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New CMS chief has busy schedule for first day on job

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Heath Morrison's first day on the job as new superintendent for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools was a meet-and-greet around the district with employees, teachers and students.

During a five-stop tour of schools, a bus yard and CMS graphics department, Morrison got to hear from the people his decisions will affect and learn more about how the school system operates.

"It just really is trying to get a better sense of this entire district and what we’re doing well and try and figure out where we need to make improvements," Morrison said.

The decisions Morrison makes going forward will impact 140,000 students.

Gail Mercurio's grandchild is enrolled in CMS, and she is a teacher.

"I think he has a lot of enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to working with him," she said. "I hope he is going to be listening to everyone -- parents, teachers, the administrators of the schools. I hope he is going to be very open to listening."

Morrison is looking to open lines of communication between the school system and parents and work to correct a complaint he's heard from people that CMS doesn't listen.

"I think what I always try to do is to make sure that people understand the context for our decisions because I have always thought when people see the same data, same information, you tend to come to the same conclusion," Morrison said.