CMS

CMS Returns Crystal Hill as Superintendent, Offers Few Details on Review

CMS says Crystal Hill will return as superintendent after an independent review. The board says the review found issues that still require attention, but it did not explain them at its Aug. 11 meeting.

Jack Beckett·Aug 12, 2026

At Mecklenburg's Budget Hearing, a Flat Tax Rate Met a Long Line of Funding Requests

County Manager Michael Bryant's recommended FY2027 budget holds Mecklenburg's property tax rate flat and fully funds Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Jack Beckett·May 23, 2026

Renée Johnson Brought a CMS School-Utilization Report to Council Monday. She Has Been Making This Argument for Five Years.

Council Member Renée Johnson (District 4) brought a manually-compiled CMS school-utilization report to Monday's council meeting to argue that the conventional rezoning process is not tracking the…

Jack Beckett·May 20, 2026

Levine Middle College Students and Pre-K Families Ask the CMS Board to Protect What's Working

Students from Levine Middle College and a Pre-K family advocate used Tuesday's public comment period to ask the CMS Board to protect programs they said were producing results.

Jack Beckett·May 15, 2026

CMS Board Approves $5.5 Million to Extend IBM Oracle Contract and Target 2028 for HR and Payroll Launch

The Board of Education approved a $5.5 million amendment to its Oracle enterprise software contract, extending the implementation and adding hypercare support as the district works toward a full…

Jack Beckett·May 15, 2026

CMS Ends $2.4 Million Capturing Kids' Hearts Program and Redirects Funds Toward Direct Classroom Support

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will end its use of Capturing Kids' Hearts and redirect the program's $2.4 million budget toward classroom-based instruction and a competitive procurement process.

Jack Beckett·May 15, 2026

CMS Restored All Four Foster-Care Liaisons. A Judge Explained What 20 Years of That Investment Had Built.

District Court Judge Elizabeth Trosch spent nearly two decades in juvenile court before showing up at the May 12 CMS board meeting to explain what the district's sustained investment in four…

Jack Beckett·May 15, 2026

After Ten Months Without a Budget, NC Republicans Found a Framework. Most State Workers Get a Raise Below Inflation.

Senate Pres. Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall announced a budget framework Tuesday afternoon, ending a ten-month standoff. Teachers get an 8 percent raise and a $48,000 starting floor.

Jack Beckett·May 13, 2026

CMS Board Unanimously Approves Hill's Amended Budget — Two Weeks After Denying It 8-1

Two weeks after rejecting Superintendent Crystal Hill's $2.1 billion budget 8-1, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education unanimously approved her amended version on Tuesday.

Jack Beckett·May 13, 2026

CMS Eliminated Its Pre-K Coaching Staff. The Kindergarten Pipeline Is the Replacement.

Jack Beckett·May 7, 2026

CMS Is Cutting Four Foster-Care Liaisons. The County Doesn't Know Yet.

Jack Beckett·May 7, 2026

CMS Set Aside $6.6 Million for a State Raise That Might Not Cover It

CFO Kelly Kluttz told the board the district's $6.6 million salary reserve covers them to about 5 percent — but bills in Raleigh propose up to 9, the state hasn't passed a budget, and the county…

Jack Beckett·May 6, 2026

CMS Final Program Choice Plan

Superintendent Crystal Hill's final Program Choice plan, presented to the CMS Board of Education April 28, would consolidate the district's choice programs into six themes, cut programs at 11…

Jack Beckett·Apr 29, 2026

CMS Board Denies Hill's $2.1B Budget 8-1, Gives Her Two Weeks Without Saying What to Change

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education voted 8-1 Tuesday night to deny Superintendent Crystal Hill's $2.1 billion budget and gave her two weeks to come back with a revised version…

Jack Beckett·Apr 29, 2026

CMS Makes May 1 a Teacher Workday as Unfilled Absences Hit 1,934 Ahead of Raleigh March

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted 9-0 in an emergency meeting to convert May 1 from a student instructional day to a teacher workday, after district staffing data projected 1,934…

Jack Beckett·Apr 24, 2026

The State Funds 78 Percent of CMS Positions. The County Fills the Gap.

The state funds 78 percent of CMS positions. The county funds 2,707 more. Superintendent Crystal Hill showed the board what happens if either side flinches.

Jack Beckett·Apr 18, 2026

CMS Kindergarten Literacy Hits a Four-Year High — 4,858 Students Still Short of Target

Sixty-three percent of K-2 students across Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are at or above benchmark on the DIBELS early literacy assessment — the highest mid-year mark since the district adopted the…

Jack Beckett·Apr 15, 2026

Mecklenburg County Spent $12 Million on Real Estate Monday Night. The Biggest Purchase Is for Housing.

Mecklenburg County voted unanimously to spend $4.5 million on the former Smith School at 1600 Tyvola Road — a site CMS vacated five years ago over a cancer cluster investigation — for future housing.

Jack Beckett·Apr 8, 2026

Mecklenburg County Chair Tells Staff to Explore Litigation Against State Over Property Tax Legislation

Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell directed staff to explore litigation options against the state of North Carolina after a briefing on four property tax bills advancing through the…

Jack Beckett·Apr 8, 2026

CMS Board Committee Spent Six Weeks Rewriting Family Engagement Policy. Then They Found the Real Problem.

The Family and Community Engagement Ad Hoc Committee is drafting the district's first standalone family engagement policy — and discovered there are no written rules for how board members use…

Jack Beckett·Mar 31, 2026

CMS Asks Mecklenburg County for $698.6 Million. Here's What's In It.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is asking Mecklenburg County for $698.6 million to fund a $1.97 billion operating budget — including a fourth consecutive 5% teacher supplement increase — while North…

Jack Beckett·Mar 25, 2026

North Carolina Is Last in the Country. Mecklenburg's Board Said So Out Loud.

The state ranks first for business and last in school funding. On Tuesday night, Mecklenburg's board said both things out loud.

Jack Beckett·Mar 18, 2026

A Teacher Got Three Minutes. The Board Got the Rest of the Night.

A CMS teacher brought documented facts and a specific ask to the Mecklenburg County Board. The board did not respond. Three hours later, four commissioners said the same things he'd said — to each…

Jack Beckett·Mar 18, 2026

North Carolina Is Last in the Country. Mecklenburg's Board Said So Out Loud.

The state is ranked first for business. Four commissioners spent the end of a long meeting sitting with what that means for public schools.

Jack Beckett·Mar 18, 2026

Two Half Days Become Full Ones: CMS Board Acts After Storm Chaos

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools voted unanimously to convert two early release days into full school days after winter storms disrupted eight consecutive days of instruction.

Jack Beckett·Feb 7, 2026

CMS Board of Education Meeting Recap: New Principals Named, Literacy Data Reviewed, 2027–28 Calendar Options Released

CMS leaders outlined 3–5 reading progress targets, named new school leaders, and launched a community survey for two 2027–28 calendar options after a virtual Board meeting.

Jack Beckett·Jan 28, 2026

Mecklenburg County 2025 Election Results: Transit Tax Passes, Democrats Sweep Charlotte City Council and School Board

Mecklenburg County voters approved a landmark transit tax, re‑elected Mayor Vi Lyles, and delivered a clean sweep for Democrats on the council and school board in Charlotte's 2025 municipal election.

Jack Beckett·Nov 6, 2025

CMS Candidate Forum: Districts 1–6 discuss gains, funding, communications and policy at WFAE event

WFAE and the League of Women Voters hosted a CMS board forum. Candidates for Districts 1–6 outlined views on achievement, funding, communications, immigration policy, teacher retention, and district…

Jack Beckett·Oct 28, 2025

CMS Posts Historic Gains: 55 Schools Improve, 89% Meet Growth, Low-Performing Drops to 18%

CMS reports record gains: 55 schools improved grades, 89% met or exceeded growth, and low-performing schools dropped from 32% to 18%. What changed inside the district's playbook.

Jack Beckett·Sep 6, 2025

This Week in NC Politics: Transit Referendum Hits Ballot, Stein Signs Stopgap Budget, School-Choice Veto Sparks Fight

A hard look at the week: Mecklenburg's transit tax hits the ballot, the governor signs a stopgap budget and vetoes a school-choice tax credit, and local transparency fights simmer in Charlotte.

Jack Beckett·Aug 10, 2025