School district leaders pivot amid investigations, upheaval

CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS

Acting Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Melissa Balknight aims to calm community concerns regarding district leadership.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is picking up the pieces after a week of chaos that included firing its superintendent and a board leadership shakeup.

The school board on Tuesday approved the charter for a search committee – the first step toward hiring a replacement for Superintendent Crystal Hill. The committee's responsibilities include developing the search timeline and the process for gathering input from local stakeholders.  

“Our community’s voice will help shape the future of our district,” said board chair Dee Rankin, who succeeded Stephanie Sneed, who resigned the leadership position when Hill was fired. “We want students, families, staff and community members to help us identify a leader who reflects our shared values and our aspirations for every child.”

Acting Superintendent Melissa Balknight last week urged calm, adding the district is committed to serving its constituents – 139,000 students and their families.

“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools remains focused on our most important responsibility: serving our students and families and supporting our educators and employees each day,” she said in a statement. “We recognize that recent events and the public conversations surrounding the district are important to our families, employees and community. CMS is fortunate to have a strong team of experienced leaders and dedicated staff who continue to move our work forward every day. 

“Across our schools and district, our focus remains on teaching and learning, student safety, and providing the services and support our students and families deserve.”

Along with the leadership shakeup, CMS is the focus of investigations by State Auditor Dave Boliek and the State Bureau of Investigation into the district’s finances. Boliek said it’s his office’s responsibility to ensure the proper use and allocation of state funds and transparency in reporting.

“You have a state auditor that cares about how the taxpayer dollars are spent in Mecklenburg County, and you have a state auditor's office that is staffed with professionals whose job it is to bring accountability and transparency to situations that involve taxpayer dollars,” Boliek said.

In a statement, the school board acknowledged the state probe and its cooperation. A week before she was fired, Hill released a 200-page memo to the board that conveyed her concerns over finances and transparency.

The board, which fired Hill for convenience by a 5-4 vote, approved an investigation into oversight and administrative concerns in June and placed her on paid leave. The panel voted in August to end Hill’s leave after a seven-week probe after determining the district “review identified issues that will require ongoing attention as it relates to leadership and operational practices,” according to a statement by the board. “We will address these issues directly with Dr. Hill.”

The board declined to reveal the charges against Hill or what led to the investigation.

“Last week, we welcomed State Auditor Dave Boliek and members of his team to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools,” the board said in a prepared statement. “We appreciated their visit, their engagement with district leadership and staff, and the information shared during (last week’s) media briefing. As one CMS team, the Board of Education, district leadership, educators, school leaders, and staff are fully committed to cooperating with the Office of the State Auditor and the State Bureau of Investigation. 

“We will provide the information, documentation, and access needed to support a thorough and complete review and will continue to engage openly and professionally throughout the process.”

Balknight acknowledged the sudden changes in leadership has reverberated across the district but offered assurance CMS will focus on education goals and priorities as well as building confidence and clarity. 

“We also understand that public trust is built through accountability, honesty and transparency,” she said. Most importantly, our commitment to the students we serve has not changed. Our schools are open and serving students, our work continues, and our employees remain dedicated to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn, grow and experience endless possibilities.

“Together, we will continue to support one another, serve our students and families, and move forward with purpose and care.”

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