WFAE
A Cotswold Elementary student walks past a social distancing banner on the way to class in November.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board meets Tuesday to hear plans for bringing students back to in-person classes next week.
In the past year, such meetings have brought last-minute changes and delays. But this one comes in the wake of last week’s call from state leaders to reopen in-person classes.
And Superintendent Earnest Winston said Friday he s ready to recommend staying the course the board set in mid-January. We are ready to welcome our students and staff to in-person learning on Feb. 15 and 22, he said at a news conference.
CDC says students should return to classrooms weeks before CMS is set to make decision
In the report, one study of 11 North Carolina school districts showed no cases of student-to-staff transmission during a 9 week period. Author: Tanya Mendis, Hunter Sáenz (WCNC), James Brierton (WCNC) Published: 3:19 PM EST January 26, 2021 Updated: 12:24 AM EST January 27, 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. With more than two weeks until Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools scheduled return to in-person instruction, Mecklenburg County’s health director said Tuesday metrics in the community are high but moving in the right direction. We want to do everything we can to support the schools being able to open back up again but we want them to open up safely, Gibbie Harris said.
Listen • 3:50
Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris speaks Jan. 13, 2021, at a virtual press conference about her coronavirus-safety guidance.
Updated 12:15 p.m.
Many Mecklenburg County residents were left confused and scrambling Tuesday evening after Public Health Director Gibbie Harris issued a surprise directive and reversed her previous stance on in-person school.
The directive, which was issued about an hour before the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board was scheduled to meet to discuss having students return to in-person learning next week, encouraged residents to stay home except for essential activities for the next three weeks in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston suggested books in August to prepare for the district s anti-racism work.
Superintendent Earnest Winston started the school year by saying anti-racism would be a major focus for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. As first semester ends, Winston says that work remains a top priority despite the distractions of a pandemic. I get the question often: So what is CMS doing to address racism in the district? Winston said in a recent address to Mecklenburg County commissioners.
Many experts believe the educational disruption COVID-19 has brought stands to worsen racial inequities. Winston told county officials he’s pushing forward with work to become an anti-racist district.