Late change to CMS plan: Northern schools closed Tuesday, the rest on two-hour delay
Hours after saying all schools would reopen on a two-hour delay, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced that 35 will remain closed Tuesday because of lingering power outages and dangerous roads.
The schools are primarily in northern Mecklenburg County, which was hit hardest by this weekend’s winter storm, and magnet schools serving students in the area, the district said in a 9:30 p.m. announcement. “These weather impacts could endanger safety and include potentially hazardous travel and power outages for some students, families and staff in our community,” the statement said.
Schools that will not open Tuesday are: Bailey Middle, Barnette Elementary, Blythe Elementary, Bradley Middle, Cornelius Elementary, Croft Elementary, David Cox Elementary, Davidson Elementary, Grand Oak Elementary, Hawthorne Academy, Highland Creek Elementary, Hopewell High, Hornets Nest Elementary, Hough High, Huntersville Elementary, Independence High, J.M. Alexander Middle, J.V. Washam Elementary, Lebanon Road Elementary, Long Creek Elementary, Mallard Creek elementary and high schools, Metro School, Northeast Middle, North Mecklenburg High, Northwest School of the Arts, Parkside Elementary, Performance Learning Center, Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, Piedmont Middle, Ridge Road Middle, Stoney Creek Elementary, Torrence Creek Elementary, Trillium Springs Montessori and Waddell Language Academy.
The rest of the district’s 175 schools will open two hours later than usual. Afternoon dismissals will happen at the regular time, and the school board will meet as scheduled Tuesday evening.
At 3:15 p.m. Monday CMS had announced the two-hour delay for all schools. Parents in north Mecklenburg shared photos of streets and parking lots covered with snow and ice, wondering on social media how CMS could safely open schools.
Monday was the sixth bad-weather closing day this school year, and winter hasn’t officially begun. The first five days were prompted by tropical storms.
Superintendent Clayton Wilcox has already said he won’t use the first and last days of winter break for makeup, even though they’re on the CMS calendar for that purpose. That leaves Jan. 22, Feb. 18 and March 29, all of which are scheduled as teacher work days, that can be used for students to make up time.
As a last resort, the board approved June 10-12 as possible makeup days, with classes scheduled to end June 7. Attendance would likely be slim if those days are tapped.
This story was originally published December 10, 2018 at 3:25 PM.
