CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education held a joint meeting with the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners Monday.
The two boards discussed topics including student performance and school security.
The two governing bodies moved forward on mending relationships after years of contention historically over school funding among other issues.
Going into the joint meeting expectation were high, but some board members on both sides wanted them to be realistic.
"If we can just leave with a little chunk better, that will work for me, and just build on that, but I'm not leaving here with a big smile that everything's going to be great," Pat Cotham, a Mecklenburg County Board Member, said.
CMS shared with the county commissioners its model of student-focused governing. That means all board decisions are based on increasing student’s career and college readiness.
"It sounds like on a really frequent cadence, there's a measurement and reporting back to the school board for key metrics that are problematic," Leigh Altman, Mecklenburg County Board Member said.
But Mecklenburg County Board Chair George Dunlap worried about the district’s plans for a new superintendent and how it will interact with the new governance model.
"The concern is that if there is a change in direction, that might delay or impede some progress that is beginning to happen," Dunlap said.
CMS is looking to fill its superintendent seat after firing the previous superintendent in April.
"When we start looking at it superintendent, if someone doesn't want to follow this, then that's not the right person for CMS," Melissa Easley, a CMS Board Member said.
Commissioners' outlook on the direction of CMS has changed drastically since commissioners unsuccessfully tried to withhold $56 million from CMS.
"You know, our history obviously, has been where's the plan? And I think I think we've been answered. And I think it's really good news," Laura Meier, a Mecklenburg County Board Member said.
But there was still some tension around the topic of funding.
"A lot of times we throw out these words around fully funding," Mark Jerrell, a Mecklenburg County Board Member, said. "And I think seeing some of that, absent understanding the other priorities that are being funded by this board, it leads to this level of contention that I think is unnecessary."
In response, CMS board members said they found issues with communication on the commissioners' side as well.
"Full funded is a trigger. Got it," Dee Rankin, a CMS Board Member said. "But also when we when I hear the word give, give, that's a trigger to me."
Rankin said he prefers the word allotment.
"It's not like we're given anything. I think it's a statute, which is you're mandated to fund us," Rankin said.
Overall the meeting showed progress on both sides.
"This has been a courageous conversation today, and I'm really grateful for it and ready to move on with more tough conversations in the future," Elyse Dashew, CMS Board Chair said.
It ended with both board chairs embracing hands in victory.
The CMS Board of Education will reconvene Tuesday in an emergency meeting where they are expected to discuss the ongoing search for an interim superintendent. The meeting is set to be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Find more information about the meeting here.
The school district is expected to announce a new interim superintendent before the end of the month.
On Friday, the board held an emergency closed session to consider a personnel matter and to consult with the Board’s attorneys. Most of the meeting was not seen or heard publicly with the board citing attorney-client privilege to hold a closed session. The board did not announce any decisions or findings after the closed session.
Later Monday, the Charlotte City Council held a special meeting to discuss transportation and the growth of the city. Tuesday's regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting has been canceled this week.