CMS cancels US travel, field trips amid coronavirus concerns
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is suspending all travel for students and staff in response to the spread of COVID-19, Superintendent Earnest Winston said at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
The new travel limitations applies to all district-sponsored trips, including professional development for staff and will be in effect indefinitely. Winston said that trips for activities like band, chorus and sports would continue but that the district is evaluating next steps.
The announcement came as N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency earlier Tuesday. North Carolina currently has 7 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 — six from Wake County and one from Chatham County. All North Carolina patients are being isolated while officials work to identify close contacts.
Winston said the district is examining next steps for competitions that draw large crowds, and that the district is waiting on guidance from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Winston also wrote that CMS would confer with other large districts in the state about the best practices for athletic competitions and other gatherings.
Winston also condemned bullying and racism targeted at Asian students as a result of the coronavirus.
“There have been reports of inappropriate behaviors towards Asian American students in school districts across the country,” Winston said. “I just want to be very clear. I and staff will continue to express the expectation that this behavior is unacceptable and we must address it when it occurs.”
The district previously suspended international field trips for students through July 31, as well as travel to areas where community transmission of coronavirus had occurred, such as California and Washington state.
The district has taken other measures, including reinforcing cleaning standards at schools and CMS office buildings as well as asking families to keep sick students at home.
Wake County schools also canceled all field trips Tuesday.
Other school districts in the Charlotte area were taking similar steps. Union County Public Schools canceled district-sponsored field trips for students Tuesday. It also canceled any out-of-district professional development for staff. Iredell-Statesville Schools said on Wednesday that it would limit out-of-county travel for students and staff, with the exception of athletics.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 7:37 PM.