Brian D. Morris, the charismatic and well-connected former Baltimore school board chairman who was to start a high-level school district job Monday morning, resigned Saturday amid questions about the hiring process and his history of financial troubles.
In statements issued Saturday, the school board and Morris said he had decided to withdraw his name for the $175,000-a-year post, which would have given him oversight of school system operations.
Since Tuesday, when the school board approved the appointment on the recommendation of schools CEO Andr?s Alonso, public criticism has escalated. Union members questioned how the system could afford creating the job under tight budget constraints. A report in The Baltimore Sun on Friday detailed Morris' financial troubles - a 15-year record of lawsuits and bad-debt claims, including foreclosures, garnisheed wages and unpaid taxes.
"It disturbs me greatly that this matter has become a distraction to the public's appreciation for the enormous progress our school system has made under my tenure," Morris said in a statement issued shortly before 3 p.m. Morris went on to say that he would continue "to be an active advocate for our children as my record of service indicates. I look forward to determining the ways in which I can continue to serve the youth of this city."
The resignation came less than 24 hours after the city school board and Alonso met in a three-hour, unscheduled closed-door session Friday. When asked if he forced Morris to resign, Alonso said, "I didn't have to. I knew he would. He wants the focus to be on the kids."
Morris, 38, declined to comment beyond his written statement Saturday.
Alonso said the school system will advertise to find another candidate for the position of deputy CEO for operations. The situation has prompted a review of the vetting process for job candidates, he said. "We need to find the fine line between intrusion on personal life and safeguarding the system," he said.
The city school board statement acknowledged none of the controversy, instead praising Morris' six years on the board. Morris "has given remarkable service to our schools. We continue to believe that Brian has a unique combination of skills and passion for the work that we need around the table."
Two board members reached for comment, Robert Heck and David Stone, referred all comments to Neil Duke, the acting chairman of the board. Duke did not return phone calls. No other board member responded to e-mails and phone calls Saturday.
