CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education hired Washoe County Schools (Reno, Nev.) Superintendent Heath Morrison to lead the district a few days ahead of schedule.

The school board unanimously voted without discussion at its Tuesday, April 24, meeting to hire Morrison to fill the superintendent spot vacated by Peter Gorman last year. Members approved a $228,000-a-year, four-year contract with an opportunity for a 10 percent bonus. Morrison will start July 1.

“We had three very talented individuals in the list of finalists,” said school board Chairwoman Ericka Ellis-Stewart in a news release. “All of them had unique strengths and areas of expertise. But we believe that Dr. Morrison is the right leader for CMS now.”

The final three candidates also included Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Chief Academic Officer Ann Clark and Memphis City Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash.

Morrison began his career in education in Maryland, where he worked in two counties as a teacher and administrator. He has served as superintendent of Washoe County Schools since 2009.