John Matthews
WMAL.com
ROCKVILLE — If Joshua Starr is denied a second four-year term at Montgomery County's school superintendent, County Executive Isiah Leggett says he'll be disappointed.
A report in the Washington Post Wednesday indicates that Starr, who took over the county school system in July, 2011, does not have the support of the majority of the Board of Education to receive a 4-year contract renewal.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE IKE LEGGETT
"I think that he's done an outstanding job," Leggett told WMAL's Mornings On The Mall Wednesday. "I think there are some questions, I think that he probably should have been given a little more time, based on what I'm hearing from the board members," he added. "I wish him well, if that's the decision the board is making."
Time – namely, the length of Starr's contract – is one of the factors that school board members are dealing with in deciding whether to keep Starr on board. Under Maryland law, Starr can only be offered a 4-year contract renewal, rather than an extension for a shorter term, and according to the Post, at least half of the Board of Education members are not willing to keep Starr on board for four more years.
According to the Post, some board members are put off by Starr's sometimes-brusque leadership style, and have lost confidence in his ability to develop an effective plan for closing the achievement gap separating white and minority students.
The Board of Education will meet in executive session Wednesday to discuss the contract. Starr has until the end of the week to formally express interest in renewing his contract.
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