Heiser takes helm of Baltimore County Schools, feels ‘responsibility, not pressure’

Towson, Md. (WBFF) — Baltimore County Public Schools has a new superintendent who’s taking over at a pivotal time for one of Maryland’s largest school districts. But Dr. Bill Heiser says he does not feel the pressure.

When Baltimore County Board of Education Chair Jane Lichter introduced the school district’s new superintendent at a press conference on Monday, she stressed the importance of his new role.

“Dr. Heiser understands the weight of this moment,” said Lichter.

Baltimore County Public Schools new superintendent, Dr. William Heiser (WBFF)

Dr. Heiser is inheriting a school system that many feel is in decline for multiple reasons, which Project Baltimore asked him about.

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“You’re the fifth superintendent in ten years. Budget issues. Union issues. Enrollment is declining. The graduation rate is at a 15-year low, the dropout rate is at a 15-year high. Do you feel the pressure in this new role to try to improve a school system that many people feel is struggling?” Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst asked Heiser.

“No. I feel the important responsibility, which I think is different than pressure,” Heiser replied. “I think to feel pressure means that you might fall from the weight of it. I feel the responsibility of making really good decisions on behalf of our county.”

Dr. Heiser, from 2023 to 2026, was the Chief Operating Officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, which is one of Maryland’s higher performing school systems. Prior to that, Heiser served as President of the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore for eight years. From 2013 to 2015, he worked as the principal of Catonsville High School in Baltimore County.

According to his employment contract, Heiser will earn a base salary of $329,000 (WBFF)

According to his employment contract, Heiser will earn a base salary of $329,000. He gets 25 days of vacation/personal leave, and 18 days of sick leave. Unused leave can be cashed in. The Board will reimburse Heiser for his State pension contributions and contribute $29,610 into a tax-sheltered annuity plan. He gets a $935 a month car allowance. He is also eligible for performance bonuses.

“Our core purpose is to increase student achievement for every student in this school district,” Heiser said.

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To achieve that objective, Heiser says his administration will first focus on assessing academic performance and instructional quality over the next 100 days.

“We need the school year to get started on a great foot,” remarked Heiser. “I’m confident that we’ll do that.”

Next, Heiser says he will prioritize recruiting and retaining the best talent while strengthening relationships with targeted community outreach.

Heiser says his administration will first focus on assessing academic performance and instructional quality over the next 100 days (WBFF)

“We need your support. We’re aligned. We should be together in this work,” said Heiser.

One aspect of running a $2.5 billion public school system Heiser did not focus on was transparency, which has been a concern with previous BCPS superintendents such as Dr. Darryl Williams.

“As far as the media is concerned, you will make yourself available?” Papst asked Williams back in July of 2019 during Williams’ first day on the job.

“I will make myself available,” Williams responded.

That interview turned out to be the only interview Williams granted Project Baltimore during his four years as superintendent – despite significant concerns within BCPS regarding sex offenders in schools, classroom violence and school bus safety. So, Fox45 News asked Heiser a similar question.

“There have been some issues with previous superintendents regarding media access and transparency. Do you believe in transparency, and will you make yourself available to the media and the public when issues do arise?” Papst asked.

“Absolutely. I certainly not only just believe in it, I want to live it,” Heiser replied. “And so you want to be transparent with media, with community, want to make sure that there’s appropriate access.”

The previous superintendent, Dr. Myriam Rogers, who retired mid-contract, did hold monthly press conferences during much of her tenure to address public concerns. Heiser said he plans to continue that approach to ensure a transparent school system.

Over the past decade, the superintendents chosen by the board did not stay long. Heiser will be the fifth superintendent since 2017.

Current Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers is leaving mid-contract – she says to spend more time with family. Prior to Rogers’, Dr. Darryl Williams was not renewed after a tumultuous first contract. Before Williams, there was interim superintendent Dr. Verletta White who was found to have violated ethics rules regarding her finances and was not offered full contract. And White replaced Dr. Dallas Dance who resigned as superintendent, and ended up serving four months in jail for lying on his financial disclosure forms.

Heiser is inheriting a school system that is struggling academically. The high school graduation rate for Baltimore County Public Schools is at a15 year low of 84.3%, while the dropout rate is at a 15 year high of 12.2%.

Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com