PGCPS CEO: 'Going to Something, Not Away From Something'

By Tim Lemke 

Kevin Maxwell acknowledged Monday that he does not expect to fight for school funding in Prince George's County as he did in Anne Arundel, but said that played no role in his decision to switch jobs.

"Those disagreements between parts of governments, they crop up," he said in a meeting with reporters in Annapolis. "It's been a little bit sustained here, but that's not why I'm leaving. I'm going to an opportunity. I'm going to something, not away from something."

Maxwell resigned last week as superintendent in Anne Arundel County to take the CEO position in charge of Prince George's County Public Schools. He said the political atmosphere might be more positive in his new role, but that nothing will come easily. 

"I don't anticipate having the kind of tension I had with the county executive who was here for the majority of my term," he said, referring to his relationship with former Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold. "However, until the economy gets better, I don't think anybody can anticipate a windfall to public education. But I do think being able to work through the financial things in a collaborative way is probably in the long term going to be possible."

Maxwell is currently negotiating with both school systems on a departure and start date, but hinted that he'll be in place in Prince George's County by the beginning of August. He said he has not had any discussions about bringing along members of his executive team, some of which followed him to Anne Arundel County from previous jobs. 

Maxwell reiterated that he never sought the top schools job in Prince George's County, despite spending decades there as a student, teacher and administrator. He was first contacted about the position in June, after Prince George's County formally assembled a search committee. He said he had intended to seek a four-year renewal of his contract in Anne Arundel when it expired next year. 

The Board of Education in Anne Arundel County is holding closed-door meetings to discuss the process of naming an interim superintendent to run the school system through next year. 

Maxwell said many of the current administrators would be qualified to take over.

"There are several people here who would be very capable of running Anne Arundel County Public Schools," he said. "If they don't become the superintendent here, they'll become superintendent somewhere."