Names floated, but no decision on CMS interim superintendent — yet
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board met Friday afternoon for about two hours in an emergency, closed meeting to discuss who will be the district’s interim superintendent.
No decision was announced after members finished. When the board went into closed session, board chair Elyse Dashew said it was doing so to prevent the disclosure of personnel information and to consider qualifications and conditions of appointment of an employee, among other items.
Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh announced last month he was stepping down because of family obligations that weighed heavily on his life — an ailing father in Indiana and a desire to get back to Florida with his wife. His last day is Dec. 31 — six months before his contract expires.
Hattabaugh was named the interim in April — the same day the board fired Earnest Winston. He signed a $265,000 contract that runs through June 30, 2023.
CMS leaders in the mix for interim role
A pair of sources close to the search say a handful of names have emerged, including Crystal Hill, chief of staff who worked in Cabarrus County prior to CMS; Scott McCully, chief compliance officer; Beth Thompson, an assistant superintendent; and Brian Schultz, chief operations officer who also worked in Cabarrus County.
Hattabaugh named Hill chief of staff in May. Prior to that she worked in Cabarrus County Schools as its chief academic officer and assistant superintendent.
The board named McCully the acting superintendent after it fired Earnest Winston in April until Hattabaugh took the reins. McCully has worked in the CMS central office and in Guilford County Schools. Charles Jeter, who is the executive director of government affairs, policy and board services for the BOE, is also among the names.
Jeter is a former state legislator and Huntersville commissioner.
Dashew told the Observer in November new board members — sworn in this week — would have an opportunity to weigh in on naming an interim superintendent.
“Hugh has shared some thoughts with us,” Dashew said at the time. “And with five new board members, it’s probably best not to get ahead of that board. We’ll get them caught up and figure it out.”
Hattabaugh told the Observer the person needs to be familiar with CMS and its administration, and ideally someone with “some understanding about teaching and learning.”
Hattabaugh is the seventh person since 2011 to take the helm of the district. Peter Gorman left the job in 2011 and Hattabaugh then served for a year. Heath Morrison served as superintendent between 2012-2014, followed by Ann Blakeney Clark (2014-1017), Clayton Wilcox (2017-2019) and Earnest Winston (2019-2022).
Finding a permanent leader
Now that the new board is seated, it also will work to find a permanent superintendent, whom they hope to have hired by summer. The BOE has held several community engagement sessions over the past few months to get the public’s feedback on what it wants in a new district leader.
During the school board’s meeting Tuesday, officials said there have been 1,672 participants in discussions and 25,864 responses to survey questions.
Community members want a superintendent who has experience with improving student performance, particularly narrowing achievement gaps, can evaluate and revise systems so the district is efficient and transparent and is innovative and approachable, according to feedback results.
