Prince George’s County did something today that it has not been able to accomplish over the last 20 years – renew the contract of the County schools CEO. A good school superintendent is hard to keep in many large school systems, and until now, maintaining consistency and continuity in leadership has been a challenge for Prince George’s County Schools as well.
Dr. Maxwell’s firsthand knowledge of the school system and its diverse student population; his determination and persistence; his “homegrown” talent and his long-term commitment to our unified goal to enhance our school system and meet the needs of our entire community have made him a key partner in the success of County schools.
We congratulate County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III and Dr. Kevin Maxwell on his contract extension as Schools CEO. Educating our children to compete in a global economy is a priority of this Council, and remains a critical element to the overall success of Prince George’s County. To become the economic powerhouse we all desire, the County’s education system must be first rate, stakeholders must work in partnership, and school leadership, as Dr. Maxwell is demonstrating, must be steadfast and committed.
We are encouraged by increasing enrollment, and improving school performance, as seen in the recent celebration of rising graduation rates. There is still much work to be done. School reform however, is a complex, multi-year change process that requires many phases of implementation. Throughout this process, it is important to routinely take measure of leadership and progress.
As a partner in education, the Council is focused on responsible management of school resources, working diligently over the past several years to build consensus on fiscal concerns, provide oversight over spending, and ensure its fiduciary duty to County residents. This spring, our collaborative efforts will yield the first report of the long-awaited joint audit (Continuous Business Process Improvement Study) of County school operations– the first in nearly 20 years. This represents a giant step forward to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of how our education system functions.
Consistent leadership and professional management, combined with structured, focused oversight positions Prince George’s County to move forward with creating the foundation for the world-class school system our students deserve and furthering investments for every child’s future.
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All legislative powers of Prince George’s County are vested in the County Council. The County Council sits as the District Council on zoning and land use policy, and as the Board of Health to govern and guide health policy. The County Council meets as a legislative body on Tuesdays in the Council Hearing Room on the first floor of the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro. For more information on the Prince George’s County Council, please visit www.princegeorgescountymd.gov