Embattled P.G. school chief to step down

Maxwell troubled by scandals; schools improved but still performing poorly

Embattled Prince George’s County schools chief Kevin Maxwell will leave his job some time after the end of the school year, relinquishing the helm of Maryland’s second-largest district in the wake of scandals that left critics questioning his judgment and leadership.

His decision to step down follows the resignation earlier this year of D.C. schools chancellor Antwan Wilson and launches a period of transition for a struggling system that improved during Maxwell’s five-year tenure but remains one of the lowestperforming in the state.

County Executive Rushern L. Baker III hired Maxwell in 2013 after the state legislature gave him expanded powers to try to turn the school system around. around Under Maxwell, academic offerings and enrollment increased, and test scores rose slightly.

But critics increasingly called for his ouster in recent months amid inquiries into unauthorized pay increases among centraloffice staff and fraud in graduation rates. Those scandals followed earlier turmoil over a sexual abuse case involving a school volunteer, which raised questions about staff oversight, and the loss of a multimillion-dollar Head Start grant.

“The numerous distractions that have occurred over the course of this school year are unlike anything I’ve experienced in four decades of working in public education,” Maxwell, 66, said in a message to Prince George’s educators, parents and community members. “Without question, they have taken a toll on students, families and staff.” NBC4first reported Maxwell’s departure. Baker, who is running for governor, expended considerable political capital on his quest to improve the school system, which enrolls more than 132,000 students. He faced growing political pressure to fire Maxwell but had resisted calls to dismiss him from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous and the three major candidates to succeed him as county executive.

In an interview Tuesday, Baker said he did not pressure or encourage Maxwell to step down but had spoken to him recently about his likely departure after the November election.

“He saw the political writing on the wall,” Baker said. “I’m proud of the work he’s done for the school system. I think he’s the best superintendent we’ve had in 40 years. And yes, we made progress.”

Segun Eubanks, chairman of the Prince George’s County Board of Education and part of the panel’s pro-Maxwell majority, said the panel will figure out the timing of the schools chief’s departure — and how to search for a successor — as the academic year draws to a close.

“I retain an incredible amount of respect for Dr. Maxwell and the accomplishments he’s made, but I think the decision to move into a transition is in the best long-term interests of everyone concerned,” Eubanks said.

The financial terms of Maxwell’s exit were not clear on Tuesday. He has more than three years left on his four-year contract as chief executive and makes a base salary of $299,937, a school system spokesman said.

School board member Edward Burroughs III, a frequent critic of Maxwell’s, said recent questions over pay increases for some school employees appeared to be the last straw in forcing Maxwell’s departure.

Maxwell came to Prince George’s from Anne Arundel County, where he served as schools superintendent for seven years. He started his career as an educator in Prince George’s County and worked for a time in Montgomery County, but always prided himself on his deep ties to Prince George’s, where he grew up.

When he was hired as CEO, he was the county’s eighth schools chief in 14 years.