Federal authorities are investigating a matter related to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the FBI confirmed Monday, Oct. 5, as the district faces separate state scrutiny over alleged financial irregularities. An FBI public affairs officer confirmed that the bureau and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are looking into the district. Officials did not say what is being investigated or when the inquiry began. It is not clear whether the federal investigation is connected to the state reviews. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education said it is aware of the active investigation and would seek to cooperate if law enforcement requests assistance. The board said the district’s work continues across its 185 schools, serving about 139,000 students. The federal inquiry adds to investigations already underway. Mecklenburg County’s district attorney asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to conduct a formal criminal investigation into alleged financial irregularities. State Auditor Dave Boliek has said his office is examining district financial records, budgets and contracts. The allegations have not been publicly detailed, and investigators have not identified specific transactions under review. The district attorney’s request described transactions from fiscal years 2026 and 2027, without naming particular concerns. The scrutiny intensified in September after then-Superintendent Crystal Hill raised questions in a memo to the board about bills that she said lacked an apparent contract or purchase order, as well as a consultant fee of $30,000 a month. Separate communications between Hill and the district’s chief financial officer referred to $67,000 in overdue bills. It has not been established whether those issues are part of any investigation. Hill was fired by the board on Sept. 22 in a 5-4 vote. A previously completed review of her leadership and operational practices found no evidence of improper conduct by Hill, according to a report released by the board. Deputy Superintendent Melissa Balknight was named acting superintendent while the district begins a search for a permanent replacement. The district oversees a budget of more than $2.1 billion. At a late-September finance committee meeting, members reviewed financial statements, invoices and monthly accounts; a report noted that some bills were more than 90 days overdue. An auditor at the meeting said there were no concerns about the finances at that time. In an Oct. 1 statement, state education leaders said they would coordinate and cooperate with the review. State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis and state Superintendent Maurice Green called the alleged financial issues serious and said the board would take authorized steps to protect public funds if facts establish violations of state requirements.