CMS narrows superintendent candidates down to 6. Here’s what’s next for the search
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ board has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to six candidates, according to a district news release.
The district is looking for a permanent superintendent after hiring six people to lead the district since 2012. Interim Superintendent Crystal Hill was hired in December to lead the district and the prior interim leader, Hugh Hattabaugh, resigned for family reasons.
Board members will begin interviewing candidates Friday, with a virtual scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Meetings to interview candidates also will be held Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, April 27, including two meetings on Sunday and Thursday. All meetings will start in public, and then the board will go into closed session for the interviews.
Summer Nunn, chair of the superintendent search committee that includes CMS Board Chair Elyse Dashew, Vice Chair Stephanie Sneed and Lenora Shipp, told the Charlotte Observer the public will not have the opportunity to interview finalists — they’re hoping to narrow to two or three.
The reason for keeping names private: a stronger applicant pool, said Charles Jeter, executive director of government affairs, policy and board services for CMS.
“Superintendent search firms throughout the country have told us time and time again that you weaken the field of applicants when you publicize who the applicants are,” Jeter said.
An applicant summary the board’s search firm provided showed candidates from 18 states. Of those, 19 candidates are in superintendent roles. Of the applicant pool, five are assistant superintendents, four candidates are principals and three are business, community or political leaders, among others.
The newly-released schedule also means the board is on track to announce a new superintendent May 9, Jeter said. Board members expect the new superintendent to start on or before July 1.
The school board hired BWP and Associates in February to help it conduct its search. Jeter said CMS received 49 applications for the job, but only 37 were actually completed.
This story was originally published April 20, 2023 at 9:23 AM.
