CMS returns to normal school schedule Wednesday

After three days of winter weather closings, students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will return to classes Wednesday.

Schools were closed Friday as snow and ice blanketed the area, with Monday announced as a makeup day. But as ice lingered in parts of the county, schools remained closed Monday and Tuesday.

Feb. 15 and April 25 will be makeup days, with spring break in late March untouched.

Confusion and complaints escalated as daytime temperatures started rising well above freezing over the weekend and roads across the county cleared. But shady areas remained icy. CMS officials said that as of Monday evening, more than 50 of 168 schools had parking lots, sidewalks, school entryways and mobile unit areas that posed a safety hazard.

The district posted photos of icy spots on its Facebook page Tuesday, which were shared more than 500 times and inspired dozens of comments. Some scolded district leaders for inadequate preparation and response to the storm, while others lauded the decision to put safety first.

CMS posted a piece talking about the decision-making process, which includes consultation with law enforcement, emergency management services and city and county officials. The CMS transportation department sends people across the county to check roads and school grounds.

“Closing our schools isn’t a decision that we make lightly,” said Superintendent Ann Clark.

Wednesday will be on a normal schedule.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 4:04 PM with the headline "CMS returns to normal school schedule Wednesday."