“The Board wishes to appoint [Larry Bowers] interim superintendent for one more year beginning July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016,” MCPS Board President Patricia O’Neil announced at the MCPS Board meeting today.

Prior to his reappointment as interim superintendent, Bowers filled in the position for Joshua Starr. Starr interrupted his tenure to step down as superintendent after the Board indicated that he would not have sufficient support for contract renewal. Bowers has been with MCPS for 37 years, serving a variety of leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer for the past 16 years.

The appointment of an interim superintendent allows the Board more time to find a long-term fit for the role.

“The Board of Education is currently engaged in a search for the next superintendent of MCPS schools.” O’Neil said. “However, it is necessary for the Board to continue this search beyond July 1, 2015.”

Bowers was surprised by his contract renewal, as he was hoping to retire on July 1.

“I’m always the last to figure things out,” Bowers said to the room. “It wasn’t what I was expecting.”

Nonetheless, Bowers is ready to work with the Board in order to improve MCPS policy.

“I want to make MCPS a place where a parent is confident that wherever they send their child to school in Montgomery County that they’re going to get a good education, that they’re going to be prepared for their future,” he said.

Bowers’s speech was met with much applause and approval from the audience at the meeting.

“I want to thank the Board for thinking that I could work with you to do this, “ Bowers said to the audience. “I want to say I’m looking forward to it—I really was looking forward to retirement, but again, I am very committed to this system and the work we’ve been doing and I want to make sure it continues.”