Charlotte school board committee restarts superintendent search with new community focus

Four members of the Charlotte Mecklenburg School District superintendent search committee began work on Tuesday.

They are tasked with selecting the district's next superintendent. The group agreed to follow a process similar to the one used three years ago, but they plan to modify how they gather input from the public.

In the previous search, a third party handled community outreach. That effort included survey data that helped narrow a field of about 25 candidates to Dr. Crystal Hill. The board later voted 5-4 in September to terminate Hill for convenience. Three of the four current committee members, including chair Anna London, had voted to keep Hill on the job.

London said the new committee wants board members to act as the visible voice of the community rather than relying on outside firms. She stated, “We are not only seen, but we are actually out in the community. We are also the voice of the community.”

The committee intends to let educators, staff, principals, and the public define the ideal candidate profile. London said, “We will honor that profile of what the community says.” She described the upcoming effort as truly objective, transparent, and inclusive.

The group has not decided whether to hire a national search firm or use the North Carolina School Boards Association for assistance. They believe qualified candidates will still apply despite the recent turnover. Tuesday's meeting was not streamed for public viewing, a detail London said she would look into.

The committee is scheduled to meet again on Nov. 16.