‘Culture problem': Parents, administrators battle over future at Charlotte Catholic High School
After numerous headlines in the last year, parents at Charlotte Catholic High School say they're worried about the direction administrators are taking and how those in charge are responding to their concerns.
Channel 9′s Evan Donovan first started investigating issues at the school last year, from bullying incidents on the football team to unease over an accreditation change.
This past Sunday, a pastor at the biggest Catholic church in Charlotte weighed in.
One parent told Donovan it started with the arrival of new superintendent Dr. Gregory Monroe in 2020.
'Just moving to be a more restrictive version of Catholicism than had previously been in place,' she said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Petition demands changes at Charlotte Catholic High School
Parents say there's a culture of bullying at Charlotte Catholic High School
She signed onto a petition last month, along with nearly 2,000 others, expressing concerns about recent departures of teachers, changes to the curriculum, and lack of transparency around a change in who does the school's accreditation.
'I think the solution is dual accreditation, at least until Lumen is more widely recognized and accepted,' the parent said. 'A number of parents have suggested this. The school has made clear it will not do that.'
She decided to speak to Channel 9 after a video of a meeting on Thursday showed Principal Lori Phillips responding to a parent's concern about a 'culture problem' at Charlotte Catholic.
'I agree with you there is a culture problem. There is a culture problem right here,' Phillips said.
The room erupted into boos after Phillips' comment.
In several letters to parents, administrators apologized for their lack of communication about changing accreditation from Cognia to Lumen. But they claim 'Lumen Accreditation holds the same professional standing as other accrediting bodies at colleges and universities ... [and] focuses on academic rigor as well as Catholic identity.'
Several parents told Channel 9 they support the switch.
'This accreditation affects all 20 [Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools]. Sadly it seems like this has only become an issue at Charlotte Catholic,' one parent said.
On Sunday, Fr. John Allen of St. Matthew Catholic Church said he'd asked school administrators to pursue dual accreditation 'on many occasions.'
'[I] have consistently and persistently made requests to the Catholic schools' office that all our parents and teachers be heard and respectfully listened to,' Allen said.
(VIDEO: Charlotte Catholic High School confirms expulsions, suspensions after locker room bullying)
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