CMS Board chairwoman says she expects investigation into Supt. Crystal Hill to finish in the next few weeks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The CMS Board of Education chair released a statement late Wednesday night about the status of the board’s investigation into Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill. Stephanie Sneed says their investigation is expected to conclude within the next few weeks. Sneed writes, “We anticipate sharing an update before students return to school on August 25.”

Hill was placed on leave in June so the district could investigate what it says are administrative and operational oversight issues.

WCCB obtained the contract between CMS and the Brooks Pierce Law Firm, which is investigating Hill. It shows the investigation into Hill began a month before she was placed on leave. The contract shows that the school district agreed to pay the Greensboro-based attorneys $275 per hour, and $450 an hour for a public relations group.

Hill has said she is unaware of any specific concerns that led to her suspension. She and the board clashed during an intense budget cycle in May.

This is Sneed’s entire statement about the status of the investigation into Dr. Hill:

“Since the Board of Education placed Superintendent Hill on temporary leave with pay in June, we have been working diligently to complete our independent review. While there is still work to be done, we expect that process to conclude within the next few weeks.

Because this is a personnel matter governed by North Carolina law, there are limits on what information the Board can share while the review is ongoing. We appreciate the community’s patience as we complete this process in a manner that is thorough, fair, and consistent with our legal and oversight obligations.

We anticipate sharing an update before students return to school on August 25. In the meantime, I want our families, employees, and community to know that the Board and district leadership remain focused on what matters most: ensuring our schools are ready to welcome students on the first day of school.

Preparing for a successful school year has not stopped. Our work continues every day, and we remain committed to supporting our students, our educators, and our school communities while this process moves toward completion.”

WCCB will bring you updates about this story as soon as we receive them.