[Washington Post] Ex-Montgomery superintendent McKnight to get $1.3M in separation deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"McKnight’s child is allowed to continue attending Montgomery County schools, even if her family chooses to move outside of the county."

Don't pay Montgomery County taxes, but go to Montgomery County Public Schools.

Is this legal?

It is, if they pay tuition for him. Clearly, they can afford that.

The agreement says "MCPS will waive tuition".

Geez. The BOE just rolled over and took it on the chin. WHY?? The Lord had cause.

[Anonymous]

board had cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The elections are 5/14. Harris, Smondrowski, and Evans are the incumbents on the ballot this time around. Vote them out.

I came to say this. I'm voting against all of them.

You can't. You have to vote FOR someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://moco360.media/2024/03/15/mcps-to-pay-mcknight-1-3-million-in-separation-agreement/

$1,183,250 in agreed-upon wages. The payment will be made in two equal lump sum payments with the final payment on or before Jan. 31, 2025;
$30,000 in attorney fees;
$20,225 in deferred compensation;
$18,525 from a tax-sheltered annual annuity plan; and
$48,000 paid to McKnight’s annual annuity account.

Wow, just wow.

I am not a lawyer, but it looks like most of this was part of her contract. You can fire someone, but you still have to pay them what the contract requires.

In addition, if I were a candidate considering being the next MCPS superintendent, I would also insist on a contract like that. Dr. McKnight is the third superintendent in a row to leave early, so job security isn't great.

[Anonymous]

I know some people on here hate the apple ballot but I trust the teachers more than any other group here. They have interviewed all the candidates and aren’t endorsing any of the incumbents. They’ve endorsed—Zimmerman, Stewart, Montoya. Rallying behind the MCEA endorsed candidates is probably the best way to ensure the incumbents get the boot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://moco360.media/2024/03/15/mcps-to-pay-mcknight-1-3-million-in-separation-agreement/

$1,183,250 in agreed-upon wages. The payment will be made in two equal lump sum payments with the final payment on or before Jan. 31, 2025;
$30,000 in attorney fees;
$20,225 in deferred compensation;
$18,525 from a tax-sheltered annual annuity plan; and
$48,000 paid to McKnight’s annual annuity account.

Wow, just wow.

I am not a lawyer, but it looks like most of this was part of her contract. You can fire someone, but you still have to pay them what the contract requires.

In addition, if I were a candidate considering being the next MCPS superintendent, I would also insist on a contract like that. Dr. McKnight is the third superintendent in a row to leave early, so job security isn't great.

I’m a lawyer. If there’s a material breach of the contract they shouldn’t have to pay it out. There was a good case here for material breach. I would have thought paying her one year was more than fair to get this done. The amount they paid seems like more than 2 years 5 months and benefits. And that also assumes no mitigation at all — so assumes she will just sit on her butt for the next two years which is not reasonable. Presumably she could at least get a teaching job to cover the benefits and earn at least a portion of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know some people on here hate the apple ballot but I trust the teachers more than any other group here. They have interviewed all the candidates and aren’t endorsing any of the incumbents. They’ve endorsed—Zimmerman, Stewart, Montoya. Rallying behind the MCEA endorsed candidates is probably the best way to ensure the incumbents get the boot.

Yes, I dislike the Apple Ballot, but this time I dislike the incumbents more than the Apple Ballot.
https://www.mceanea.org/appleballot/

[Anonymous]

Would it be possible for teachers who were let go because they couldn't deal with the harrassment/ violence well to be able to cash in on the money train.

If mcps is handing out money everywhere, what about us who got our careers messed up working for a rotten organization.

[Anonymous]

So now we know McKnight will have 1.3 million ways to remember her "why"

[Anonymous]

San Francisco had recalled three BOE members in 2022.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Fire the BOE. There have to be consequences for this appalling, disgraceful charade while teachers bear the brunt of a budget freeze.

Elections are 2 months away. Vote them out.

We can't vote them all up because their terms are staggered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers involved should get compensation too without having to sue.

+1 Billion. It would be nice to see these teachers get what they so clearly deserve without having to go through the ongoing trauma of legal proceedings.

The public will have to press for this for it to happen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://moco360.media/2024/03/15/mcps-to-pay-mcknight-1-3-million-in-separation-agreement/

$1,183,250 in agreed-upon wages. The payment will be made in two equal lump sum payments with the final payment on or before Jan. 31, 2025;
$30,000 in attorney fees;
$20,225 in deferred compensation;
$18,525 from a tax-sheltered annual annuity plan; and
$48,000 paid to McKnight’s annual annuity account.

Wow, just wow.

I am not a lawyer, but it looks like most of this was part of her contract. You can fire someone, but you still have to pay them what the contract requires.

In addition, if I were a candidate considering being the next MCPS superintendent, I would also insist on a contract like that. Dr. McKnight is the third superintendent in a row to leave early, so job security isn't great.

She had two years left on the contract. Her salary was $320,000 per year. Maybe my math is wrong, but that would be $640,000, not $1,183,250.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know some people on here hate the apple ballot but I trust the teachers more than any other group here. They have interviewed all the candidates and aren’t endorsing any of the incumbents. They’ve endorsed—Zimmerman, Stewart, Montoya. Rallying behind the MCEA endorsed candidates is probably the best way to ensure the incumbents get the boot.

I’m all in for the Apple ballot this time. I feel like running next time cycle and I have no real qualifications other than outrage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a slap in the face to mcps teachers.

Especially those teachers who were preyed on by Beidleman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a slap in the face to mcps teachers.

Especially those teachers who were preyed on by Beidleman.

Who are still in a legal process trying to get a financial settlement from the school district. It's outrageous.