CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It is a challenge that school systems around the country face, but the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system does seem to regularly make headlines because of changes and turmoil in leadership. This week, CMS officials announced the suspension of superintendent Clayton Wilcox in an email. Wilcox, who has been in the job for two years and early this year got a bump in compensation, is the district’s fifth superintendent in 10 years
Charlotte Talks News Roundup: Facebook Data, School Safety, CMS Segregation
The Facebook data scandal finds its way to North Carolina. Republican senator Thom Tillis used the company at the center of the uproar, Cambridge Analytica, to target voters, as did the state Republican Party.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox offers a glimpse at post-Parkland security measures, as state lawmakers begin examining school safety.
A new report labels CMS the most racially-segregated school system in North Carolina, and says income-based segregation in the district is up sharply.
Mike Collins leads a discussion on the week’s news with our reporters roundtable.
GUESTS
David Boraks, reporter, WFAE
Glenn Burkins, editor and publisher, Q City Metro
Mary C. Curtis, columnist, Roll Call (@mcurtisnc3)
Ann Doss Helms, education reporter, The Charlotte Observer
Mar232018
Charlotte Talks Friday News Roundup: Charlotte’s New Mayor, A Young City Council, Bonds Pass, More
On this edition of the local news roundup….
Local Elections wrapped up Tuesday evening, giving Charlotte its first female African American Mayor, in Vi Lyles.
The new Charlotte City Council is sporting several younger council members and keeps a Democratic majority.
Area towns elected new mayors and town boards.
The School Bonds passed, and a few new faces will be seen on the CMS School Board. We’ll talk through the results and the “what’s next” from this year’s election.
And now that this election is the books, Pat McCrory is making headlines, laying blame for his gubernatorial election loss last year and he hasn’t closed the door on a future run for office. We’ll talk about what he said, including his wife’s reaction to his chilly reception now that he’s back in the Queen City.
In the wake of the shooting at a Texas church last Sunday, houses of worship here in the Queen City are evaluating their security and safety. We’ll discuss that.
Those stories and much more with Mike Collins and a panel of Charlotte reporters on the Charlotte Talks Friday News Roundup.
Guests:
Tom Bullock, WFAE Reporter.
Ann Doss Helms, Reporter for The Charlotte Observer.
Kirstin Garriss, government reporter for Spectrum News.
Mary C. Curtis, columnist for RollCall.com and WCCB.
Nov102017
Charlotte Talks Friday News Roundup: Eclipse Recap; Mayoral Debate; Confederate Monuments In NC
We all turned our eyes (protected, of course) to the skies to watch the solar eclipse on Monday. We’ll talk about local reaction to what we saw, especially in the prime viewing areas.
Most of Charlotte’s candidates for mayor participated in a Tuesday night debate—we’ll break down where they came down on issues like the I-77 tolls, and more.
Redistricting is in the news once again as new legislative district maps are released around the state to comply with a Supreme Court order that found that many North Carolina legislative districts were illegal racial gerrymanders. We’ll get a reaction from around the state.
Following the clash in Charlottesville, events continued around the nation, and here in Charlotte and around the state organized by a variety of different groups. In addition to those events, the president continued to defend his initial comments on the violence that happened in Charlottesville when he attended a rally in Phoenix.
And Wells Fargo employees in Charlotte and elsewhere are bracing for more negative headlines amid the account scandal review- we’ll update you on that.
Guests:
Tom Bullock, WFAE reporter.
Mary C. Curtis, columnist at Roll Call and a contributor to other publications including WCCB News Rising and NBCBLK.
Erik Spanberg, senior staff writer at the Charlotte Business Journal.
Ann Doss Helms, reporter for The Charlotte Observer.
Aug252017
CMS Superintendent Raises Eyebrows Over Staff Hires, Raises, New Positions
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools new superintendent has officially been on the job for less than a month but his recent staff hires, pay raises, and creating of new positions have already raised some eyebrows. For example, Dr. Clayton Wilcox created a “culinary manager” job and hired the husband of the chief of staff to fill the position for $85,000 / year.
Mary C. Curtis offers some perspective on how this could impact a vote on the district’s $1B bond package that will be on the November ballot.
Jul122017
CMS Student Assignment Changes, and What’s Next?
CHARLOTTE, NC — Under CMS Superintendent Ann Clark’s proposed plan for phase two of Student Assignment, neighborhoods across Mecklenburg County would see their elementary, middle or high schools change.
More magnets schools and magnet seats would also be added.
WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis weighs in on what all the changes mean for your kid.
Apr262017
WFAE Friday News Roundup: NCAA and ACC Bring Championships Back, and more
On the local news roundup, the NCAA brings championship games back to the state but not to Charlotte. The ACC is more generous. And another lawsuit connected to Wells Fargo’s sales practices. Mike Collins and the roundup reporters cover those stories and more.
Apr212017
Questions About the New CMS Superintendent
CHARLOTTE, NC — After nearly two years of looking for a permanent replacement for Heath Morrison, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools names Doctor Clayton Wilcox the district’s next superintendent. Doctor Wilcox has the experience to lead CMS, but some district leaders worry about his long-term commitment to Charlotte. Reports show he left earlier jobs years before his contracts were up. WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis weighs in.
Dec142016
