Steve Burns
WMAL.com
ANNAPOLIS – (WMAL) Maryland Governor Larry Hogan wants to see Prince George’s County Public Schools C.E.O. Dr. Kevin Maxwell be fired by county leadership, but the County Executive contends it is actually Hogan and his appointees on the State Board of Education that has the power to get rid of Maxwell.
Responding to a reporter’s question at a Tuesday press conference, Hogan cited a report by the State Board of Education confirming allegations of widespread grade tampering within the system, along with what Hogan saw as a lackluster response by school and county leadership.
“The response by the Superintendent of Schools and the County Executive was, ‘eh, it was all politics and it was simply sloppy record keeping and dotting i’s and crossing t’s,’” he said. “They didn’t take it seriously.”
Hogan also noted Maxwell’s absence in state hearings in which he was requested.
“This saga has gone on too long,” Hogan said.
Hogan ended his call for Maxwell’s departure by saying Maxwell is only accountable to County Executive Rushern Baker, a notion Baker disputed. He contended state law allows school superintendents to be fired only by the State Board of Education, which is stocked with Hogan’s appointees.
“Maybe he should go straighten out the State School Board, because evidently something is lacking with the structure right now, that he has to now go out and create power that he already has,” Baker said.
Baker also defended Maxwell’s job performance, saying all indicators are going in the right direction.
“If you look at his management of the overall second-largest school system in the state, we have seen it improve,” he said.
Baker maintained Hogan’s calls for Maxwell’s departure had purely political motivations. Baker is hoping to run against Hogan this fall.
“My concern and Dr. Maxwell’s concern are with the students and parents in Prince George’s County. It starts and it ends there.” Baker said. “The moment I don’t believe Dr. Maxwell has the best interest of students and parents, that’s the day that I’ll say he should leave, not for some political game.”
Copyright 2018 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Hogan campaign/Baker campaign youtube)
