CHARLOTTE — Students are going back to school, and Dr. Crystal Hill is back on the job as superintendent. But as students come to learn, the public is still left asking questions about Hill’s suspension and then reinstatement to her job.
Dr. Hill made her first public appearance Tuesday since being brought back as superintendent. The CMS Board hasn’t shared specifics about its investigation into Hill.
A majority of the Board did not attend Hill’s back-to-school press conference. Board Chair Stephanie Sneed left without taking questions.
CMS Board Member Cynthia Stone attempted to walk away to avoid answering questions from Channel 9 and other media outlets.
“Do you think the investigation was appropriate into Dr. Hill?” Bruno asked. “Why aren’t you answering? You can answer that question. Do you think Dr. Hill is doing a nice job?”
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Stone and the rest of the Board’s investigation into Dr. Hill cost $100,000, Channel 9 previously reported. The full scope and purpose of the Board’s investigation remains unclear.
Despite the district’s summer of scandal, Dr. Hill says schools are ready to open the doors to tens of thousands of students.
“We are aligned,” she said. “We are a team, and we are ready to go.”
Because of the investigation, this team has questions surrounding its head coach. Dr. Hill promised to answer questions soon, but did not say when.
“I completely appreciate and understand your frustration,” she said. “I will let you know that today we really wanted the focus to be on the opening of school and there will be an opportunity for more information to be shared at a later time.”
At times, district staff tried to block reporters from asking questions about Hill’s suspension, but Dr. Hill told them to stand down.
“I’ll just state that I feel very confident about my leadership and the leadership of our team,” she said.
While Dr. Hill is confident in her staff, it remains to be seen if Dr. Hill’s bosses, the CMS Board members, have confidence in her.
“Is she doing a nice job? Did you vote for her return? Why won’t you say if the school board superintendent, the CMS superintendent, is doing a nice job? It is not a hard question,” reporters asked board member Stone.
“Y’all make your own decisions,” she said.
“You’re on the school board. Do you think she is doing a nice job as superintendent?” reporters said.
CMS staff then escorted Stone into the front office to prevent her from being asked questions.