WAXHAW, N.C. -- Some Union County teachers continue to voice their concerns about returning to the classroom.

What You Need To Know

  • Teachers voice concerns about reopening Union County Public Schools under Plan B

  • Teachers held a drive-by protest to share their concerns

  • Teachers are requesting a virtual meeting with the superintendent

Union County Public Schools will reopen under Plan B on Monday. The plan is a hybrid of in-person and remote learning. UCPS Chairperson Melissa Merrell says that Plan C is not possible because the district is in a rural county and doesn’t have the connectivity for many students and employees in some areas.

Teachers held a drive-by protest with the format of a funeral procession on Sunday. A hearse led the protest followed by cars with signs expressing disagreement to Plan B.

"Some of the signs are graphic because we do have employees who genuinely fear for their lives and we are not here to silence that,” Cuthbertson High School Teacher Ashley McIntyre said.

Union County Association of Educators President Pamela Carlton, who is also a teacher at Sandy Ridge Elementary, says teachers were not given the opportunity to voice their opinion about reopening plans.

"Teachers are not happy with the decision made by the county to open on Plan B. Teachers think we should open on Plan C which is remote,” Carlton said.

Brittany Gendron, who is a librarian at Health Sciences Academy at Monroe Middle School, is one of them. She is concerned about COVID-19 numbers and hospital capacity in Union County.

"I'm here as well because teacher voices have not been heard,” Gendron said.

In addition, she referenced a survey the UCAE conducted that revealed the majority of teachers would rather be remote.

"What kind of team ignores 83 percent of the folks who responded to the survey that say they don’t feel comfortable returning? UCPS is not prepared and we are trying to hold them accountable,” Gendron said.

The teachers protesting added they had a scheduled meeting with Union County Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan Friday. According to the group, he sent representatives but didn’t go himself, which the teachers refer to as standing them up.

A UCPS spokeswoman denies Houlihan stood them up. She says there was communication among school leadership to coordinate who will attend the meeting.  Teachers are now requesting another meeting.

"While we appreciate those representatives showing up to hear those concerns. We demand an audience with Houlihan himself so that educators have the opportunity to express the concerns they have expressed to us,” McIntyre said.

The group of teachers is now requesting a virtual town hall meeting with Houlihan on Friday. Thus far, 41 people have submitted online letters to request the same.

As for the first day of school, teachers plan to go to work in person as assigned. If you would like to send a letter, go to bit.ly/ucpsaction.