Parents, board hopeful new CMS superintendent here for while

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Newly named Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent Dr. Clayton Wilcox will soon takeover his fourth job leading a district in the last two decades. Each time he has spent roughly five years before moving on, and twice he left his contract early.

However, that length of time might actually be above average for urban superintendents.

CMS board member Rhonda Lennon told Eyewitness News that the board factored in the how long a superintendent might stay into the selection process.

"Of a couple of the people, in the earlier round, we got a little nervous thinking they may have hoped around a bit much," Lennon said.

While hopeful Wilcox might stay for a while, Lennon pointed to research showing superintendents in urban areas don't stay for long.

Eyewitness News found a report by the Council of the Great City Schools showing in 2014, superintendents lasted roughly three years. That survey included CMS.

"He has been in Maryland now for almost six years, and we hope that he is here for that long or longer," Lennon said.

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Cox Media Group