CMS stops pay for suspended McClintock Middle principal

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has stopped paying McClintock Middle School Principal Paul Williams, who has been suspended since April 6 as the district investigates an unspecified “situation.”

He was suspended with pay until Thursday, when CMS spokeswoman Renee McCoy says his status was changed to suspended without pay. Ann Nivens, a retired CMS principal, is acting as interim leader of the southeast Charlotte school.

McCoy said Friday that the investigation continues.

Williams, McClintock’s principal for the last four years, is well known in CMS and the larger community for his work trying to rally support for a high-poverty school in a zone that includes many middle-class and affluent families. The school’s partnership with Christ Lutheran Church is viewed as a model for community engagement, and McClintock recently got a new building and a robotics and engineering magnet program.

In an April message notifying McClintock families of Williams’ suspension, administrator Tara Sullivan said that “details of the situation are a personnel matter and cannot be shared. However, it is important for you to know that no children are involved in the matter.”

North Carolina law makes most details of employees’ personnel files confidential. Districts are required to disclose disciplinary actions such as suspensions, but the cause becomes public only if the employee is dismissed.

Williams said in April that the investigation stems from a complaint by someone on his staff that he “behaved inappropriately” and was “playing favorites.” He called the allegation “ridiculous” and said he hopes to return to McClintock.

He has since said he will not comment further.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 2:53 PM with the headline "CMS stops pay for suspended McClintock Middle principal."