WASHINGTON — The vote was unanimous: Larry Bowers, a 37-year career employee with Montgomery County Public Schools has been appointed for another term as interim superintendent of MCPS. He’s been serving in the position since Joshua Starr stepped down when Starr’s contract was not renewed by the school board.
At an afternoon meeting at the Montgomery County Board of Education, central office employees packed the room: filling the seats and lining the walls in the hearing room in anticipation of the vote. As Bowers walked in, the crowed erupted in a prolonged standing ovation.
Clearly surprised by the applause, Bowers, referring to Board of Education member Judy Docca, joked “Judy’s right, it must be my haircut!”
Patricia O’Neill, the school board president, took the vote and as all hands went up in favor of appointing Bowers. She announced that Bowers would be appointed for a period starting July 1 and running through June 30 of 2016. A fresh ovation took place and O’Neill joked that the “Mr. Bowers Fan Club” was clearly in session.
After the vote, O’Neill noted that Bowers was scheduled to retire as of July 1.
She told Bowers, “I think you can tell that the MCPS staff is very happy that there will be stability and positive direction.”
Bowers, who served as chief operating officer, is seen as a strong choice to lead the schools while the search for a permanent superintendent continues. A group of high school principals had sent a letter in support of Bowers’ appointment. At a time when the school budget is taking some hits — including the loss of the expected $17 million from the state funding formula known as the Geographic Cost of Education Index — his knowledge of the school system’s finances is seen as a particular strength.
Bowers told the board with a smile, “I really was looking forward to retirement.” But, he added, “I am very committed to the system and the work that we have been doing and I want to make sure that it continues.”
After more applause, Bowers told the crowded room, “Now everybody needs to get back to work!”
Bowers was tapped when it became clear the school system was not going to be able to find a permanent replacement by the self-imposed deadline of July 1. The person tapped as the “preferred candidate,” Andrew Houlihan, the chief academic officer at the Houston Independent School District, abruptly withdrew his name from consideration on Sunday, just days after interviewing for the job.
A search firm, Hazard, Young & Attea, will continue to assist the school system in its search. O’Neill says that will happen without added cost: the contract of $35,000 — plus expenses — remains intact.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
