Montgomery Chamber of Commerce withdraws sponsorship of superintendent receptions

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) recently withdrew its sponsorships for the Montgomery Public Schools superintendent finalists’ receptions and fireside chats that was scheduled for March 24 and 25.

The chamber sent a press release saying that the withdrawal was due to the process of finding a superintendent was not "sincere." 

“The Chamber had originally agreed to help co-host these events, based on the expectation of a sincere search process that recruited the best and brightest candidates from around the country," said Chamber CEO and President Anna Buckalew. "That did not occur, in spite of repeated appeals by a coalition of local leadership for transparency and a request to continue and broaden the search.

"The Montgomery County Board of Education has sent a very clear signal that the only engagement they seek is to offer audiences with candidates whom they have already selected behind closed doors. The future of MPS students and the vibrancy of Montgomery is at stake here, and that’s worth fighting for," the statement said.

"The Chamber again reiterates we are proud of the progress in Montgomery Public Schools and will lend our full support to an expanded and open superintendent search. Montgomery’s students must be ready for the jobs and opportunities new industries generate."

The action comes after the resignation of Dr. Melvin Brown in September 2024. 

More from this section

Why anti-sunscreen content is going viral on TikTok

Man suffers serious burns to leg after vape battery explodes in pocket

Vermont Shows Why Small-Farm Visits Are Trending This Summer In The U.S.

The press release sent on March 24 detailed a background in which the MACC along with county and city officials "frustration and distrust" of the board's search process since the resignation of Brown. 

According to the statement a joint meeting was held on March 10 where officials met with board members to discuss finding a replacement and a request was made to leave the search open and to ask for help from State Superintendent Eric Mackey if needed. 

However, two candidates were reportedly chosen by the board without follow-up to a request to pause the search or reopen it. Afterward, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed and Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton and the MACC responded with criticism in media reports. 

"This same coalition of business, elected and civic leaders has been very much in the lane of public education over the past several years, particularly in 2020 with strong support to increase ad valorem taxes by 12 mils for MPS," said the press release.

"And, in 2024, that same coalition strongly advocated for the renewal of 3.5 mills for MPS. Later, in 2024, this same community coalition advocated for the renewal of then MPS Superintendent Dr. Melvin Brown’s contract, in order to continue transformative work underway on behalf of MPS students."