News

Listen, learn, share and trust.

Incoming Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison.

Incoming Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison unveiled goals and initiatives for the district at a May 25 media briefing. The plan sets specific goals and activities to begin before July 1, his first day on the job to the end of the 2012-13 academic year.

“This entry plan has two main purposes,” Morrison said. “It will give me a solid framework as I assume my new responsibilities and it will help CMS employees, families and the public understand what I am doing and why. During the search process, I heard many people say that CMS doesn’t listen to them, and this process will allow me to listen carefully and closely.”

Morrison’s entry plan consists of five goals:

• Focus organizational efforts and resources to ensure all students are college and career-ready and close achievement gaps

• Build a trusting and collaborative relationship with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education

• Increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency and ensure high performance and support to schools

•  Build a respectful culture throughout the district that focuses on teaching and learning

• Boost public trust through open communication

“I will address this issue of perceived deafness and distrust by seeking out stakeholders of all views and listening carefully to their concerns,” Morrison wrote in his introduction. “For CMS to succeed will require trust and collaboration.”

Morrison said he’ll spend his first 100 days would be spent listening to the many constituencies concerned with public education and learning about CMS internally as well as how it is perceived externally.

“I’m expecting three major outcomes from these activities,” he said. “I’ll create a comprehensive summary of what I’ve learned and develop an outline of how to work with the Board and with CMS staff to improve the district. It’s our hope that these activities will energize and engage the district and the community so we’re ready to work together.”

Morrison also said that he and the school board shared a sense of urgency about the work. “We need to do these things with all due speed,” he said. “Delays are not good for the students of CMS.”

Comments