CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The CMS Board of Education voted to send students K-5th grade to in-person classes twice a week starting November 2nd in an emergency meeting on October 1st, according to a news release.
The Board says they approved of changing the CMS Transition Plan for in-person and remote learning so that students will be divided into two groups instead of three.
The first group of K-5th students will come to school on Monday and Tuesday, while the second group will come on Thursday and Friday of each week, according to a news release.
CMS says Wednesdays are remote-instruction only for all K-5th graders.
“This modification will increase the amount of face-to-face instructional time for our youngest learners,” said Board Chairperson Elyse Dashew. “Like the earlier plan, it minimizes the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus, but it also maximizes the time K-5 students have with their teachers. We think it’s in the best interests of our students to give them greater opportunities to learn in the classroom while continuing to be mindful of local public health concerns.”
The initial transition plan was for K-5 students to be divided into three groups with each group attending school in person for one full week, and then having remote instruction for two weeks.
The Board vote followed the recommendation of Superintendent Earnest Winston, according to a news release.
“After comprehensive study of the in-person instructional plan, we have found a way to increase the time and frequency that K-5 students will spend with their teachers in the classroom,” Winston said. “We will implement social-distancing in schools as much as possible and we’ll focus on making sure everyone wears a mask and washes hands frequently to reduce the risk of infection. We have worked closely with our partners in the medical community to find a way to get our kids back into classrooms with a minimum of risk.”
