CHARLOTTE, NC — It’s official. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has new leadership.
Click HERE to read the offiical separation agreement and release.
Heath Morrison is out after a controversial resignation. The district has been trying to manage fallout from the situation all week, and leaders are still not answering questions about allegations of misconduct against Morrison.
“Dr. Morrison decided to resign,” said CMS Board Chairperson Mary McCray. “He cited his reasons for his resignation, not us.”
The CMS board voted to accept Heath Morrison’s resignation, making official what we’ve known since Monday.
“I would like to apologize to the community for the distraction this situation has created,” said McCray.
Calling all the rumors and innuendo swirling around the superintendent’s departure a “distraction” is certainly an understatement.
Chair Mary McCray says the board has been silent on the matter, hoping to move through the process with as little disruption as possible.
“It only hurts and confuses the district when this plays out in the public space,” said McCray.
The board says legal wording in the separation agreement keeps it from giving details on an investigation into alleged misconduct by Morrison.
“When the board was made aware of these allegations, we took immediate action and began to look into them,” said McCray.
WCCB asked for the investigation report. We were told it belongs to the Board of Education, and only the board can release it.
WCCB has reached out multiple times to Heath Morrison for comment on the allegations against him, but he has not replied.
Morrison had 20 months left on a four-year contract. CMS will save more than $500,000 in salary with his resignation.
“This district has a strategic plan, and that plan is going to guide our work as we move forward,” said McCray.
Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark will take over management of the district. The board says it has no plans to launch a superintendent search at this time.
