Anne Arundel County hired a new superintendent of schools Wednesday morning, but not before an outgoing School Board member tried to stop the vote.
Board Member Paul Rudolph asked to delay the approval of the contract for incoming superintendent Kevin Maxwell in light of recent media reports that three upper-level administrators at the district office would be fired to make room for the new administration.
“The controversy that has occurred here exceeds what [former superintendent] Eric Smith accomplished in three years,” said Rudolph, who asked for a formal explanation from Maxwell. “I think it was a question of ethics on Mr. Maxwell?s part. I don?t know if it was a lack of common sense or competence.”
Schools budget director Dennis Hirsch and government affairs director Bob Leib were told last week by members of the superintendent?s transition team, and later in writing, that they would be let go at the end of the month because Maxwell had decided to bring in his own budget director and chief of staff. The action was later delayed until after Maxwell officially took the job.
Rumors had circulated that employees who were loyal to Smith were being targeted for removal or reassignment. Smith resigned abruptly last fall after a public disagreement with the Board of Education.
Board Member Eugene Peterson publicly disagreed with Rudolph, arguing that official personnel actions had not yet been taken. He urged the board to approve the contract.
Maxwell did not attend the board meeting and could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He will start work in Anne Arundel County on July 1.
The board approved his four-year contract by a 5-1 vote, with Rudolph voting against approval, and outgoing student School Board Member Pallas Snider abstaining from voting. Board Member Edward Carey was absent when the vote was taken.
Maxwell will receive an annual salary of $225,000 plus a benefits package worth $50,000 a year, which includes retirement benefits, a $750 a month allowance for car expenses, a cell phone, and an annual 10 percent bonus if he meets certain goals.
