Buses, buildings and budgets

The quest to sort out Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' plans for 2011-12 resumes this afternoon. On the agenda for a special session from 1-5 p.m.: Transportation, building use and costs and savings of possible actions.

This could plunge into meaty matters: How will CMS gauge which schools need relief from crowding, and which are so underfilled they ought to close? How much busing is the district willing to pay for? What's this all going to mean to taxpayers?

Or it could be a review of existing data. I don't expect officials to roll out proposals for specific schools yet -- but my crystal ball hasn't been all that clear when it comes to this review, which started in June and is expected to continue through November.

The special session will not be broadcast, but it's open to the public, in Room 267 of the Government Center, 600 E. Fourth St.

At 6 p.m. today, the board will start its regular meeting in the Government Center's meeting chamber. This one will air live on CMS-TV (Cable 3) and be available online afterward. First up are public comments on any matter.

The main agenda item is a vote on principles and priorities for student assignment in 2011 (board members took a straw poll on this last week).

Read all available documents, including the guiding principles and priorities the board will vote on, here.

And because we can all use a good laugh, here's a bonus video that's making the rounds as a suggested solution to CMS's busing challenges.