Baltimore Co. Schools' Head Denies Wrongdoing Over Residency Questions

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — An independent investigator questioned whether the Baltimore County Public Schools superintendent lived in the county by the date required in her contract.

The investigation does not allege any overt malice, but it does suggest the residency requirement should be reviewed to ensure mutual understanding.

BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers denied allegations that she lives outside the county.

"I can't speak to the motivations of people who made these false statements," Rogers told WYPR. "I can tell you that every day, my commute is less than six minutes. I can tell you that in the cold months, there wasn't even an opportunity for my car to warm up when I drove myself over here."

An inspector general report published Tuesday said Rogers was required to live in Baltimore County by July 1, 2024. That was a year after she started the job.

The inspector said the school system provided documents showing her date of residency was Sept. 14, 2024, but the school system didn't update her address in its internal records until Dec. 20, 2024.

"Dr. Rogers is a resident of Baltimore County. Her driver's license, voters' registration and other personal documents reflect this address," a Baltimore County Public Schools spokesperson told WJZ. "The Board of Education leadership was made aware of the timeline of her move. Her focus remains on serving the 110,000 students of Team BCPS and moving the school system forward."

The report said Rogers owns a home outside Baltimore County, which is allowed, but she is also required to have her primary residence in Baltimore County.

BCPS told the inspector that Rogers primarily lived at an apartment in Baltimore County. The school system also provided a moving agreement showing that furniture was moved from outside the county to an apartment inside the county.

The inspector general, however, said he found that Rogers' driver's license is associated with her home outside the county.

The inspector also said Rogers' name was not on the apartment lease. A school spokesperson told The Baltimore Banner that the superintendent lives there with family, and Rogers' name was left off the lease for her own safety as a public figure.

The report further alleged that an employee used their personal email, rather than their Baltimore County Public Schools email, for Rogers' moving paperwork. This may have violated records management policy, the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education said.

The inspector recommended that the Baltimore County Board of Education:

• Determine if its superintendent residency requirement is necessary.
• Review Rogers' contract to ensure all parties understand its terms.
• Require its employees to follow established procedures when handling official business.

"OIGE believes this is a contractual matter between the BCPS-BOE and the Superintendent of Schools for Baltimore County and is referring this matter to the BCPS-BOE for further review and consideration of the identified recommendations," Inspector General Richard P. Henry wrote.

BCPS did not respond to Patch's request for comment.