Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will retain Dr. Melissa Balknight as acting superintendent beyond her planned Jan. 1, 2027, retirement date while the district searches for a permanent leader, CMS announced Thursday, Oct. 8. The school board said Balknight’s continued service is intended to provide stability during the search. The board has formed a committee to oversee the process, but no timeline for selecting a superintendent was announced. The leadership transition comes as CMS faces investigations connected to financial controversies. The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice have opened investigations but have not publicly specified what they concern. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the state auditor and the state Department of Public Instruction are also conducting investigations. CMS has said it will cooperate with law enforcement requests. The investigations’ scope and any findings have not been detailed publicly.