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Albemarle Road Middle School closed due to power outage

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has decided to close an east Charlotte middle school, hours after officials told parents, despite a power outage, school would be open.

Channel 9 reported Albemarle Road Middle School has been running on a generator since Monday to keep the lights on and CMS assured parents school would be in session.

Officials said all meals were still being served and classes would not be disrupted by the outage.

Not long after, CMS officials announced they had decided to close the school Wednesday.

Duke Energy told Channel 9 the outage is because of damage to its equipment. Crews have been working to install a new transformer.

Power is not expected to be on until noon Wednesday.

Channel 9 asked CMS why the change and why that announcement came so late on Tuesday night.

CMS officials said they made the call to cancel school after hearing from Duke Energy.

CMS spokesperson Renee McCoy said in a statement, "The district understands the potential disruption to family schedules due to unavoidable circumstances, which are out of the district's control."

Only Albemarle Road Middle School is impacted by the power outage and school closure -- the rest of the CMS district will be in school.

Albemarle Road Middle is one of the 19 CMS schools that lost power during Hurricane Michael.

Duke Energy says the damaged equipment they are repairing is not storm related.

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