CMS cancels classes May 1 as thousands of teachers plan to attend rally in Raleigh

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have cancelled classes next Friday, as educators across the state plan to attend a rally in Raleigh.

The Board of Education unanimously approved the decision to make May 1 a teacher workday. The school day will not be made up.

The district said it wouldn’t be able to safely support classroom operations based on the high number of staff absences. As of Thursday, more than 1,800 out of 9,000 CMS teachers had already called out.

Teachers from across the state are heading to Raleigh on May 1 to urge state lawmakers to pass a budget that favors education and forces corporations to pay their fair share.

CMS isn’t alone. Kannapolis City Schools voted Thursday to make May 1 an optional teacher workday.

North Carolina is 42nd in starting base teacher pay and is the only state that has not passed a budget, CMS said in a statement. Teachers also haven’t gotten pay raises since the 2023-24 school year.

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