The Union County school board holds a remote emergency meeting Wednesday evening.
The Union County school board voted 7-1 Wednesday to delay the start of in-person classes by a week. Superintendent Andrew Houlihan says his staff and county health workers need the extra time to review COVID-19 data from winter break.
Students who had been scheduled to return Tuesday will learn remotely next week and come back Jan. 11.
Houlihan said he does not anticipate extending all-remote learning beyond next week, even though Union County and the entire Charlotte region is considered in a state of critical community spread.
"I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for in-person learning," he said at an emergency remote school board meeting. "I feel like we’ve really done a great job of leading the state, since Aug. 17, as the largest district offering in-person learning as an option for families."