CMS employees will keep working Monday despite closing to students under state order

Despite closing to students Monday under the governor’s order, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees are still expected to report to work, the district told its staff Sunday.

In a letter to staff Sunday afternoon, CMS said that all employees — including district-wide, school-based, hourly, central office and support staff — are expected to work Monday, and that the day will be focused on preparing for creating and distributing curriculum and devices to students. The state Department of Public Instruction asked districts to use Monday “as a day of preparation for supporting student learning in the weeks to come,” the letter said.

Employees who cannot report to work Monday due to health or childcare concerns were instructed to use annual leave, comp time or bonus leave.

“We recognize that these are unprecedented times and we appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we guide our students, staff and community through unchartered territory,” the letter said. “We would also like to encourage staff to take care of themselves and their families throughout this process.”

Teachers, principals and school-based staff were directed to begin work on distance-learning plans, and to use the day to gather their belongings and determine which students have devices and internet access. More specific details on instruction would come on Tuesday, the district said.

Under Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order, schools across the state will be closed through at least through March 30. The executive order did not specify what teachers, support staff and other district employees should do during the closure. CMS told employees to expect daily updates, given the constantly changing situation.

“We’ve learned that because of the fluid nature of this pandemic and the responses by various agencies, it is not possible to provide district-wide guidance for more than one or two days at a time,” the CMS letter to employees said.

Cooper’s order came after a teacher in Wake County Schools tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier, individual districts had begun announcing temporary closures or breaks in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. CMS voted Friday to move up the start of spring break and release students Wednesday, but Cooper’s order will close schools three days earlier than the district planned.

On Sunday, Mecklenburg County announced two additional presumptive positive tests for coronavirus, bringing the total number of patients in the county to four. Statewide, there were 32 cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday evening.

This story was originally published March 15, 2020 at 7:55 PM.