Rep. David Willis, whose district sits just east of Mecklenburg County, has not publicly unveiled the bill, but board members said his staff reached out to them directly about the plan. The proposal would redraw the boundaries of the state's second-largest school system — which enrolls roughly 140,000 students — and subject sitting board members to an early vote.

The timing is notable. CMS has been buffeted by a series of investigations and internal leadership disputes in recent months, and the district's governance has drawn scrutiny from state officials in Raleigh. Supporters of a breakup argue that a system of CMS's size is too unwieldy to manage; critics counter that splitting it would deepen inequities between wealthy and poorer communities and strip resources from the students who need them most.

A recall election would be an extraordinary step for a local school board in North Carolina, where board members are typically elected to fixed four-year terms. Forcing one would require the legislature to authorize it — a move that would sharply escalate the state's involvement in Mecklenburg County's local affairs.

For families across Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, the stakes are concrete: school assignments, bus routes, magnet programs, teacher contracts and property values could all shift if the district is divided. Parents who have spent years navigating CMS's choice and magnet lottery system would face a new map entirely.

Board members contacted by Willis's staff did not indicate whether they support or oppose the plan. Willis's office did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The proposal would need to clear the Republican-controlled General Assembly, where leaders have shown increasing willingness to intervene in large urban school districts. Whether it advances in the coming session — and how quickly — remains an open question.