CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board committee charged with leading the search for the district’s next superintendent held its first meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Government Center, launching a process that officials say will not be rushed.
Committee members indicated the search will likely replicate the process used during the district’s 2023 superintendent search.
The search committee’s work comes as Melissa Balknight serves as interim superintendent following the termination of former Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill.
Hill was placed on leave over the summer, reinstated, and then fired shortly after the start of the school year. The district is currently under investigation by the FBI, the state auditor, and the State Bureau of Investigation following allegations Hill made regarding board conduct and contracts. The next superintendent hired will be the district’s ninth leader in a decade.
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Board members emphasized that the search will not be rushed and will rely on community involvement, following a model similar to the 2023 search that included 96 town hall meetings and spanned six months.
One of the initial steps includes sending a survey to parents, students, and district staff asking what traits the next superintendent should possess.
School board committee member Anna London emphasized the focus on stakeholder input, noting that the “consensus was that we will likely maintain, kind of replicate the process that was done in 2023.” London added, “Community engagement, key stakeholder engagement, is a key part, a critical part of this process.”
School board member Dr. Monty Witherspoon stressed the importance of maintaining an open and deliberate approach. “Folks just want transparency. They want us to be thoughtful in our approach,” Witherspoon said.
During the meeting, school board member Cynthia Stone raised logistical questions, asking, “When and how are we going to set the cadence? Are we gonna put a website up?”
The board will soon decide whether to hire an outside executive search firm or use the lower-cost services provided by the North Carolina School Boards Association.
An external provider would vet applicants, compile a list of viable candidates for the board to interview, and conduct community town hall meetings. London advocated reviewing multiple proposals before choosing a path.
“That is why I think it’s important to do the RFP so that we receive back all of the proposals to see what all of our options are,” London said.
As the selection process advances, school board member Rankin recommended expanding board participation.
“Once we get to the semifinalists, I think it would be good to have full board involvement,” Rankin said.
District officials noted that because final candidates will likely be currently employed elsewhere, the list of finalists will not be made public.
Addressing the district’s high leadership turnover, London noted broader trends regarding superintendent longevity.
“The average length is two and a half to three years, and so I wouldn’t necessarily attribute that to the process in selecting a superintendent,” London said.