The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education ended its Aug. 11 meeting with an announcement that returned Dr. Crystal Hill to the superintendent role while offering limited detail about a review it says found continuing issues.
Hill will return after a temporary leave. The board has not said what put her on it. It gave no reason on Aug. 11, and it has not given one to the Mercury.
Update, Sept. 23: The board voted 5-4 on Sept. 22 to terminate Hill, and released its report on the review the same night. Here is how each member voted and what the report says.
The board's statement said the return followed a “thorough and independent review” of concerns involving district operations and oversight. It said that review found issues requiring continued attention in leadership and operational practice, which the board would address directly with Hill.
The board did not, in its meeting statement, identify the concerns, describe the findings, name the reviewer or say what actions it expects Hill to take.
That leaves the immediate decision clear: Hill is back. The broader picture is not. The board says the review is complete, while also saying the leadership and operational issues it identified still require attention.
The announcement came after the board completed its regular business, including four unanimous votes on magnet-program changes, and immediately before adjournment. No separate vote on Hill’s return was called during the meeting, and the board did not take public questions on the decision.
CMS is preparing for the school year to begin Aug. 25. The board said returning Hill offered the best path forward for continuity and stability. It has not said what the continuing issues are or how it will show they have been addressed.