Communications

The safety of our students and staff is our first priority. All decisions related to school schedules during inclement weather are made with one guiding principle in mind: the well‑being of students, their families, and CMS staff.

Given the size and geographic diversity of Mecklenburg County, Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) closely monitors weather forecasts and developing conditions across the entire district. Weather can be unpredictable and may change rapidly. While some areas may experience severe conditions, other areas may remain largely unaffected.

• CMS serves a 523‑square‑mile area, and weather conditions can vary greatly from one part of the county to another.
• Road conditions, timing of storms, and travel safety may differ significantly across communities.
• Because of this variability, decisions are made with careful consideration of conditions across the entire district, not just one area.

CMS may take one or more of the following actions when weather impacts safety:

• Keep schools open
• Close schools
• Transition to remote learning
• Implement a two‑hour delay
• Release schools early
• Cancel after‑school activities, athletics, and facility use

Whenever possible, decisions will be made and communicated as early as possible so families and staff can plan accordingly.

If no announcement is made, schools will operate on a normal schedule. Additional information can be found on the CMS website www.cmsk12.org/operations/inclement-weather.​​​​​​​

Families will receive schedule change announcements through:

• ParentSquare
• Text messages
• Email
• Inclement Weather Website at www.cmsk12.org/operations/inclement-weather

• Bookmark the CMS website for quick access
• Verify that your Infinite Campus contact information is up-to-date
• Follow CMS on social media:
• Facebook: Facebook.com/CharMeckSchools
  • X (Twitter): @CharMeckSchools
  • Instagram: @CharMeckSchools
  • How Families Can Prepare

Create or review your family plan for school delays, early releases, or closures.

Please do not call individual schools or news media outlets for confirmation. Decisions typically apply to all CMS schools, not only those in areas experiencing the most severe conditions.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students and staff safe. CMS remains committed to clear communication and thoughtful decision‑making during inclement weather.

The safety of our students and staff is our first priority. Any decision to close, delay, go remote, or release early is made with one overriding factor in mind: the well-being of our students, their families, and CMS staff. Here are some important points to remember:

• The decision to keep schools open, close schools, transition to remote learning, implement a delayed schedule, release schools early, or cancel after-school activities, athletics, and facility use will be communicated as early as possible.
• CMS also has the option of opening the district on a two-hour delay.

• Make sure your ParentSquare messaging preferences are turned on to ensure you receive announcements about changes in school schedules.
• Bookmark the CMS website for easy access.
• Check that your Infinite Campus phone number, email, and other contact information is current.
• Social media is a great way to stay connected to what is going on in the district.  

Find and like us on: 

• Facebook.com/CharMeckSchools 
• X(Twitter): @CharMeckSchools
• Instagram: @CharMeckSchools
• Make or revisit a family plan for school delays or closure.

Please do not call individual schools or the news media. Generally, all CMS schools will be affected by a decision to close or modify the instructional day, and not just schools in the area(s) of the county where weather conditions are most severe.

If no announcement is made, schools will operate on a normal schedule.

Principals are given a certain amount of latitude to implement safety plans when inclement weather situations occur while school is in session. 

The staff at each school monitor weather conditions to make a determination as to whether implementing full tornado safety procedures are warranted. 

Each school campus identifies locations as tornado/severe weather shelter areas. Typical locations are hallways, classrooms, or interior rooms away from outside windows. During tornado warnings the plan is for students to assume the duck and cover position. For staff and students in mobile classrooms, sheltering in place is generally safer and more appropriate than attempting to move the students into the physical building(s) during a severe weather event.

Weather conditions sometimes worsen during the day after children have arrived at school. If early dismissal of schools is necessary, information will be announced through the CMS Parent Square system, district website, local radio and television stations, and CMS web and social media sites. 

If you have questions, please visit our website at www.cmsk12.org.

Any required make-up days will occur as determined by the CMS academic calendar. Make-up days are used in the order shown on the calendar. Visit our website and click on ”Calendars” to access the CMS academic calendar for this school year.

Whenever school has been canceled or will be dismissed early, CMS will provide information about all activities for students, including CMS after-school activities and After-School Enrichment Programs (ASEP) through the district website and ParentSquare notification system.