CMS suspends Ardrey Kell HS principal while ‘accusations are investigated’

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools principal has been suspended as officials “investigate accusations,” according to CMS.

The district told Channel 9 Monday that Ardrey Kell High School principal David Switzer is suspended with pay as accusations are investigated. The suspension took effect last Thursday.

CMS refused to say what those accusations are about or if there may be any truth to them.

There are currently two online petitions surrounding Switzer, the first calling for him to resign as principal. It has more than 3,400 signatures and points to several racism issues over the years at the high school.

The second petition calls for Switzer to keep his job. That petition has more than 4,600 signatures and points to his commitment to students and staff.

The news of Switzer’s suspension comes one week after someone vandalized the school's spirit rock. It was covered with students' messages of Black Lives Matter and to end police brutality.

But someone painted over it. It has since been repainted and restored.

Switzer said after the incident that the school will not tolerate racism, bigotry or hate. He sent a robocall to parents saying if someone harbors hate or identifies with racist thinking, then they have no place at Ardrey Kell High School.

The principal even appeared in a CMS video last week denouncing racism.

"I am sorry that incidents have happened at Ardrey Kell High School, Switzer said in the video. “One incident is one too many, and it pains me to my core that some within our community continue to express racist views.”

CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston said he spoke with Switzer about the rock incident and about other racial complaints in the school’s recent past.

Last year, a student-athlete at the school was suspended for using a racial slur.

Channel 9 asked CMS to expand the explanation for Switzer’s suspension, but the district said it has no further comment at this time.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

Ardrey Kell students repaint rock with anti-racism messages after it was vandalized Ardrey Kell students repaint rock with anti-racism messages after it was vandalized

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