Latest news with #CharlotteCatholicHighSchool
Axios
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Charlotte Catholic principal resigns
Charlotte Catholic High School principal Lori Phillips has resigned effective Friday, Feb. 14, according to a letter shared with parents. CCHS parents have been calling for her removal, as well as that of Gregory Monroe, superintendent of Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Schools. Why it matters: Charlotte Catholic, one of the city's oldest private schools, has been embroiled in controversy this school year, from changes in accreditation to students getting suspended for bullying. State of play: Charlotte Catholic president Kurt Telford will serve as head of school overseeing both principal and president for the rest of the school year and the 2025-2026 school year. The school will begin an immediate nationwide search for a new principal, whom they expect to have in place by summer 2026, according to the letter. Between the lines: Phillips' resignation comes days after a video of her meeting with parents circulated in which she appears to imply parents are the school's "culture problem." Frustrations among some parents have been building over the school's direction and leadership, the Charlotte Ledger reported. Context: Phillips became the school's principal at the start of the school year after joining Charlotte Catholic as vice principal in 2023. Her departure is to allow the school "to move forward with a renewed focus on teaching and learning," according to the letter. The big picture: Parents have expressed their concern over a lack of communication from the school over major decisions, like changing the accreditation from Cognia (a global non-religious accreditation program) to Lumen (administered by The Catholic University of America). In response, the school has sent letters to parents and held recent meetings. Some parents have withdrawn their children from MACS as a result, per the Ledger — though is unclear how many. What's next: Superintendent Monroe says they'll be meeting with teachers, staff, administrators and the parents' school leadership council to hear about parents' vision for the future of the school.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘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)
