Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers will continue to lead Montgomery County Public Schools through the next school year after the county Board of Education failed to find a new permanent superintendent in time for its desired July 1 switchover.
Bowers, who took up the interim role after former Superintendent Joshua Starr resigned in February, was set to retire June 30.
But after the board’s “preferred candidate” to replace Starr dropped out Sunday, board President Patricia O’Neill and Vice President Michael Durso asked Bowers on Tuesday to continue as interim schools chief in order to make sure MCPS had a leader for the 2015-2016 school year.
“We have always known that the July 1 deadline was there. You either have a superintendent in place or you need an interim,” O’Neill said Wednesday after the board appointed Bowers as interim superintendent through the next school year. “We felt all along that if it’s the right fit for Montgomery County, then we would have an interim.”
Bowers said he decided to remain in the post because he believed the school system needed stable leadership before finding a new permanent chief. He served as the school system’s longtime chief operating officer and is known for his knowledge of the system’s multi-billion dollar budget.
“I’ve worked here 37 years,” Bowers said. “My life has been committed to the school system and to really working on improving the school system and I was just concerned what was going to happen if I wasn’t here.”
Bowers, 66, is making an annual salary of $226,717, according to the school system. MCPS spokesperson Dana Tofig said his new salary will be determined after his appointment to remain in the post is approved by the state superintendent.
Starr made about $260,000 per year when he was superintendent.
Once it was announced that Starr was leaving, the board agreed to a $35,000 contract with search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to conduct a nationwide superintendent search. In addition to vetting candidates, the firm also held public meetings to come up with a list of desired characteristics the next superintendent should have.
O’Neill said the contract requires the firm to help the board find a new superintendent, so the school system won’t have to pay more money when it resumes the search in January.
Andrew Houlihan, the 36-year-old chief academic officer of the Houston Independent School District, was announced last week as the board’s leading candidate but faced criticism from a group of community leaders who met with him last week.
Many expressed concern that Houlihan had never served as a superintendent and that he had only recently been promoted to his position within the Houston school system.
After Houlihan withdrew his name from consideration, county high school principals organized to ask the board to urge Bowers to continue.
Bowers got a brief standing ovation from staff when he walked into the room where the school board was meeting for his appointment Wednesday afternoon.
“The Mr. Bowers fan club is clearly here,” O’Neill said. “Usually, most people are here because they’re not happy.”
The board declined to renew previous superintendent Starr’s contract in February, and Starr officially resigned from the post Feb. 16. Starr had served as the school system’s chief since 2011.
“It makes sense that the school board made their job more difficult replacing Josh in the way they handled his non-renewal,” said a source who was part of the search process. “There obviously is a question about how the people who are leading the school system are making decisions.”
Doug Prouty, president of the Montgomery County Education Association, said he supports Bowers remaining as interim superintendent and that his knowledge of the budget will be valuable for what could be another tough budget process next year.
“I think it’s the best thing for the school system,” Prouty said.
Prouty also said he sees no reason why Bowers wouldn’t be able to push initiatives or programs for addressing some of the school system’s most pressing issues, including the achievement gap.
Bowers agreed. “I want to keep us not only on the right track, but working with the board closely to make sure we’re moving faster,” he said of addressing the achievement gap and other issues such as failure rates for high school math exams.
“I was looking forward to retirement,” he said. “But again, I’m very committed to the system and the work that we’ve been doing and I want to make sure it continues.”
