The fix is at least half-way in. Frances Haithcock is a finalist to be the next CMS chief. Let’s hear it for change and reform at CMS.
Oh, but there is more. Tara Servatius nails it:
This week, the board is grilling Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Interim Superintendent Francis Haithcock, who is competing for the superintendent slot, about her vision for the future. Instead, the board should be grilling her about why the school system broke state law and violated its own policies by not reporting a sex assault last May, the month Haithcock took over.
If school board members gave a rat’s rump about the kids, Haithcock would be three-quarters of the way out the door by now and in the process of hiring a good defense attorney.
As Servatius makes clear, CMS under Haithcock, violated state law by failing to report former teacher Jimmie Grubbs to social services for suspected sexual abuse of a minor. Incredibly CMS thinks that if the suspected abuse is committed by a teacher CMS does not have to report the abuse to authorities. Makes you wonder how many more cases were never, or are not now, reported and instead are being “handled” behind CMS’ wall of secrecy.
That’s one fresh Haithcock cover-up, how about another. There is still no answer as to why CMS denied additional security to Independence High immediately before the stabbing incident there two weeks ago. In fact, the entire incident has dropped down Charlotte’s memory hole. Nope, no violent gangs in CMS. Odd timing, huh?
Meanwhile, the Chamber types have been politely stamping their tasseled loafers for weeks, trying to warn the school board away from hiring from within the old regime. That will effectively kill off any hope of real reform at CMS and make Haithcock the public face of a new school bond package, the very definition of a tough sell.
Yet here we have Haithcock one of three finalists. This should be fun.
