Overview
- The Baltimore County Board announced Heiser as its new superintendent on Monday and he is scheduled to begin the job on July 1.
- Heiser, who served as chief operating officer in Anne Arundel County, says his top goals are raising the district graduation rate from 84% to 90% and boosting Algebra I pass rates from about 11% to 20%.
- State test data show steep academic gaps in Baltimore County, with roughly 45% proficiency in English, 21% in math, and only about one in 10 students passing Algebra I last year.
- As Anne Arundel’s COO Heiser managed a $195 million capital program and led a redistricting that reassigned about 700 students, a move that drew community anger and strained school board relations.
- Local civic groups including the League of Women Voters and several NAACP chapters criticized the speed and transparency of the search and urged the board to appoint an interim superintendent or reopen the process, while a divided board and November elections could affect the district’s political and funding outlook.