CMS board chair speaks with Channel 9 on superintendent

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board chair, Mary McCray, describes the week she learned of the allegations against her former employee, Superintendent Heath Morrison, as "probably one of the worst weeks of my life."
 
This week, the board appointed deputy Superintendent Ann Clark to the top job, a much needed source of stability, McCray said.
 
But at a time when CMS is trying to restore public trust, McCray said some question Clark's role in Morrison's exit.
 
"In a lot of eyes, they feel like Ann was culpable, and I can't say yes or no, but knowing Ann I would say, my gut professionally, she did nothing wrong," McCray said.
 
The past three months haven't been easy for CMS leaders.  Allegations of misconduct and misspending against Morrison were exposed, and relationships strained.
 
McCray said things could have gone better during Morrison's resignation, but said everything was done above board, and now it is time to move forward.

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Channel 9 asked McCray if she thought that morale was a problem. McCray said it was not and spoke about the people, even strangers at the grocery store, who have been offering their support to her and the school board. 
 
McCray does think public trust needs to be restored. She said the board is well aware of the pressure on it now. CMS is on track to hire its fourth superintendent in five years.
 
"Believe it or not, CMS is a very attractive district," McCray said, "Even with all of this."
 
McCray said she is amazed by the number of people already expressing interest in leading CMS.
 
"It's going to be a tremendous task, and it can't be something that we just take it upon ourselves to do only ourselves," she said.
 
Superintendent Ann Clark will lead CMS through July 2016.
 
McCray said from February to April, the board will discuss how it wants to search for the next superintendent.
 
In May, they'll begin the process of finding CMS' next leader. 
 
If the board finds another superintendent to step in before Clark's contract expires, she could leave sooner.

Channel 9 also asked the chairwoman about the UNC-Charlotte project, which Channel 9 has investigated because of budget overrides that some have connected with Morrison's departure. McCray said on Friday she supports the project, but didn't like the way it happened.
 
Ultimately, she said, the budget issues fell on Morrison, who was the head. McCray said the communication between Morrison and the board should have been clearer.

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