Keep NC public schools closed through the end of the school year

Keep NC public schools closed

I thank Gov. Roy Cooper and his team for the way they’ve handled this pandemic. It cannot be easy to shut down an entire state knowing you’ll be second-guessed by every armchair virologist. The governor’s work is keeping citizens safe. As he considers the reopening process, I urge him to keep schools closed through the end of the school year. We should not send students, teachers and support staff back into schools. There is no safe way to do this and no benefit to the kids’ education to bring them back for the last few weeks of this already crazy school year.

Paul Lyle, Charlotte

Child care centers need state’s help

The writer is a child development center director and president of NC Early Education Coalition.

Families rely on our early education system and our state’s economy does, too. I struggled to balance staying open for essential workers with the risks for my staff and families. Ultimately, we closed our doors to keep everyone safe. But without tuition we can’t afford to pay teachers, buy cleaning supplies, or provide food for children. Programs like mine cannot survive without the state’s financial support, and child care is key to our community’s ability to bounce back. We were facing a child care shortage before COVID-19, and now 46% of programs in Mecklenburg have closed. Many won’t reopen. It will be incredibly hard for families to go back to work without help for the child care industry - the workforce behind the workforce.

Janice Price, Charlotte

More money for schools, not less

The writer heads Community School of Davidson.

We all know that more economic challenges are coming as a result of the deadly pandemic. As a lifelong N.C. educational leader, I offer these suggestions to our state’s decision makers:

▪ Protect the bottom-line numbers for education and give public school educators more flexibility to meet the educational needs of their students.

▪ Instead of spending scant funds on educational oversight, use the money to protect the most essential services our students need and deserve. Educators will still do their jobs. We always did. We always will.

▪ Don’t add any unfunded mandates.

When society and schools reopen, families across America will be in crisis financially and emotionally. Many children will need their teachers more than ever. We will need more funding to educate students as whole people, rather than less.

Joy Warner, Huntersville

Atrium should cut execs’ pay instead

Regarding “Atrium reduces nurses’ hours amid pandemic,” (April 23):

Atrium’s decision to reduce hours for nurses is very sad, but not surprising. Nurses are the front line of medical care in clinics and hospitals. To reduce their hours and pay is a slap in the face to these hardworking men and women who chose this profession to help patients. Perhaps Atrium execs will decide to cut or eliminate their bonuses this year to guarantee the salaries of those who serve on the front lines of medicine. Come on Atrium, do the right thing!

Cissy Carr, Charlotte

Atrium is doing its best for staff

I was disappointed to read about the disgruntled nurses bad-mouthing their employer because their livelihood is in jeopardy. They have access to all sorts of benefits and relief funds that others don’t have. I don’t care for Atrium, but I think they’re making some wise business decisions while doing the best that they can to take care of their staff. The nurses should be appreciative, not complaining. Atrium is trying to save lives.

Elizabeth Will, Shelby

Hecklers do represent ReOpenNC

Regarding “ReOpen NC protesters heckled a nurse about her weight. Why she stayed strong, (April 23):

ReOpenNC co-founder, Ashley Smith, said she disapproved of the heckling. She said: “That’s disrespectful and that is not representative of our movement.” I hate to contradict Smith, but, yes, they do represent her movement. Are there arguments to be made to begin opening business in a controlled manner? Sure, but don’t pretend that the hecklers, science deniers, and those who have zero regard for others’ safety aren’t representative of her movement.

Charlie Fortanbary, Charlotte

Here’s how Biden could win in 2020

Joe Biden could seal the deal with one simple decision: Make marijuana legal, just like alcohol. If you don’t want to use alcohol, then don’t. If you don’t want to use marijuana, then don’t. Seems so simple to me.

James Miller, Mooresville