August 30, 2018
Dear CMS families and staff,
Students' health and safety is our top priority. As part of this commitment, CMS is continuing voluntary testing all sources of water in schools intended for drinking, food preparation or cooking including water fountains, faucets and spigots and other fixtures.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans to begin the second round of water quality testing on Sept. 24 and for this testing to be completed by Nov. 9. The second round of testing will include 17 high schools, 15 middle schools and three administrative sites, all built before 1989 – see full list of schools below. Adjustments may be made to the timeline as the process moves forward to ensure the best work possible.
We do not expect to find significant water quality issues in this second round of testing, but we'd rather be safe than sorry. This is a proactive measure intended to ensure our students' and staff members' well-being at school.
The district will bolster communications related to the water quality program to ensure families, staff and the public are informed.
Before actual testing begins, CMS will send additional letters to families of students at the schools to be tested, informing them of the exact testing schedule in their schools.
As results are available and any actions taken, subsequent letters will include expert data, analysis and descriptions in plain language of any actions taken and in what locations within each school.
To further increase access to this information, all letters, reports and results (when complete) will be shared on the district's social media and on the CMS Water Quality Web Page.
The district will also reach out to media as this information is updated.
To ensure that you are fully informed as this water quality program moves forward, below is the media release being shared today, which includes the schools in Round 2.
