A version of the following article appeared in the September 21, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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CMS investigation notes:
◼️ Law firm moved quickly to hire consultant
◼️ Clues into investigation’s direction
◼️ CMS board member says she didn’t know of Sneed allegations
A few facts and tidbits on the investigation into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ finances, which seems to center on how the school board or school board members hired law firms and contractors and whether those expenditures were authorized.
CMS school board chair Stephanie Sneed (left) and Superintendent Crystal Hill. (Screen shot from board meeting)
CMS and law firm wasted no time working to install consultant, billing records show; Charlotte’s former city attorney plays role
One of the first topics CMS and lawyers with Raleigh-based law firm Poyner Spruill discussed was hiring an outside consultant, law firm billing records show.
According to contract and billing records released last week, CMS and Poyner Spruill signed a contract on Feb. 4, 2026, for the firm to provide “legal support, advice and consultation with the Board related to the affordable housing project for educators.” The contract was signed by CMS acting general counsel Anna Hehenberger, chief financial officer Kelly Kluttz and board chair Stephanie Sneed. That was just a few days after the school board forced out its previous general counsel, André Mayes.
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What exactly is being investigated here?
In asking the State Bureau of Investigation to look into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather provided few clues Friday about what precisely he wants law enforcement to investigate.
In a press release, he said he asked the SBI last month to conduct an “informal inquiry” into “alleged financial irregularities within transactions involving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.” Friday’s release upgraded that request to a “formal criminal investigation related to those irregularities.”
That’s about all the detail he gave. But he did say he is seeking a “review of potential violations of N.C.G.S. §159-181.”
That might give a hint. It’s a reference to state law.
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Board member suggests she was in the dark about Sneed’s efforts on contracts
Superintendent Crystal Hill’s memo last week raised some tough questions about CMS school board chair Stephanie Sneed pushing for contracts with law firms. But there’s also a critical question for other school board members: What did they know and when did they know it?
One school board member suggested on social media on Sunday that she didn’t know that a law firm hired by CMS was enlisting Raki McGregor as a contractor, with CMS picking up the tab.