School board unanimously approves Rosekrans as next superintendent

Charlotte Public Schools has found its superintendent. At a special meeting Monday, Sept. 29, the CPS Board of Education unanimously approved a motion to offer Mark Rosekrans the position. Details and finalization of Rosekran’s contract will be discussed at the board’s Oct. 13 meeting.

Rosekrans had served as interim superintendent for the district since July 31 when the board voted to extend a separation agreement to then superintendent Nancy Hipskind. He has been an administrator with Charlotte Public Schools for more than 20 years, the last 15 of which were spent as Associate Superintendent for Operations.

After accepting the offer, he said he never envisioned being in this position when he got into education.

“When I started in education, all I ever thought about was being a teacher and a coach,” Rosekrans said. “Being in this capacity is amazing. I’m very appreciative to the board for this opportunity and I’m humbled from the community support.”

The community showed its overwhelming support for Rosekrans at a Sept. 22 special meeting in which the school board sought community input regarding the district’s search for its next superintendent. The board had considered hiring an independent search firm to conduct a broader search, but realized Rosekrans was the right person for the job.

“My concern over the whole process was looking to the search,” said board vice president Bob Wilson. “Never at any one time was my question whether Mark Rosekrans was the right person for the job.”

Board members, impressed with the job Rosekrans has done as interim superintendent realized an outside search was unnecessary after hearing he had the backing of the community and the CPS staff.

“This is just such an exciting time,” said board trustee Eric Emery. “I think it’s really going to be important for the board to be able to come together and support Mark and all of us to support him and work as one team. That is going to be key.”

“In my short time on the board, I’ve just really been impressed with his integrity, work and commitment and everything he’s managed,” added Andy Hazel, school board treasurer. “In the short term as interim (superintendent), I’ve just been really impressed with his communication.”