Emergency CMS Board of Education meeting Jan. 14

Jan. 14. By Dave Yochum. Following yesterday’s directive from Mecklenburg Public Health Director Gibbie Harris, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted this morning to delay the return to in-person instruction into February.

Previously, all students were scheduled to return to in-person instruction on Jan. 19.

Rising COVID-19 infection rates in Mecklenburg County are behind the decision which took place during an emergency meeting via Zoom this morning.

The Board decision will return elementary, K-8 and EC self-contained classes to in-person instruction on Feb. 15. Students in traditional middle and high schools will return to in-person instruction on Feb. 22.

“None of us wants to delay our students’ return to classrooms,” said Board Chair Elyse Dashew, explaining that the metrics do not support a safe return.

Rising cases in Mecklenburg

The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services today reported 993 new cases of the coronavirus in Mecklenburg, The county-wide positive test rate is 14.9 percent.

The Mecklenburg County Health Department issued its directive on Jan. 12. The directive recommends “full virtual options” for work, school and other activities where possible.

Gibbie Harris

“We have considered the directive issued by Public Health Director Gibbie Harris in making this decision, but the decision must be — and has been — made by us, the elected members of the Board of Education.”

The county directive recommends that residents avoid recreational contact with others, avoid non-essential travel, continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing and only leave home for essential activities such as working or buying food.

—COVID-19 cases increased from an average of 100 cases a day in September to 900 cases per day in mid-January.