Officials: CMS appoints Ann Clark as superintendent

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education voted 6-1 to appoint Ann Clark superintendent for CMS at Tuesday night's board meeting, officials said in a CMS news release.

Clark will serve as superintendent through July 2016, giving the board "ample time to conduct a comprehensive search for her successor," CMS said. At her request, Clark will not be considered for the position beyond July 2016.

Clark filled the vacancy created by the abrupt resignation of Dr. Health Morrison in November.

He joined CMS in July 2012 for a 4-year deal that paid $288,000 but resigned a little more than two years in

Morrison told Channel 9 the sudden resignation was due to his sick mother but sources told Channel 9 it was because of improper spending and misconduct.

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Clark was given a base salary of $262,000. The school system said she will also receive $4,971 for the additional responsibilities she assumed from November 2014 through January 2015, the news release stated.

"Ann is a strong CMS and public education advocate, and I am excited about the leadership she will provide over the next year and a half," said Board of Education Chairperson Mary McCray. "We are making great strides as a district and she brings the stability we need to maintain our momentum."

Clark has more than three decades of educational experience. She has held a variety of teaching and administrative positions in CMS since joining the district in 1983 as a teacher of behaviorally and emotionally handicapped children. Her background includes principal positions at elementary, middle and high schools.

"Teaching every child effectively is the responsibility and the privilege of public education," Clark said. "It is my honor and privilege to serve CMS as superintendent and I look forward to working together with our Board of Education, our staff, our families and our community as we prepare every CMS student to graduate ready for college and career success."

Clark said she was ready to announce her retirement from the district late last year.

"I was excited to explore new opportunities to continue to serve the educational needs of our community," she said. "I made the personal decision to postpone my announcement once Dr. Morrison resigned. The timing was no longer right. I care too much about CMS to leave during such a critical time of leadership transition."

The search plan discussed Tuesday night includes the following schedule: