I am excited to welcome you all to the start of a new school year here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. If this is your first year with us, we are glad to have you join CMS. If you are returning, thank you for your continued support and trust in us.
As we come to the end of our first week back, we continue to be focused on one primary objective: Prepare our students academically to achieve greatness. This is what drives us. This is at the core of our mission.
Each school year brings many challenges and rewards and our CMS staff have worked tirelessly this summer to prepare for the start of the new school year. We are dedicated to providing innovative, inclusive, student-centered environments that support the development of independent learners. We are committed to providing an equitable learning model for all students, and we have the resolve to address issues that come up during this academic year.
The safety, security and well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority. We have several safety measures in place from body scanners to the Say Something Anonymous Reporting system for students in grades 6-12. Additional information about our district’s safety protocols is available on the Safety page of our website.
We are excited to welcome two new schools to CMS this year - Palisades High and Mint Hill Elementary. We are looking forward to watching these new schools establish their own traditions, cultures and communities. West Charlotte High, Lansdowne and Shamrock Gardens elementary schools are also opening new buildings this year.
I close by reminding you of our vision - to lead the community in educational excellence, inspiring intellectual curiosity, creativity and achievement so that all students reach their full potential. I challenge us all to share that vision.
As a leader, making hard decisions can be difficult and unpopular. My top priority, along with the Board of Education, is to take care of the needs of our students, staff and community. We must establish and maintain open lines of communication; and to do so, we need the engagement and involvement of parents, families and the community. Our students depend on us to work together. Seeing that all scholars have academic success is the reason for us being here.
Thank you again for choosing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for your child’s education and best wishes for a successful school year!
Hugh HattabaughInterim Superintendent
