CMS parents fed up with remote learning, want children back in classroom

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Several people addressed the school board Tuesday night to try to get kids in classrooms full time.

One parent WBTV talked to said that between a full-time job and trying to teach her children by herself, she’s up past midnight on many nights and even has to work on the weekends to catch up.

Meg Kemp said even at that her kids struggle with remote learning. She said it’s time for the kids to be back in the classroom.

“Parents are done with grace, our kids deserve better,” Kemp said.

Kemp sits in what used to be her dining room. She had to convert it into a makeshift classroom for her two kids when the Charlotte school system went all-virtual.

But she said enough time has passed and enough science is out that her children need to go back full time. However. that’s not what the board is thinking, and that frustrates Kemp.

“It’s interesting that the character this month being courage,” Kemp said. “It’s going to be interesting to see who has the courage to fight for our kids.”

Kemp was one of nine people to sign up to address the board at Tuesday’s meeting, hoping to sway some of the members to get things back to normal.

“Eighty percent is just not good enough,” Kemp said. “It is not good enough and they deserve better. Our state has made national headlines because our public schools have failed across the board.”

Lisa O’Bryan also spoke directly to the board members and was no fan of the direction the schools were taking.

“When you have schools across the country and all over Charlotte that have been in-person five days a week for an entire year, our kids are at a major disadvantage,” O”Bryan said.

But not everyone who spoke at the meeting Tuesday’s agreed.

“You need time to listen,” a parent said. “What groups have been engaged in conversation about this rush to move to put people back in the classrooms?”

For Kemp, it’s about what’s best for her family, and her son’s future.

“To watch them struggle and be upset and to cry, and to think this isn’t fair and why is this happening? I want to quit school this isn’t fair Mommy. It is heartbreaking to watch,” Kemp said.

Kemp says things are so bad with CMS that she will do what it takes to enroll her children into a private school.

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