CMS superintendent back on the job after weekslong investigation

CHARLOTTE — CMS Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill is off leave and back on the job.

The decision comes after nearly eight weeks of Dr. Hill being on paid leave amid an investigation into her operational and administrative oversight.

“I think the community should trust that we did everything we should do as employees and that we are obligated to look into allegations when they are serious enough, that happens within our district all the time,” the board said.

The vote happened during a more than four hour closed session before Tuesday night’s regular school board meeting.

Board Chair Stephanie Sneed would not say who voted for and who voted against bringing Dr. Hill back.

“Whether the vote was unanimous or not, we are together as a board, we’re gonna operate as a board, all decisions that we have are not unanimous, and the decisions that we make as a board, we stand with each other as a board,” Sneed said.

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It is still not clear from Sneed what led to the investigation and what, if anything, it turned up.

“As it is involved to personnel, specific personnel of the district, all of that can’t be revealed, but it is about operational and leadership,” she said.

Sneed says she is confident the board will be able to work with the superintendent moving forward.

“We have every confidence that we will be able to do that, otherwise she would not have been able to return to work, so we believe that with some oversight, that we’ll be able to do what’s best for the interest of the children,” said Sneed.

The board isn’t wasting time returning Dr. Hill to her post. They say she will report to the office Wednesday.

Sources told Channel 9’s Jonathan Lowe the school board wanted to bring Dr. Hill back, partly because they feel an unstable school board reflects poorly in the business community and attracting new workers to the Charlotte region.