Another Baltimore-area school system superintendent appears to be on her way out the door.
Outlets report that Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Renee Foose plans to announce her resignation effectively immediately early Tuesday evening. The Sun’s Tim Prudente reports Foose told her executive staff and multiple school principals she will resign today, and ABC2 claims sources have said the same.
Asked on a phone call to confirm whether Foose will be stepping down, a Howard County school board spokeswoman said, “No we cannot. The only thing I can tell you the board is having a closed session at 4 o’clock.”
A press release will be forthcoming before the end of the day, she added.
Foose joined Howard County schools in 2012 after serving for several years as a top executive in both the Baltimore County and Montgomery County public school systems. In her first four years in her role as chief, graduation rates rose from just shy of 91 percent to nearly 93.5 percent, dipping only slight last year, and the school system has continued to excel in national rankings.
However, relations between Foose and her school board have gone south. In January, she sued them, alleging they had interfered with her ability to do her job. The school board responded with a filing asserting its independence from the superintendent’s office to make various decisions without consulting her, which was followed by an amended complaint from Foose.
In February, community members circulated a since-deleted petition calling for the state schools superintendent to fire her.
Some of the controversy and legal battle stems from criticism of Foose’s response to mold problems in several schools — some have argued she didn’t tell parents about those issues quickly enough — while other aspects are related to accusations that she made secretive decisions without public or staff input.
Foose makes $273,000 in annual salary under a four-year contact signed last spring.
She holds a doctorate of education from the University of Delaware, an MBA and a master’s of science degree from Loyola University Maryland and a bachelor’s degree from Towson University.
The news about Foose’s impending departure comes weeks after Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance announced he he will resign from his top position effective June 30.
The Baltimore County school board has said it will seek a one-year interim replacement for Dance while it conducts a national search for a permanent one.
