CMS board meets privately regarding superintendent findings

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education entered a closed session yesterday to discuss findings from an ongoing investigation into Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill. Hill has been on leave and under investigation for five weeks.

The special virtual meeting of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, held Wednesday, lasted just under 5 minutes before cutting the livestream. The board then went into closed session for around three and a half hours.

School Board Official Sneed called the meeting to order before the board went into closed session to consult with attorneys regarding matters covered by attorney-client privilege. The investigation into Hill was first publicly reported on June 17.

School Board Official Sneed stated on June 17 that “the board became aware of allegations that were concerning to us and related to administrative and operational oversight.”

Sources indicate these closed-session matters concerned the results of the superintendent investigation.

Concerns regarding Hill, reported by numerous sources within the district, include issues with consultants she brought in, her recommendations and behavior during the budget process, and a perceived culture of fear and retaliation.

Sneed emphasized the board’s difficult decision on June 17, saying, “It was a very hard decision for the board to make. We took this very seriously, but our obligations and the roles of our positions override that concern.”

Dr. Hill has a professional career spanning 28 years. In her last public statement, she maintained that throughout her career, she has consistently led with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

A school board chairwoman provided the following statement to Channel 9 after the meeting concluded, saying:

“Since the Board of Education placed Superintendent Hill on temporary leave in June, we have been working diligently to complete our independent review. While there is still work to be done, we expect that process to conclude within the next few weeks.

Because this is a personnel matter governed by North Carolina law, there are limits on what information the Board can share while the review is ongoing. We appreciate the community’s patience as we complete this process in a manner that is thorough, fair, and consistent with our legal and oversight obligations.

We anticipate sharing an update before students return to school on August 25. In the meantime, we want our families, employees, and community to know that the Board and district leadership remain focused on what matters most: ensuring our schools are ready to welcome students on the first day of school.

Preparing for a successful school year has not stopped. Our work continues every day, and we remain committed to supporting our students, our educators, and our school communities while this process moves toward completion."

The new school year is scheduled to begin in one month.