Raleigh News & Observer Logo

Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board doubling down on deception after superintendent quits | Raleigh News & Observer

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Support
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Sponsorships
    • Stay connected
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Social Media Directory
    • N&O Store
    • Buy Photos
    • Databases
    • Archives
    • Newsletters

    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Health
    • Local
    • North Carolina
    • Nation/World
    • Science
    • Thumbs Up
    • Traffic
    • Weather
    • Weird News
    • All News
    • Counties
    • Durham County
    • Johnston County
    • Orange County
    • Wake County
    • All Sports
    • Baseball
    • Canes
    • College
    • Columns & Blogs
    • High Schools
    • NASCAR & Auto Racing
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NHL
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Panthers
    • Soccer
    • Schools
    • Duke
    • East Carolina
    • NC State
    • North Carolina
    • All Politics
    • The North Carolina Influencer Series
    • State Politics
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • PolitiFact
    • PolitiFact NC
    • Rob Christensen
    • Under the Dome
    • All Business
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Health Care
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Shop Talk
    • Stocks Center
    • Technology
    • All Living
    • Video Now
    • Best-Kept Secrets
    • Blogs
    • Celebrations
    • Comics
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Games and Puzzles
    • Home and Garden
    • Horoscopes
    • Mouthful
    • Past Times
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Video Now
    • Arts News
    • ArtsNow
    • Books
    • Contests
    • Dining
    • Entertainment
    • Games
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Television
    • On the Beat
    • Happiness is a Warm TV
    • All Opinion
    • Columnists
    • Dwane Powell
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Letters
    • Opinion Shop Blog
    • Other Views
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

    • Advertise with us
    • Place Ad
    • Apartments
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Jobs
    • Legals
    • Obits/In Memoriams
    • Weddings
    • Today's Daily Deal
    • Special Sections
    • Today's Circulars
    • Rewards
    • Photo Store
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Legals

Op-Ed

Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board doubling down on deception after superintendent quits

    ORDER REPRINT →

November 12, 2014 06:29 PM

The following editorial appeared in the Charlotte Observer:

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools community hasn’t learned nearly as much as it should about the departure of its superintendent, but it’s learning more each day about the leadership that remains.

Here’s the latest: School board chair Mary McCray says she wants the Mecklenburg District Attorney’s office to find out who leaked a report detailing allegations that Heath Morrison created a “culture of fear” among staff and misled the board about the cost of a building project at UNC Charlotte.

That leak, of course, revealed that Morrison was not resigning simply to care for an ailing mother, as he and the school board indicated last week.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Instead of apologizing for that deception, McCray wants the DA to find the person who exposed the lie.

Instead of finally providing insight into what led to Morrison’s resignation, McCray wants to punish the supplier of the report she wanted to keep secret.

“Unprofessional,” McCray said Monday of the leaker, without a hint of irony. It’s a blend of ineptitude and arrogance that should worry CMS parents and Mecklenburg taxpayers, as well as any candidate who might consider the vacant superintendent’s job.

From the beginning, McCray and the board have hidden behind half-truths to avoid explaining the events leading up to and following Morrison’s departure. Along with perpetuating the sick-mother story, they’ve suggested incorrectly that employer confidentiality laws prevent them from saying anything about the Morrison resignation.

On Monday, McCray tried a new dodge: “We followed the tenets of the superintendent’s contract to a T,” she said.

Then show us. The Observer has requested from CMS numerous documents that might help, including emails to and from Morrison, board members, CMS attorney George Battle III and other officials. Those are public records, despite the board signing a confidentiality agreement with Morrison’s attorney designed to keep the public in the dark.

McCray and Vice Chairman Tim Morgan don’t have to wait for public record requests to answer some critical questions. When did the board first hear of potential problems with the superintendent? Was anyone else – including other high-ranking officials – aware of those problems earlier or involved in any way? Was the UNCC deception part of a pattern?

Crisis is instructive. It tests all the things we want in our leaders, including integrity and truthfulness. Until McCray and the school board realize that, Morrison’s resignation will remain a dark cloud over the district, including employees such as acting Superintendent Ann Clark, a Morrison deputy. We’re not sure what the board is gaining with its secrecy, but it’s already lost the public’s confidence.

MCT Information Services

  Comments  

Videos

Catherine Lawson: We can face down our demons

Sending military attorneys to border? Bad policy.

View More Video

Trending Stories

‘An angry customer shot me.’ 911 calls reveal panic at Walgreens in Garner.

February 14, 2019 10:38 AM

NC State basketball player Eric Lockett charged with assaulting a woman

February 14, 2019 06:34 AM

What’s with NC State’s basketball roster? Update on 3 players who missed Syracuse game.

February 14, 2019 10:45 AM

UNC will have two players out against Wake Forest, possibly three, depending on Nassir Little

February 15, 2019 03:40 PM

Wake County commissioner accuses board member of lying, taking credit for park plan

February 14, 2019 12:40 PM

Read Next

Remembering Rep. Walter Jones as ‘the kindest man in Congress’

Opinion

Remembering Rep. Walter Jones as ‘the kindest man in Congress’

By John James Duncan Jr.

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 14, 2019 02:45 PM

Rep. Walter Jones was a fiscal conservative, but generous with his heart

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE OP-ED

The NBA All-Star Game is back in Charlotte, but has NC changed?

Opinion

The NBA All-Star Game is back in Charlotte, but has NC changed?

February 14, 2019 01:08 PM
Rep. Walter Jones: A profile in courage

Opinion

Rep. Walter Jones: A profile in courage

February 14, 2019 04:12 PM
John McMillan: lobbyist, lawyer and friend of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Opinion

John McMillan: lobbyist, lawyer and friend of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences

February 13, 2019 07:47 PM
NC should move now on safe coal ash storage

Opinion

NC should move now on safe coal ash storage

February 12, 2019 04:54 PM
How to close the Silent Sam divide

Opinion

How to close the Silent Sam divide

February 12, 2019 03:00 PM

Opinion

‘Carolina Cares’ bill would close gap in opioid treatment

February 12, 2019 12:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Raleigh News & Observer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Triangletoday.com
  • Legal Notices
Advertising
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Our Ads
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • N&O Store
  • N&O Photos
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Report News
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use


Back to Story