Prince George's County (Maryland) Schools Superintendent Millard House II is leaving the district after reaching a separation agreement with the school board.

The Washington Post reports that House's resignation comes after the district's teachers union issued a vote of no confidence in his leadership last week. House has defended his tenure, pointing to efforts to add weapons detectors to schools.

His last day is June 18, according to a statement from the school board and school system's central office.

"During the past two years, the Board and Superintendent collaboratively made significant improvement to the school system," the statement said, pointing to an overhaul of the school system's transportation system and improving graduation rates.

House became superintendent in 2023, after he was selected by then-County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. He was previously superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, but was ousted from the job after the state's education agency took over.

He succeeded former schools CEO Monica Goldson, who cited divisions on the county's school board as part of her reason for retiring after five years. 

House's contract originally ran through 2027 at a starting base pay of $345,000.

Acting County Executive Tara Jackson said in a statement that she appreciated House's service and leadership. "I thank him for his commitment to the students and families of Prince George's County and wish him the very best in his future career endeavors," she said.

A former Chicago teacher and principal who is now the senior director of educational policy in the mayor’s office has been chosen as the interim leader of Chicago Public Schools.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Macquline King will take over for terminated CEO Pedro Martinez whose last day is next week.

The school system, the nation's fourth largest, is facing a $529 million budget deficit and has no clear path for closing the gap.

King barely received the majority needed to be appointed. Eleven of the 20 voting members approved her as interim CEO, one abstained and nine voted no. The president of the board does not have a vote.

The search for a permanent CEO is ongoing. The school board has been holding meetings across the city to solicit input, and the district has started accepting applications.

King will lead the district as it confronts a serious budget crisis. The system’s deficit could be even larger than the $529 million deficit, and that doesn’t include a $175 million municipal pension payment that the mayor wants the school district to cover.

Martinez was opposed to any borrowing as he saw it as financially irresponsible and his legal team suggested that taking a loan to cover operating expenses could be illegal. But the mayor’s office presented some scenarios that they say are financially prudent. This disagreement is one of the factors that led to his termination.

King's experience as a principal includes leading a school that was closed and then leading another school that welcomed students from a closed school. After 12 years as a teacher, she was principal of Dumas on the South Side and then Courtenay Elementary School on the North Side.

More than four years after they brought the case, prosecutors in Florida have dropped a felony perjury charge against former Broward County School Superintendent Robert Runcie.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Runcie and the Office of Statewide Prosecution reached an agreement in which Runcie acknowledged that he made untrue statements but not admit to any crime. He also agreed not to violate the law for six months and to pay $4,741.52 for the costs of prosecution.

The agreement was announced shortly before jury selection was to begin Monday morning.

Runcie was indicted in April 2021 when prosecutors accused him of giving false statements to a grand jury when asked about whether he was prepped for his testimony. 

Runcie answered no, according to the grand jury transcript, but prosecutors produced evidence that he had spoken to Mary Coker, who was then the procurement director, to get assistance on a contract he was being asked about.

A judge dismissed the charge in 2023, but an appeals court reinstated the case in 2024. Runcie, who had been appointed Broward County superintendent in 2011, resigned shortly after being indicted.