Anonymous wrote:Back to the main topic at hand: Several people have wondered and speculated if the search isn't wrapped up by July 1 about what would happen. Harris addressed that in MoCo 360's education newsletter:
She noted that if a superintendent is not appointed by July 1, the board will be required by the state to hire an interim superintendent for a full year. Harris said she could not say whether interim Superintendent Monique Felder would continue to lead the district if that were the case.
“Part of that would be what Dr. Felder’s interests are because the board has to have a conversation about – if we are in the place where we are appointing an interim superintendent for the full academic year – would we set as an expectation going in, that that individual would not be a candidate [for superintendent]?” she said.
Harris noted that the board will need to be “crystal clear” about that process if it gets to that point.
So basically, if we don't get someone in by July 1, we'll be stuck with another interim for the entire school year. If that's the case, I really hope we get someone in place by July 1. The amount of time it takes to get familiar and build relationships and alliances in MCPS is immense. And I bet if they appoint an interim for the remaining school year, that person would eventually become the permanent person because who wants to do that onboarding and orientation process all over again with someone else?
It's interesting that Harris is playing coy about Felder's motives. I suspect she's doing so because she and the board don't want to be accused of not doing a genuine search for a new superintendent, but there's no way that Felder is not interested in the permanent gig.