New Hanover County School Board begins search for new superintendent

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s been over 2 weeks since Dr. Charles Faust was fired as New Hanover County School’s Superintendent and the search for his replacement began during Tuesday’s school board meeting.

On July 2nd, the New Hanover County School Board unanimously voted 5-0 to terminate the superintendent’s contract, less than a year after his $250,000 salary was renewed.

Faust’s firing comes after a climate survey that showed a majority of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the district’s leadership.

While the search for a new superintendent is underway, Chris Barnes, who is the district’s assistant superintendent of human resources, will act as interim superintendent.

Board member Stephanie Kraybill said Barnes will help give a fresh perspective as the board searches for a new superintendent.

“The interim superintendent is there to kind of just, again have an independent third eye with a different perspective, not, have a different perspective in general and to help have our house in order before a superintendent comes,” Kraybill said.

The school board will hold a town hall meeting on August 13th, where members of the public will be able to learn more about the search for the district’s next superintendent.