CMS rolls out COVID-19 metrics dashboard to help monitor school safety

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools rolled out its COVID-19 “Metrics Dashboard” Monday, a new tool the district is relying on to determine whether or not children should be in school or stay home.

The dashboard shows the number of COVID-19 cases during a certain timeframe. According to the dashboard, one student and seven employees tested positive between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2.

Another section is called the “Readiness Dashboard.” This information is used to determine when schools are ready for reopening or need to be shut down.

It uses a color system -- green, yellow and red to review factors like community spread, the percentage of positive cases, staffing levels and PPE supplies.

As of Tuesday morning, most of the sections are in the green.

These numbers are crucial to determine the reopening of schools. Last week, around 1,200 CMS students with disabilities returned to school for in-person learning.

CMS board members also held an emergency meeting last week. They decided that when K through fifth grade students return to the classroom on Nov. 2, students will be broken up into two groups and be brought back to class twice a week.

Another tool from the CMS Dashboard is a 16-page checklist all schools need to fill out before they reopen.

It asks if employees were issued enough masks and other PPE supplies, if there are six foot social distance markings for students to line up and which staff members are managing symptoms for students riding the bus.

Cox Media Group