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INSIDE ▼ McGinn running for Senate again PAGE 2A Friday, June 27, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 26
thecharlotteweekly.com
@southcltweekly
CMS shares progress on strategic plan by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
CHARLOTTE – CharlotteMecklenburg Schools leaders are proud of what the district accomplished during the 2024-25 school year and are excited about what’s ahead for 2025-26.
District leaders shared highlights from the previous year and next steps for its strategic plan on June 23. Beth Thompson, chief of strategy and innovation, said the district
focused on these five key areas for student success in the first year of implementing its five-year strategic plan: • Pay better: Competitive pay to attract and keep great teachers. • Train smarter: Fast, effective training to grow strong educators. • Keep our talent: Support and value teachers so they stay in CMS. • Safe and welcoming schools: Clean, secure and caring environments for students and staff. • Top tech tools: Modern technology for students and teachers. Thompson said that the public
will hear how well these strategies worked with the state’s release of 2024-25 school year data in September. She said the district will continue to build on a successful 2024-25. “We'll be focusing on getting even better at using continuous improvement to identify what students need even faster so that we can address those needs as quickly as possible,” Thompson said. “In short, we're going to keep getting better and better—continuous improvement for endless possibilities.” Deputy Superintendent Melissa
Balknight shared some accomplishments achieved by students this year: • 9,898 students earned diplomas and 289 graduates completed associate degrees while in high school. • 11,621 high school students took Advanced Placement courses. • Students earned more than 6 , 9 0 0 i n d u s t r y - re c o g n i ze d credentials. • 30 individual and state championships were won in sports, including Ardrey Kell women’s soccer. • CMS was recognized as an Academically and Intellectually Gifted
Town leaders bring up concerns with Matthews Alive organizers
Promising District, while 12 schools were named Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools and nine schools received Magnet Schools of America Merit Awards. “I would be surprised if you could find any employee or student in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools who would say they haven't been asked to do something ambitious this past school year,” Superintendent Crystal Hill said. “And I would also think each of those people would also say that our students are better off thanks to their amazing efforts.”
Charlotte’s UDO helps deliver affordable duplex CHARLOTTE – Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region celebrated a new milestone in affordable housing June 21, thanks to support from the City of Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance.
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Town leaders have expressed concerns with Matthews Alive organizers about changes to the Labor Day Weekend festival, including tweaks to the parade route and how proceeds are distributed to nonprofits.
The town has a vested interest in Matthews Alive, having contributed $37,132 to the festival this past fiscal year. Former Town Manager Becky Hawke recommended before her departure increasing that by 10% to $40,935. Festival organizers updated commissioners June 23 on this year’s event, scheduled for Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. Mayor John Higdon told organizers that commissioners would be voting on the festival allocation at their next meeting. “I can say that just because this festival has been around in its current form for 30 years and 20 years before that, that even a change like changing the parade route is going to be very controversial,” Higdon told organizers. “I’m sure
you’re aware of that. There’s going to be a lot of people that don’t like it because since they were kids and people my age were kids, they’ve been doing the same parade route for the last 50 years.” Brian Lee, a board member for the festival, said the parade will come down Trade Street, turn right onto West John Street and continue toward Christ Covenant Lane to disembark at Christ Covenant Church. The parade has traditionally continued along Trade Street until participants disembark at Matthews United Methodist Church. “We are offering a safer disembarkment for our parade participants,” Lee said. “They are going to be able to disembark and break down their floats on a closed street. They will also, when they are picked up, be able to reenter traffic safely and not have to cross this year.” Lee said the route change maintains the festival footprint and prevents the parade from having bottlenecks around Matthews Elementary School. Matthews Alive organizers also proposed allowing nonprofits not associated with the operations
of the festival to get a cut of the proceeds. Traditionally, proceeds have been split among nonprofits that have volunteered at the festival. Lee told commissioners that groups will have to apply for a donation through the festival’s website. That process will go live in a few weeks. He said this helps groups that previously were unable to participate due not not having a large group of volunteers. Commissioner John Urban told Lee that he had heard from a couple of nonprofits concerned about this particular change. Urban compared it to handing out welfare. “The purpose of Matthews Alive is for the nonprofits to be giving back to the community,” Urban said. “They put their time and talent on the line to do that and they supported this community because they loved it.” Urban also took issue with the change in parade route and the removal of children’s inflatables, adding that these changes felt abrupt. Lee said festival organizers identified fixed costs Story continues, see MATTHEWS page 3A
Panda Fest puts focus on Asian food, culture CHARLOTTE – Panda Fest will highlight the food, arts and traditions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities through interactive experiences and live performances.
The panda-themed cultural celebration takes place Sept. 14 to 16 at Ballantyne’s Backyard. Created by the founders of Dragon Fest, Panda Fest began as a one-day pop-up event, "Panda Day," that gained popularity for its panda-themed food, games and cultural programming. After selling out in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle, the festival is now expanding into a multi-city, multi-day celebration with Charlotte added to the schedule. “We’re thrilled to bring Panda Fest to
Charlotte,” said BiuBiu Xu, founder of Panda Fest. “This event is all about building community through shared experiences, whether that’s enjoying incredible food, discovering new art forms or just having fun. We’re especially excited to feature both traveling vendors from across the country and amazing local talent to create a one-of-a-kind cultural experience.” Guests can explore more than 70 food vendors and food trucks offering 300-plus dishes from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and beyond. In addition to the food, attendees can browse a curated marketplace of 20-plus vendors offering crafts, clothing, accessories and artisan goods inspired by Asian heritage.
Traditional arts like calligraphy, sugar painting and paper cutting will be featured alongside modern K-pop dance routines, lion dances and theatrical performances. Festival-goers can also expect Instagram-worthy installations like a 15-foot inflatable panda, a panda bounce ring, themed treats, souvenirs and games galore. Want to go?
Panda Fest takes place from 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 13 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 at Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N. Community House Road, Charlotte. Tickets go on sale June 25 at www.pandafests.com.
Habitat welcomed a firsttime homebuyer to 2510 Toddville Road, the organization’s first duplex built by right under the UDO. The new home was made possible through the density bonus provision, which allows additional housing units on a single parcel without the need for rezoning. “This is exactly the kind of outcome the Charlotte Future 2040 Plan and the adopted UDO were designed to support,” said Monica Holmes, interim planning, development and design director. “By providing greater flexibility in how we use land, the UDO makes it easier to create a variety of housing types and increase affordability in neighborhoods throughout our city.” Under the previous zoning rules, the Toddville Road lot could have supported only one market-rate home. Through the UDO’s by-right duplex option, Habitat was able to build two affordable homes instead, reducing per-unit costs and increasing the city’s affordable housing supply. “Charlotte's new UDO has been instrumental for Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region in allowing the affiliate to serve more families with additional housing types in a wider range of neighborhoods,” said Jennifer Morell, land acquisition and development director. “Specifically, the ability to build duplexes in single-family neighborhoods has enabled the affiliate to offer more homeownership opportunities in areas of Charlotte where land values are typically cost prohibitive.” The June 21 event included a walking tour of Legacy Vista, a nearby 14-home development under construction. Legacy Vista is being developed by Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region and received support from the city’s Housing Trust Fund. The project features five duplex buildings and four single-family homes and also leverages UDO incentives, including the former conservation subdivision bonus.