Joshua Starr Resigns As MCPS Superintendent

From Bethesda Now - By Aaron Kraut

Updated at 12:35 p.m. — MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr and the Board of Education have agreed to part ways, ending the weeks-long drama surrounding Starr’s soon-to-expire contract.

Word of Starr’s resignation leaked through numerous media outlets on Tuesday morning as the Board met in a closed session.

At 11:30 a.m., Board President Pat O’Neill — thought to be one of Starr’s remaining supporters in the eight-member group — quickly read a resolution announcing the resignation. The Board approved the move unanimously before moving to another room to hold a press conference.

“Don’t get into a fight that you know you’re not going to win,” Starr said during the press conference when asked why he resigned. O’Neill was the only member of the Board to take questions.

“I am only one individual. It is part of a collective body and a collective process. The decision on any superintendent falls to those eight democratically elected,” O’Neill said. “There are eight different thoughts and opinions.”

Larry Bowers, the school system’s chief operating officer, will serve as interim superintendent until at least June 30.

Starr’s departure is a major surprise for the school system. He had expressed his desire to return for another four years, but reports suggested at least four Board members stood solidly against a contract renewal.

Without support from a majority of the Board, Starr didn’t submit a required notification of his intent to remain as superintendent by the Sunday deadline.

Starr will serve as superintendent until Feb. 16.

The Board of Education has been mum on what friction caused Starr’s departure.

The official resignation agreement includes a clause stating “Board members and the Superintendent shall refrain from making disparaging remarks regarding the other.”

“No superintendent is bigger than the system that he or she leads and I understand and respect this Board’s desire to have a different leader and a different direction,” Starr said in the press conference. “It was my hope that I would be here to continue that work. …However I recognize and respect that the Board has the right to choose a leader of the school system.”

When asked why he decided to resign, Starr said he agreed with the Board that it was in the best interest of MCPS to move on now.

“The Board of Education has decided to have another quarterback,” O’Neill said in the press conference. She avoided answering why the Board decided not to support Starr.

Starr later said he felt no need to fight the Board after it had shown there would be a lack of support.

Under the agreement approved Tuesday, Starr will receive the remainder of the salary he is owed under his contract, which runs until June 30, a $46,583 payment for unused sick and annual leave in accordance with his contract, and health insurance benefits through the end of 2015.

Maryland State Schools Superintendent Lillian Lowery must most approve Bowers’ appointment as MCPS superintendent before the switch can officially take place.

MCPS said it hopes to have a new superintendent in place by July 1.