CMS: 40 principals in new jobs, more to come

Forty Charlotte-Mecklenburg principals already have new assignments for 2014-15, and nine schools still have vacancies, according to a report sent to district employees Tuesday.

Many of the reassignments have been announced, but the document gives the clearest picture yet of the scope of Superintendent Heath Morrison’s changes, which affect the education of thousands of students. It indicates more than one-fourth of the district’s 165 schools will have new leaders when school begins in August. The number could go higher if current principals are tapped to fill vacancies.

Candidates for some of the jobs are being interviewed this week. The school board will hold a special meeting next week to consider more administrative appointments.

Morrison was not available for comment, but CMS Chief Communication Officer Kathryn Block said there are more changes this year than last for two reasons: Six principals were promoted to higher leadership positions, and CMS is opening four new schools.

Each reassignment can trigger a string of moves. For instance, Joseph Burch was moved from Cato Middle College High to the new Levine Middle College High, another small high school on a Central Piedmont Community College campus.

Alicisa Johnson was transferred from Harding High, a full-size neighborhood/magnet school, to Cato. John Floyd, principal of Morehead STEM Academy, a K-8 magnet school, was named Harding principal, leaving the Morehead job vacant.

Block said the 36 principal moves made in May and June compare with 28 during the same stretch last year.

The other changes listed, made between March 6 and June 26:

This story was originally published July 2, 2014 at 6:03 PM with the headline "CMS: 40 principals in new jobs, more to come."