New CMS superintendent’s head start: Here are 4 notable moments for Crystal Hill
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education picked Crystal Hill as interim superintendent in December. Hill, who previously served as the district’s chief of staff, quickly rolled up her sleeves to make an impact when she started Jan. 1.
The CMS board named her permanent superintendent during a meeting Friday.
Below are some notable moments during her stint as interim superintendent.
▪ Title IX and sexual assault: Hill’s tenure as interim superintendent has come at a tumultuous time for the district’s on Title IX issues, which she also oversaw after becoming chief of staff for CMS last year.
A federal jury cleared CMS in January in a case over whether it investigated a Myers Park High School student’s sexual assault complaint. Though, the case stemmed from an incident before her tenure.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is also investigating Title IX cases of sexual harassment in the district, The Charlotte Observer’s news partner WSOC-TV reported. The investigation started Nov. 7 at “elementary and post-secondary schools.”
Hill says CMS is making sure each school has a Title IX liaison — a licensed administrator who’s been through the latest “very strict” training. Part of that emphasizes making sure protective measures, such as no-contact orders, are put in place as soon as assault or harassment is reported.
▪ Multi-billion-dollar bond plan: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools initially sought nearly $3 billion for a bond referendum in November to build dozens of schools. Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio on Thursday included $2.5 billion for up to 30 projects in the 2024 fiscal year budget
The 30 projects could include 12 elementary schools, seven middle schools, 10 high schools and a new athletic complex. But first county commissioners will need to vote to put the referendum on the ballot.
▪ Books pulled from CMS school libraries: In February, Hill tussled with Moms for Liberty-Mecklenburg when the conservative activist group emailed the school board demanding to know why “Let’s Talk About It” and “Sex Plus: Learning, Loving and Enjoying Your Body” were still available to students at West Charlotte and Palisades high schools.
Hill informed the group the board’s leadership was unaware the books were available. She took steps to have them removed
▪ 2023-24 budget: Hill and the school board passed a $2.1 billion budget that aims to “invest in its people.” The plan called for roughly $597 million funding from Mecklenburg County to support 5.5% salary raises for teachers and other certified staff with a goal of better talent retention.
Dioro funded all of Hill’s proposal as part of a budget that calls for a 1.6-cent property tax increase over the revenue-neutral rate.
This story was originally published May 19, 2023 at 12:25 PM.
