CMS names new superintendent + Ladder 2 lost in South Park fire gave hope to trapped crane operator

Andrew Nantais
·2 min read

Hey, everyone! Drew here. Today is Friday, May 19.

Have you been up to the Mint Museum to check out the “Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds” exhibit? If not, then you’re in luck.

Here’s how you can grab some last-minute tickets before the exhibit closes on Sunday.

On to your news.

1. CMS school board makes Crystal Hill new superintendent

Dr. Crystal Hill, the interim superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools walks to a classroom at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, NC on Friday, January 13, 2023.
Dr. Crystal Hill, the interim superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools walks to a classroom at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, NC on Friday, January 13, 2023.

Crystal Hill will be the new superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

The CMS Board of Education voted 6-3 to name Hill its new, permanent superintendent. She was previously the district’s chief of staff before taking the interim role.

Hill will be the first Black female superintendent in the district’s history.

Anna Maria Della Costa shares more from Hill’s appointment.

2. ‘We’ll get to him.’ Ladder 2 was lost. But gave hope to the man on the crane.

A crane and two elevators structures remain after a massive fire broke out at a construction scene in South Park. A pair of developers broke ground on an apartment project last year.
A crane and two elevators structures remain after a massive fire broke out at a construction scene in South Park. A pair of developers broke ground on an apartment project last year.

Yesterday’s five-alarm fire in South Park is still making headlines.

The first ladder truck from Fire Station 2 was destroyed during the blaze, but was an early key for saving the man stuck in the cab of the crane 160 feet high.

Joe Marusak has the full story.

3. 5-day suspension for Concord police officer who drove around school bus

Video shows NC police officer passing a stopped school bus with a child near the buses entrance. A police sergeant was cited by the NC Highway Patrol and placed by the Concord Police Department on administrative duty pending an investigation.
Video shows NC police officer passing a stopped school bus with a child near the buses entrance. A police sergeant was cited by the NC Highway Patrol and placed by the Concord Police Department on administrative duty pending an investigation.

Punishment has been handed down to a Concord Police sergeant who was caught on video passing a stopped school bus and narrowly missing a student as she was stepping off.

On May 11, the department finished its investigation and Chief Gary Gacek said he would suspend Sgt. Matthew Willet without pay for five days.

Joe Marusak and Kallie Cox provide more info on the suspension.

4. Some more stories to read

---

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading! If you don’t already, subscribe to the Charlotte Observer here. If you’re already a subscriber (thanks!), download our iOS or Android app to stay connected.

Find more updates at charlotteobserver.com, and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok to see more from us. Enjoy your day!

Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can sign up here.

Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.
Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.