ALAN EAKIN: 4TH YEAR GUARDING WALKERS AT CORNELIUS ELEMENTARY
AUG. 26. The weather is perfect for the first day of school for 148,000 students in 175 schools in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools system. CMS has 19,163 employees, including 14,744 teachers, on duty today.
The weather is perfect: 60s this morning, highs near 80 this afternoon. The National Weather Service says there’s a 30 percent chance of showers tomorrow.
PROPANE-POWERED BUSES
For kindergarden parents having a tough time, the Boo-Hoo Breakfast is Aug. 30 from 8:45 am to 9:45 am at Cornelius Elementary; at JV Washam, it starts at 7:45 am.
There are two other public schools in Cornelius: Hough High and Bailey Middle.
Interesting fact: Cornelius Elementary has students from more than 10 countries. They speak 16 languages in addition to English.
At 6:30 am, it was all systems “go” with no major glitches.
CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston says teachers and staff are ready, with few vacancies and an all-out effort to complete fingerprinting for all staff.
WINSTON
The district also has hired more than 2,100 teachers; currently, 99 percent of teacher vacancies for the new school year have been filled or are in the pre-hire phase of onboarding. The pool of high-quality, certified teachers is shrinking, but the district has produced an additional 88 teachers through the CMS Teaching Residency.
School Resource Officers are on duty in all CMS schools.
CMS began rolling out its fleet of buses early this morning including 28 propane-powered buses. The district will be using more propane buses than any other school district in North Carolina.
JETTON COVE KIDS GO TO BAILEY, CORNELIUS ELEMENTARY
Propane can be up to 94 percent lower in harmful emissions that impact air quality.
Watch out for kids and buses! Allow extra time for travel. Buses are on the road, children are out and about.
CMS Transportation will travel approximately 125,000 miles each day within 546 square miles in Mecklenburg County.
There are currently 15 bus driver vacancies; 50 drivers have been hired since May, and bus driver classes are held monthly.
CHART CREDIT: WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
