Kannapolis City Schools Cancel Classes May 1 as Staff Plan to Attend Raleigh Rally
Students won’t make up missed day as district shifts to optional teacher workday.
Students in Kannapolis City Schools will not have classes on Friday, May 1, after the district’s Board of Education approved a schedule change during its meeting Wednesday evening.
The board voted to designate the day as an optional teacher workday for staff and a non-school day for students. District officials confirmed that students will not be required to make up the missed day, as the school calendar already meets the state’s required instructional hours.
The decision comes as a significant number of staff members have requested leave to attend a public education rally in Raleigh. District leaders said the volume of absences would make it difficult to safely operate schools, particularly in terms of transportation and student supervision.
“Due to the number of leave requests, we would not be able to adequately transport and supervise students,” Superintendent Dr. Sara Newell said in a statement on Facebook. The same message is also posted on the district’s website.
School-based employees will receive additional instructions from their principals regarding expectations for the day, while district administrative offices will remain open and operate on a normal schedule.
Newell thanked families and the community for their understanding, saying the adjustment helps ensure safe and orderly operations while also supporting educators advocating on public education issues.
“We appreciate the understanding and flexibility of our families and community as we make this adjustment to ensure safe and orderly operations while supporting the voice of our public school educators,” Newell said.
Cabarrus County Schools is monitoring the situation, according to Phil Furr, the district’s director of communications and public information.
The May 1 event, known as the “Kids Over Corporations” rally, is being organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and is expected to draw educators, parents and community members from across the state. Organizers say the rally will focus on issues including public school funding, voucher spending and broader education policy.
This is wonderful!!!!
Yay!!