Anxious, excited anticipation: Here’s what you’re saying as CMS starts 2022-2023 year
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools opened the 2022-23 school year on Monday with new schools, body scanners in some middle schools and thousands of students and employees returning to classrooms.
The district opened Mint Hill Elementary School and Palisades High School, and three replacement schools — West Charlotte High School, Shamrock Gardens and Lansdowne elementary schools. Some 140,000 students and 18,000 employees came back to school with a sense of optimism, albeit in the midst of teacher vacancies and questions regarding safety. CMS is in the process of installing Evolv body scanners in 48 of its K-8 and middle schools.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh celebrated the new school year at the district’s bus lot early Monday morning.
“It’s a great day today as we kick off the school year,” Hattabaugh said. “I’ll be out and about today, looking forward to seeing many of you.”
Leslie Anne Neilsen, a social studies teacher at Community House Middle School, was ready “to roll with the punches” and “keep calm and carry on” Monday and for the first few days.
Teacher vacancies and guest teachers
The district started the year with 390 teacher vacancies, said Cassie Fambro, a CMS media relations specialist. Fambro said 53 of its 181 schools are fully staffed, and 423 guest teachers have been hired. Fambro said there have been 77 teacher resignations since Aug. 17.
Guest teachers are full-time employees and solely dedicated to one school, according to the district’s website. CMS also has 45 bus driver vacancies.
Fambro said the district will continue to hire to fill vacant positions.
If you’re happy and you know it
Principal Erik Olejarczyk helped hundreds of students find their classrooms during the first day of school at Palisades High School, a brand new CMS campus.
Kindergarten students at Westerly Hills Academy clapped their hands and stomped their feet to “If You’re Happy and You Know It” on Monday.
And students at J.M. Alexander Middle School in Huntersville had fun flashing peace signs for photos.
Amber Nelson, parent of two CMS students and a veteran teacher, told the Charlotte Observer that afternoon buses were late, and students waited an hour or more after dismissal to get on the bus. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Monday afternoon about bus routes.
Here’s what other parents, teachers and CMS officials also are saying as students returned to class.
Claire Covington, parent of a second-grader and new kindergarten student at South Academy of International Languages
“I’m feeling anxious about the start of school because this is my first experience with having a kindergartner — my older child started kindergarten on Zoom in 2020.”
Linda Kroha, parent of 9-, 13- and 15-year-olds who attend Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary, Randolph IB Middle and Myers Park High schools
“All three are ready to be back at school, though none are excited to wake up early. As a parent, my favorite part of the new school year is getting to see them make new friends and rekindle old friendships. I’m definitely concerned about buses this year as I understand we still have a driver shortage. I am also concerned about teacher vacancies across CMS. I wish I knew the answer and could implement it, to obtain and retain teachers. It is so disheartening to see so many educators leave the field.”
Brooke Weiss, parent of a sophomore student
“My daughter is starting her sophomore year with a lot of excited anticipation. I have some concerns about the new Title IX and social-emotional learning lessons. The Pupil Protection of Rights Act guarantees a parent’s right to review all curriculum materials including teacher trainings, and I have been asking for the materials but getting the runaround, which concerns me. There should be full transparency with regards to curriculum and it should not be so hard for parents to find out what is happening in classrooms.”
Neilsen, social studies teacher at Community House Middle School
“I have concerns about the big picture going on in Raleigh. The licensure proposal is worrisome. I am also concerned about my colleagues in other schools that have teacher shortages. That is a big stressor for both those teachers and students. I’m glad CMS will allow for compensation to cover classes, but in the long run, we need out-of-the-box solutions to benefit the students while not burning out the teachers.”
Amber Nelson, parent of a first-grade student at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary and an eighth-grade student at Albemarle Road Middle School
“School went well. The students were happy to be back. But the buses were extremely late. Students waited an hour or more after dismissal to get on the bus. This is not atypical for the first (day) of school, but the bus situation will need to work itself out.”
Juan Torres Muñoz, senior at East Mecklenburg High School
“Today was really awesome! My last first day of school was the best one so far. I was so excited to see my friends again, catch up on so many things and meet my teachers in an actual teaching environment and not just an open house. Today was really busy for me and all of the other student congress members as we welcomed students and parents in the carpool lane and then proceeded to perform a skit during senior assembly. I’m very excited for my last year of high school because I know that although it’s going to be very busy, it will be very rewarding.”
Margaret Marshall, CMS board member
“Over the past several weeks I have sensed an energy and excitement that I haven’t seen since before the pandemic. Tremendous turnouts in open houses and back-to-school fairs have been reported all across the district. I think families and staff are looking forward to a more normal school year. Everyone I have compared notes with has observed the same thing. I am also looking forward to all the normal supports that students have experienced outside of school to be in place. Mentoring programs, youth sports, and church programming along with CMS sponsored tutoring programs will help our students make academic and emotional gains. There will be laser focus on student attendance which families need to be in support of. We need to make student support the priority of our community.”
Sean Strain, parent and CMS board member
“I am down to three CMS students that left the house (Monday morning) to start the school year … and we are excited about the return to normalcy for a full year of accelerated learning. Our students and staff have had a very challenging couple of years, and it is incumbent upon those of us in CMS leadership to provide every opportunity, every day for every student to realize their full potential and every staff member to feel appreciated and supported as we all work to deliver opportunity for every student. Let’s all stay safe, stay focused, and crush the 22-23 school year!”
How are you feeling about the return to classes in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools? Email reporter Anna Maria Della Costa at adellacosta@charlotteobserver.com with your name and comments. how you’re feeling about the start of the school year.
This story was originally published August 29, 2022 at 3:18 PM.
