Tuesday, May 17, is primary election day in North Carolina – and if district officials have their way, it will also be a virtual learning day for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

Though the schedule change has not yet been confirmed, CHCCS is planning to make May 17 a virtual learning day, to avoid having students in classrooms while the schools are being used as polling places.

CHCCS chief communications officer Andy Jenks says the primary concern is about student safety. Eleven CHCCS schools serve as election-day polling sites, which means the district wouldn’t be able to enforce its usual protocols for visitors to the building.

In a message to the CHCCS community last week, Jenks said the district is asking the state Department of Public Instruction for approval for the change. In a follow-up email to 97.9 The Hill, Jenks clarified that district officials just want to confirm they would still be able to count May 17 as a full instructional day, rather than having to cancel class altogether.

If the change becomes official, individual schools will contact parents with specific plans and schedules for May 17.

The eleven CHCCS schools used as polling sites are: Carrboro High, Chapel Hill High, East Chapel Hill High, McDougle Middle, Smith Middle, Carrboro Elementary, Ephesus Elementary, Frank Porter Graham Elementary, Mary Scroggs Elementary, Morris Grove Elementary, and Rashkis Elementary.

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