To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

CHARLOTTE – A divided Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education tries for a fresh start.

It's been an admitted rough start for the six-week-old board as partisan politics is playing a major role in this non-partisan board.

Friday, the group is meeting at a retreat at the Leadership Academy in northeast Charlotte. The issues before the board include selecting their leadership, as well as the leadership for the entire school district. But tension over individual politics is getting in the way.

"We have to get the monster out of the room before we can move forward," said vice-chairwoman Mary McCray.

There was no official agenda for the retreat, but there was a goal of building collaboration. The issues stem from the appointment of Ericka Ellis-Stewart as the CMS board chairwoman and McCray as vice-chairwoman.

That came to a head when the board's Democratic majority nominated and appointed Rev. Amelia Stinson-Wesley to carry out the last two years of the seat after former seat holder Tim Morgan was elected at-large in November.

"I don't think we have to be political or partisan and I don't think everybody is coming at this with that type of agenda," said Ericka Ellis-Stewart.

A visibly frustrated Rhonda Lennon responded.

"I would just look at the actions of this body over the last six weeks. That's all I have to say,” said Lennon.

By day's end, the board unanimously agreed to support the district's "Theory of Actions," although they want to rename it the "Theory of Actions for Change."

The board will wrap up its retreat Saturday morning discussing Project LIFT, a private-public partnership to help students on Charlotte's Westside.