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New CMS superintendent addresses challenges facing school district

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the first time, parents and teachers are hearing how the new Charlotte-Mecklenburg superintendent plans to take on the biggest problems in the school district.

Clayton Wilcox shared his plans for how he will handle CMS' controversies during a community meeting Tuesday in west Charlotte.

"Student assignment may not be kind of a sexy thing to keep you thinking about, but I love that kind of stuff. I love the challenge," he said.

Wilcox said CMS' controversial plans to redraw school boundaries is one of the challenges that drew him to Charlotte.

Many parents worry that there isn't enough diversity in CMS schools, and many other schools are struggling academically. In 2016, 14 schools were rated as low performing.

As the town of Matthews tries to break away from CMS and its challenges, Wilcox thinks there's still time to improve.

"If we can show the community the kind of schools that we can create, they're going to want to stick with us," he said.

CMS is preparing to change student assignments in 2018.

The district is already trying to get a head start. It outlined plans on Monday to allow students at 11 low-performing schools to transfer to six different elementary schools and five different middle schools.

To be eligible for transfers, students must meet certain criteria. They have to meet certain grade requirements and there must be at least three receiving school options for each school sending students.

Wilcox thinks better education opportunities and more diversity can also be created by opening more vocational schools. The schools allow students to graduate with career-specific certifications in fields such as banking or cosmetology.

Wilcox also addressed the growth of charter schools. He said he wants to make Charlotte's public schools so good that they'll put the charter schools out of business.

"We will be the schools of choice in Charlotte, Mecklenburg and then if people want to choose other schools on religious background or something else, that's fine. I won't stand in the way of it," he said.

He takes over in July, so he's using the next five months to search for ways to improve education opportunities for every student in CMS.

"I think I can do better for our kids," he said.

Wilcox also told Channel 9 that he thinks he can keep more teachers from leaving for South Carolina by creating a new ladder of support for them.

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