K-8 language immersion magnet program now at Smith Academy of International Languages.

The earlier proposal recommended that Smith be moved to the Waddell campus. The math and science program at Harding would move to Phillip O. Berry High.

South Mecklenburg and West Mecklenburg high schools would not be affected by any of the proposed changes. Previously, South Mecklenburg was to receive some students from Waddell, while Harding was to receive some students from West Mecklenburg.

Under the latest proposal, students at Harding could either continue in partial IB at Waddell, go to the math and science program at Philip O. Berry, or to attend their assigned home school.

CMS has scheduled a public forum for Harding parents and others affected by latest proposal. The forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Harding gymnasium.

The school board is scheduled to discuss the latest draft at its regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Government Center.

More than 70 of the district’s 178 schools would be affected by the vast restructuring.

If approved by the board, the changes would become effective in the 2011-12 school year. The board has scheduled to vote Nov. 9.
 

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