A Message from Board of Education President Patricia O’Neill
Moving Forward
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Dear Friends and Community Members,
The Montgomery County Board of Education has officially launched a national search to find a new superintendent to lead our district. Appointing a superintendent is among the most important responsibilities of a Board of Education member, and my colleagues and I take this responsibility very seriously.
The first step in the process came Tuesday, when the Board unanimously voted to hire an outside firm to assist us in the search process. That firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), has guided the last two superintendent searches in MCPS—in 1999 and 2011—and has worked with many large districts on this process, including Baltimore and Fairfax counties. They have a proven track record and the Board is pleased to be working with HYA again.
The Board’s vision is clear: We inspire learning by providing the greatest public education to each and every student. We are committed to finding a superintendent who can carry this vision forward and make this great school system even better. It is our goal to have a new superintendent in place on July 1, 2015, so he or she can be ready to go for the 2015–2016 school year.
We appreciate those of you who have reached out over the past few weeks to express your thoughts about the departure of Superintendent Joshua P. Starr, who will officially end his tenure on February 16.
As the parent of two children who graduated from our schools, I know these types of changes in leadership can be unsettling. But as a member of the Board of Education for more than 16 years, I also know that the history of excellence in MCPS is bigger than just one person or one group of people. MCPS is a great district because of the teachers, administrators, and support professionals in our schools; our wonderful students and families; and the support of our community—and that does not change. MCPS will continue to be a great district today, tomorrow, and far into the future.
The search process will provide many opportunities for students, staff, parents, and community members to participate in the process and identify the characteristics and qualities they would like to see in our next superintendent. These opportunities will include community forums, focus groups, and online surveys. We will be launching a superintendent search website in the coming weeks and will be sharing much more information with you about the process there and on social media.
In the meantime, we will continue to pursue the important work that is already under way, including efforts to improve student performance and close the achievement gap; addressing the needs of the whole child; diversifying our workforce; and ensuring adequate funding so we can best serve our children and families and add much-needed space for our growing enrollment.
To help lead that work in the coming months, the Board has appointed Mr. Larry Bowers, chief operating officer for MCPS, as interim superintendent, effective February 16. I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Bowers, a 37-year veteran of MCPS who knows the district inside and out. I can think of no one better suited to provide the steady, even-handed leadership needed during this time of transition.
In closing, my Board colleagues and I want to thank Dr. Starr for his work over the past three-and-a-half years as superintendent. We wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff.
Patricia B. O’Neill, president Montgomery County Board of Education