We just got the news… “Good evening. The Cabarrus County Board of Education Public Hearing scheduled for Monday, Dec. 11th at 7 p.m. has been cancelled. The cancellation is based on the most recent information from the North Carolina Senate regarding the kindergarten through 3rd grade class size bill. All indications are that state legislators will not take action on class size adjustments during the upcoming state legislative session. Without legislative action on class size, Cabarrus County Schools program capacity will decrease by more than 1,800 seats -- which will result in the need for approximately 95 additional classrooms across the district based on current enrollment. On December 11th, Superintendent Lowder will recommend the Board of Education delay its decision on redistricting the Royal Oak’s boundary for one year. Once again, the Board of Education Public Hearing scheduled for Monday, Dec. 11th has been cancelled.” That’s right!!! We did it!!!!!! I can’t even express my gratitude for your support, help, emails, ideas, sign and flyer distribution, spreading the word…just WOW!!!! We’re likely going to have to do this all over again in a year but for now we can take a collective sigh of relief. We bought a year! Let’s make the most of it… So, our next call to action is a challenge. We need to prove to the BOE that small schools DO have value, and students can perform better in them. I challenge each of us (US – I need to do better too!) to volunteer just 1 hour per month (or more if you’re able) at BHES or your respective neighborhood school. Our teachers and staff need our continued support to help the students excel. From the front office to the classroom, our commitment will help the students achieve great things! Let’s do this! Let’s SAVE OUR SCHOOLS by proving – where it matters to those miles away looking at data – that our schools MATTER!!!! !!!!-------but we can all start after we have a glass of wine or whatever you prefer-------!!!!