BREAKING: Gov. Cooper closes schools starting Monday

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State order means no school from now until … ?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and other public school districts in North Carolina will close starting Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news conference today.

Cooper said he is signing an executive order closing schools across the state for at least two weeks. The order also bans gatherings of more than 100 people.

From WBTV:

This will begin Monday and last at least through March 30. School buildings will be open as a teacher workday Monday to allow staff and students to retrieve personal items and resources.

“Our lives have been turned upside down by this pandemic,” Cooper said. “But we will get through this.”

“Hindsight is 20/20. I don’t want any regrets in our rear view mirror when this pandemic stops.”

Many local private schools have already decided to close.

The CMS board had voted Friday night to keep classes in session until the middle of next week. But the governor’s move means that local students will be out of school starting now, until the coronavirus threat diminishes. CMS is looking at implementing virtual learning.

The order will force working parents to scramble to line up childcare.

Governor Roy Cooper @NC_Governor

Today, I’m issuing an Executive Order to stop mass gatherings of more than 100 people across the state. We issued this as guidance on Thursday, however, despite this guidance, several venues continued their events, so today’s order makes it mandatory.

Governor Roy Cooper @NC_Governor

This Executive Order also directs K-12 public schools across our state to close for students on Monday, March 16 for at least two weeks.

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The Charlotte Ledger is published by Tony Mecia, an award-winning former Charlotte Observer business reporter and editor. He lives in Charlotte with his wife and three children.