The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted at its Dec. 8 meeting to return to remote instruction until Jan. 19 for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The decision takes effect on Monday, Dec. 14. Students with disabilities will continue to have equal access to remote instruction and in-person instruction consistent with their individualized education plans.

The Board acted after Superintendent Earnest Winston made a recommendation to return to remote learning because of increased numbers of COVID-19 infections in Mecklenburg County.

"None of us wants to put our kids back behind a computer screen instead of in the classroom with a live teacher," said Board Chair Elyse Dashew. "But the health and safety of our students and staff comes first – and the COVID-19 metrics indicate that the number of infections is going up and will continue to do so for a while. So we will return to remote learning for K-12 students."

The Board decision means that students will be in full remote learning from Dec. 14 until Jan. 19. High school and middle school students who are scheduled to come to school for testing Dec. 14 through Dec. 21 will still be expected to do so. The decision also does not change instruction for pre-kindergarten students.

"Discussions with public health experts indicate expectations of more increases in community spread of COVID-19 in the weeks ahead," Winston said. "While these experts have not said that in-person learning is a significant contributor to spread, as cases rapidly increase in the community, schools will feel the impact. We are taking this step proactively."

The motion also said that unused local leave for employees, which was set to expire Dec. 31, will now be extended to Jan. 15, 2021.

Students will return to school buildings on Jan. 19 according to their rotation schedules.  K-5, K-8 and grades six through 12 schools will return with Rotation A students.

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