Chatham County Schools will be closed Wednesday, May 1, coinciding with a large teacher rally in Raleigh.
The Chatham County Board of Education unanimously voted in a special meeting on Thursday night to close the school district for students on May 1.
“We would prefer to have a normal day of school, but we simply would not have enough personnel on hand to ensure that our classrooms are adequately staffed. The number of employees who have already requested leave for May 1st and the potential for last-minute emergency/sick leave requests created a compelling need to close for students,” board chair Gary L. Leonard said in a message on the district website. “That being said, we remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and continue to support our system of public education and the work of our dedicated employees.”
The message said that the number of requests for vacation days was “initially manageable,” but “the number of absences that were not covered by a substitute has steadily increased over the past two days.”
May 1 will not be made up for students.
Chatham County Schools is now joining other districts across the state – including Chapel Hill – Carrboro and Orange County school districts – to cancel classes on the day of the teacher rally.
This is the second year that the teacher rally has been organized. Last year’s event drew an estimated crowd of 20,000 to lobby the General Assembly for increased education funds.
File photo of 2018 teacher rally
Related Stories
‹
Teachers March on Raleigh Demanding Better Pay, Better SupportThousands of public school teachers and staff gathered on the Halifax mall next to the Legislative Building in the state capitol to push elected officials for better pay, retirement and more funding per student. Mark Jewell, President of the North Carolina Association of Teachers, told the gathered crowd that last year’s teachers’ rally successfully raised […]
North Carolina Teachers Plan New Rally to Press DemandsNorth Carolina teachers didn’t win the pay hikes and other changes they sought last year, despite a rally that brought 20,000 people to the capital, but they believe their activism helped elect a more sympathetic legislature and will take to the streets again Wednesday. Schools across the state have announced they will have to close […]
CHCCS Cancels Classes on Scheduled North Carolina Teacher RallyChapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools will be closed for an optional teacher workday on May 1, as state education advocates have organized another Day of Action in Raleigh lobbying for education initiatives. Last year’s rally drew nearly 20,000 attendees, according to estimates at the time. CHCCS was one of the first districts to cancel […]
![]()
North Carolina Schools Chief: Change Date for Teacher RallyNorth Carolina’s elected public schools chief says organizers of a May 1 teacher march and rally should reschedule so students won’t miss class because instructors will take off. Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson said Thursday that he can’t support protests that force schools to close and urged they be held on a non-school […]
On the Porch: Dr. Jim Crawford - October News RoundupThis Week:
Born into a blue collar and agricultural clan in rural Pennsylvania, Dr. Jim Crawford was the first in his family to graduate from college. Earning his PhD from the University of North Carolina, he taught US and World History at several universities in the piedmont North Carolina for several decades. He served as chairman of the Chatham County board of commissioners, and currently serves as trustee for Central Carolina Community College. He is a firm believer in American democracy and trusts that the constitution will hold firm now as it has in past crises despite the broken, distempered electorate.
North Carolina Adopts New Trump-Backed US House Districts Aimed at Gaining a Republican SeatWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislative leaders completed their remapping of the state’s U.S. House districts on Wednesday, intent on picking up one more seat to help President Donald Trump’s efforts to retain GOP control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections. The new boundaries approved by the […]
Democrats Look to Long Term as North Carolina GOP Redistricting Plan Seeks Another Seat for TrumpDemocrats rallied Tuesday against a new U.S. House map proposed by North Carolina Republicans that would likely reap another GOP seat.
North Carolina GOP’s Proposed Map Seeks to Thwart Democratic Incumbent’s ReelectionNorth Carolina's Republican legislators are offering a redrawn U.S. House district map to help the GOP retain control of Congress.
North Carolina Court: GOP Can Narrow Governor’s Appointment Powers on Some BoardsWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Decade-long political quarrels over legislative and executive powers in North Carolina advanced Wednesday as a state appeals court permitted the Republican-controlled General Assembly to chip away at the Democratic governor’s appointment authority for several key commissions. The judges also said lawmakers went too far remaking other boards. A […]
North Carolina Effort Wipes Out $6.5B in Medical Debt for 2.5M PeopleMore than 2.5 million North Carolina residents are getting over $6.5 billion in medical debt eliminated through a state government effort that offered hospitals extra Medicaid funds.
›
