$2M no bid contract to Joftus wife? BOE to approve on 9/8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Ya, if it's a sole source, so not much can be done. . What I'd like to know is when does the contract expire? At that point, they should open it up to other bidders.

It's not sole source. It's single source. That means MCPS knows there are other companies that can do the same thing and they are ignoring them. That's single source.
There's no contract. Nothing is in writing.

They could open it up to other bidders this week, but why bother? Discriminating against businesses is accepted in MoCo.

There's so much faux outrage in fiction in this thread I just can't accept these things on your word. Can you substantiate these accusations with a citation from any credible source?

Is the Board of Education meeting yesterday credible enough for you? Watch the discussion.

Got it. You got nothing...

If you don't consider a Board of Education meeting agenda item discussing a procurement a credible source for information about the procurement that what would you consider a credible source? Donald Trump?

This whole discussion is about a Board of Education vote. The discussion at the meeting yesterday is the meat of this thread. Why would you claim to care about this topic yet be unable to view the actual Board of Education discussion to hear for yourself what was said?

On the contrary, everything meeting was completely by the book and above board so basically you got nothing.

Saying "you got nothing" is like saying "sure, but you have no evidence to catch me"?

This seems like a Maryland IG investigation to me.

Seems more like a bunch of obsessed lunatics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

😂😂 A whole extra $200 or $22per month before taxes. Yeah, teachers would have felt really valued. You should probably talk to some teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

😂😂 A whole extra $200 or $22per month before taxes. Yeah, teachers would have felt really valued. You should probably talk to some teachers.

So all the mcps teachers on Facebook asking for $200 in supplies are just liars ripping off the public.

[Anonymous]

Educator here. I believe that what KID offers is valuable, but it needs to lay out exactly how they are choosing which students and schools they serve, what they provide in those field trips, and how much it costs taxpayers per child. The arrangement should be handled the same way MCPS handles outsourcing any service. If there is no competition then they will get the contract. And I am confused. I expected Scott Joftus to take the teachers’ and administrators’ and SEIU staff’s “no confidence” votes more seriously. His decision to vote in Dr McKnight showed a lack of understanding of educators’ concerns and possible repercussions, including talented people leaving MCPS. I know he didn’t respond to all the teachers and principals who reached out to him prior to his vote, and I think he harmed KID by being on the board. I do think he’s ethical and smart, but I’m disappointed. He should have waited for the election rather than get appointed early. I think that will hurt him in the election. The appearance is that he was put on the board as a guaranteed vote for Dr. McKnight, which is unfortunate. I’m less concerned with his ability to be impartial on KID stuff. I wish he had been braver in his first months on the board. At least he’s not going to ban books or do crazy paranoid stuff to the curriculum if he wins, so there’s that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. I believe that what KID offers is valuable, but it needs to lay out exactly how they are choosing which students and schools they serve, what they provide in those field trips, and how much it costs taxpayers per child. The arrangement should be handled the same way MCPS handles outsourcing any service. If there is no competition then they will get the contract. And I am confused. I expected Scott Joftus to take the teachers’ and administrators’ and SEIU staff’s “no confidence” votes more seriously. His decision to vote in Dr McKnight showed a lack of understanding of educators’ concerns and possible repercussions, including talented people leaving MCPS. I know he didn’t respond to all the teachers and principals who reached out to him prior to his vote, and I think he harmed KID by being on the board. I do think he’s ethical and smart, but I’m disappointed. He should have waited for the election rather than get appointed early. I think that will hurt him in the election. The appearance is that he was put on the board as a guaranteed vote for Dr. McKnight, which is unfortunate. I’m less concerned with his ability to be impartial on KID stuff. I wish he had been braver in his first months on the board. At least he’s not going to ban books or do crazy paranoid stuff to the curriculum if he wins, so there’s that.

thanks for an actual substantive response!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. I believe that what KID offers is valuable, but it needs to lay out exactly how they are choosing which students and schools they serve, what they provide in those field trips, and how much it costs taxpayers per child. The arrangement should be handled the same way MCPS handles outsourcing any service. If there is no competition then they will get the contract. And I am confused. I expected Scott Joftus to take the teachers’ and administrators’ and SEIU staff’s “no confidence” votes more seriously. His decision to vote in Dr McKnight showed a lack of understanding of educators’ concerns and possible repercussions, including talented people leaving MCPS. I know he didn’t respond to all the teachers and principals who reached out to him prior to his vote, and I think he harmed KID by being on the board. I do think he’s ethical and smart, but I’m disappointed. He should have waited for the election rather than get appointed early. I think that will hurt him in the election. The appearance is that he was put on the board as a guaranteed vote for Dr. McKnight, which is unfortunate. I’m less concerned with his ability to be impartial on KID stuff. I wish he had been braver in his first months on the board. At least he’s not going to ban books or do crazy paranoid stuff to the curriculum if he wins, so there’s that.

Educator here. What do you have against Kid Museum? Kid Musuem was VERY transparent with costs. It's a grant. So Title 1 schools are served first. This has been around way before Joftus was on the board...so...not sure if you are paying attention or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. I believe that what KID offers is valuable, but it needs to lay out exactly how they are choosing which students and schools they serve, what they provide in those field trips, and how much it costs taxpayers per child. The arrangement should be handled the same way MCPS handles outsourcing any service. If there is no competition then they will get the contract. And I am confused. I expected Scott Joftus to take the teachers’ and administrators’ and SEIU staff’s “no confidence” votes more seriously. His decision to vote in Dr McKnight showed a lack of understanding of educators’ concerns and possible repercussions, including talented people leaving MCPS. I know he didn’t respond to all the teachers and principals who reached out to him prior to his vote, and I think he harmed KID by being on the board. I do think he’s ethical and smart, but I’m disappointed. He should have waited for the election rather than get appointed early. I think that will hurt him in the election. The appearance is that he was put on the board as a guaranteed vote for Dr. McKnight, which is unfortunate. I’m less concerned with his ability to be impartial on KID stuff. I wish he had been braver in his first months on the board. At least he’s not going to ban books or do crazy paranoid stuff to the curriculum if he wins, so there’s that.

Educator here. What do you have against Kid Museum? Kid Musuem was VERY transparent with costs. It's a grant. So Title 1 schools are served first. This has been around way before Joftus was on the board...so...not sure if you are paying attention or not.

As an educator, you should re-read my post. I specifically said I like KID and that that's not my issue.

[Anonymous]

I have an issue with it. Kid Museum is a PRIVATE COMPANY. WTF? Why is MCPS propping up this company (and apparenly only this company) up? $4M in federal covid money PLUS $2M and change? Get real. I'm for voting out all the sitting board members so we can focus on, oh, I don't know... basic public education, maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent and total outsider to all of this except for living in Scott Joftus’s district, regardless whether this is all above board, legal and ethical, the appearance looks like banana republic type stuff. And this is the kind of stuff that eroded public confidence in institutions.

Im sure he and his wife are great people, but this situation should never have been allowed and it reflects poorly on the Board chair.

It really doesn't. The guy disclosed his conflicts of interest before starting this job and recused himself from any decision involving the kids museum. It was completely above board. This is just the usual drummed-up faux outrage to push some far-right agenda by a few unhinged uber Karens.

Disclosure doesn’t make it okay. Why don’t you get that?

The appearance of conflicts and back dealing is the problem. Doesn’t matter if he followed proper procedures.

Well, of course it matters that he followed proper procedures. But I think Rebecca Smondrowski agrees with you about the appearance of conflicts and that's why she voted against the contract.

You really should take some ethics training. Things can be both legal and wrong with the effect of undermining faith in institutions. Aggressive use of the tax code to get favorable tax treatment is a great example. There is an expectation of higher standards from someone in a position of public trust. Unfortunately Mr, Joftus has been found wanting. I have nothing against the guy, but it’s his choices which is why he’s going to get voted off his appointed board seat as the incumbent.

By whom, the DCUM Board of Ethics? The actual ethics panel with discretion over BOE members did not find him "wanting."

Birds of a feather?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an issue with it. Kid Museum is a PRIVATE COMPANY. WTF? Why is MCPS propping up this company (and apparenly only this company) up? $4M in federal covid money PLUS $2M and change? Get real. I'm for voting out all the sitting board members so we can focus on, oh, I don't know... basic public education, maybe?

I thought it was a non-profit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Ya, if it's a sole source, so not much can be done. . What I'd like to know is when does the contract expire? At that point, they should open it up to other bidders.

It's not sole source. It's single source. That means MCPS knows there are other companies that can do the same thing and they are ignoring them. That's single source.
There's no contract. Nothing is in writing.

They could open it up to other bidders this week, but why bother? Discriminating against businesses is accepted in MoCo.

There's so much faux outrage in fiction in this thread I just can't accept these things on your word. Can you substantiate these accusations with a citation from any credible source?

Is the Board of Education meeting yesterday credible enough for you? Watch the discussion.

Got it. You got nothing...

If you don't consider a Board of Education meeting agenda item discussing a procurement a credible source for information about the procurement that what would you consider a credible source? Donald Trump?

This whole discussion is about a Board of Education vote. The discussion at the meeting yesterday is the meat of this thread. Why would you claim to care about this topic yet be unable to view the actual Board of Education discussion to hear for yourself what was said?

On the contrary, everything meeting was completely by the book and above board so basically you got nothing.

Exactly, just more crazy whinging about nothing. Jofus had disclosed his conflicts before starting the job and recused himself from this so whole lot of nothing here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Ya, if it's a sole source, so not much can be done. . What I'd like to know is when does the contract expire? At that point, they should open it up to other bidders.

It's not sole source. It's single source. That means MCPS knows there are other companies that can do the same thing and they are ignoring them. That's single source.
There's no contract. Nothing is in writing.

They could open it up to other bidders this week, but why bother? Discriminating against businesses is accepted in MoCo.

There's so much faux outrage in fiction in this thread I just can't accept these things on your word. Can you substantiate these accusations with a citation from any credible source?

Is the Board of Education meeting yesterday credible enough for you? Watch the discussion.

Got it. You got nothing...

If you don't consider a Board of Education meeting agenda item discussing a procurement a credible source for information about the procurement that what would you consider a credible source? Donald Trump?

This whole discussion is about a Board of Education vote. The discussion at the meeting yesterday is the meat of this thread. Why would you claim to care about this topic yet be unable to view the actual Board of Education discussion to hear for yourself what was said?

On the contrary, everything meeting was completely by the book and above board so basically you got nothing.

Exactly, just more crazy whinging about nothing. Jofus had disclosed his conflicts before starting the job and recused himself from this so whole lot of nothing here.

His name is Joftus and he never disclosed this conflict of interest when he applied to be appointed to replace Pat O'Neill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. I believe that what KID offers is valuable, but it needs to lay out exactly how they are choosing which students and schools they serve, what they provide in those field trips, and how much it costs taxpayers per child. The arrangement should be handled the same way MCPS handles outsourcing any service. If there is no competition then they will get the contract. And I am confused. I expected Scott Joftus to take the teachers’ and administrators’ and SEIU staff’s “no confidence” votes more seriously. His decision to vote in Dr McKnight showed a lack of understanding of educators’ concerns and possible repercussions, including talented people leaving MCPS. I know he didn’t respond to all the teachers and principals who reached out to him prior to his vote, and I think he harmed KID by being on the board. I do think he’s ethical and smart, but I’m disappointed. He should have waited for the election rather than get appointed early. I think that will hurt him in the election. The appearance is that he was put on the board as a guaranteed vote for Dr. McKnight, which is unfortunate. I’m less concerned with his ability to be impartial on KID stuff. I wish he had been braver in his first months on the board. At least he’s not going to ban books or do crazy paranoid stuff to the curriculum if he wins, so there’s that.

Educator here. What do you have against Kid Museum? Kid Musuem was VERY transparent with costs. It's a grant. So Title 1 schools are served first. This has been around way before Joftus was on the board...so...not sure if you are paying attention or not.

As an educator, you should re-read my post. I specifically said I like KID and that that's not my issue.

Ok Karen - I don't think you really part of MCPS. Kid Museum has not been harmed. As an educator, stick to teaching.

[Anonymous]

Whole lotta anti-Joftus campaigning going on in these threads.

[Anonymous]

"anti-Joftus campaigning"? Non-profit? What exactly does "educator" mean? Are you an actual teacher with MCPS at an ES, MS, HS? Or are you just some hired hack or maybe even someone who personally benefitted from the transaction?

https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/kid-museum,454070908/

Kid Museum scraped by at 1.4M in donations through 2019. Now, all of a sudden, it gets a windfall of 4M of federal government covid grant money, plus a cool 2M cherry on top from the board?