By Ann Doss Helms
ahelms@charlotteobserver.com

Butler High School Principal Theresa Hopkins has been suspended with pay because of "a personnel investigation" and will not return to Butler regardless of the outcome, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials said Monday.

CMS will not release details of the investigation, spokeswoman Tahira Stalberte said. Superintendent Peter Gorman declined comment.

Hopkins, only the second principal in the school's 14 years, was suspended July 23; parents and staff were notified Monday. Gorman confirmed what parents were told in automated calls: Hopkins will not return to the Matthews school.

Supporters of Hopkins left their mark overnight, painting a message on the rock in front of the school:

"We Want Mrs. Hopkins Back."

Early-arriving employees Tuesday morning declined to comment on the personnel change at the school.

Area Superintendent Joel Ritchie, a former Butler principal who oversees the school, said Monday he was not involved in the decision to suspend Hopkins, in part because his son-in-law is Butler's football coach. Decisions about Hopkins are being made by Gorman, Ritchie said: "It was decided that I didn't need to be involved."

Hopkins was assistant principal under Ritchie.

Will Leach, principal of Alexander Graham Middle, takes over as interim principal of Butler, less than a month before the Aug. 25 opening of schools. Assistant Principal Kevin Sudimack becomes interim principal at Alexander Graham.

"We're trying to make sure that Butler moves forward with another successful year," Ritchie said.

The suspension comes amid a tumultuous year for Butler, an academic and athletic powerhouse. The school will see enrollment changes in August because of the opening of Rocky River High in Mint Hill. Battles over the new boundaries dragged on for months before being settled last fall.

In May, CMS removed Stephanie Butler, who had coached the girls' basketball team to a 2010 state championship, from her coaching duties and banned her from coaching in CMS, based on a recruiting violation. Parents and athletes protested, but the N.C. High School Athletic Association followed up with its own one-year suspension from coaching based on the information that CMS turned up.

Butler is now teaching physical education at Idlewild Elementary.

And in June, Christian LeMay, star quarterback on the 2009 state championship football team, was given a 30-day suspension because of an unspecified "code of conduct" violation. The suspension starts when the season begins and could keep him out of play through October, though he is appealing the penalty. There also has been talk that he will transfer to a private school.
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Observer staff writer Steve Lyttle contributed to this report.

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