June 11 BOE meeting in progress

[Anonymous]

Does this BOE followup on items brought to their attention today, e.g. narcan training, racist incident etc? We know a lot was talked about mva but what about the other issues from today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does this BOE followup on items brought to their attention today, e.g. narcan training, racist incident etc? We know a lot was talked about mva but what about the other issues from today?

That's really insensitive to the parents who now have to send their kids to real schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this BOE followup on items brought to their attention today, e.g. narcan training, racist incident etc? We know a lot was talked about mva but what about the other issues from today?

That's really insensitive to the parents who now have to send their kids to real schools.

You really need to get your mental health checked and an evaluation for a personality disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did kids with all these medical issues and therefore couldn't attend school do before the pandemic/virtual academy? And why can't we go back to that?

Move forward, not back. Read more, folks. Things are not "going back". Move all of society forward not pull back. Allow those who use MVA because of medical reasons to continue doing so (they will have medical docs to show you). For others, a hybrid program. Too many needs not "enough" money.

They could have done that, but it would have required effort 2-3 years ago. There simply aren't enough kids with medical issues requiring virtual instruction to operate MVA at a county level. Supporters could have spent the last two years lobbying for a state-level program, but many were actively hostile to the idea. What happened today was the inevitable result.

MCPS PR enters the chat. Rule #1: Always blame parents for incompetent MCPS administrators.

MVA supporters have been told for years that MVA wasn't likely to survive the end of ESSER funds.

That's not what we were told. If you watched the BOE meetings, they were always saying they plan to continue it, and look for ways to expand it. In March they promised to fully fund it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS kids aren't too happy either that they have to pay $350 for a bogus with a capital B health summer course!

If they don't like it, then take Health during the regular school year.

And lose out on the possibilty of a music scholarship? Are you going to fund kid's music education? Jerk.

LOL. $350 is a lot cheaper than the application fees and private coach you're planning to hire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this meeting now over? What were the key takeaways from today's meeting?

Courtney and Sterling are crying.

There are kids with serious health and mental health issues in the MVA. It may be a joke to you but your jokes are not funny, and downright cruel and disrespectful to those kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did kids with all these medical issues and therefore couldn't attend school do before the pandemic/virtual academy? And why can't we go back to that?

Move forward, not back. Read more, folks. Things are not "going back". Move all of society forward not pull back. Allow those who use MVA because of medical reasons to continue doing so (they will have medical docs to show you). For others, a hybrid program. Too many needs not "enough" money.

They could have done that, but it would have required effort 2-3 years ago. There simply aren't enough kids with medical issues requiring virtual instruction to operate MVA at a county level. Supporters could have spent the last two years lobbying for a state-level program, but many were actively hostile to the idea. What happened today was the inevitable result.

MCPS PR enters the chat. Rule #1: Always blame parents for incompetent MCPS administrators.

MVA supporters have been told for years that MVA wasn't likely to survive the end of ESSER funds.

But back in Feb, they were told mVa would stay. So they removed MVA because money was lost researching a failed bus tracking app? Please don't answer that question!!!

Back when they passed a budget proposal knowing that would need significant, additional cuts? What did you think they were going to cut?

In any event, it was too late to save virtual at that point. Why weren't you approaching your state delegates and senators years ago with the same level of energy you displayed over the last week?

The MVA wasn't notified till recently of the cuts. Parents did get into action and go to state delegates and senators who pledged support. In March, they promised to fund it so parents and staff counted on them to honor their promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smondrowski is asking about requesting a supplemental budget increase in July from the County Council to fund the MVA once the budget process closed. Good news but bad news is that I’m not sure MCPS or the MVA would benefit from the scrutiny that the Council would bring on such a one-off, specific request.

Mva scores are good. They would no share them because then they could not justify the shut down.

What a strange conspiracy theory. Why do you think MCPS and the BoE are out to get you?

What is strange about wanting a public school system funded with public tax dollars to be transparent in their actions?

Would you prefer a King who makes pronouncements from a throne?

I certainly agree with the call for transparency, but you're accusing MCPS of suppressing data on MVA for the express purpose of terminating MVA under false pretenses. Why would you think that? What do you think their motives are?

Yes, they suppressed data. Did you see or hear of any data from last year or this year? Have you ever heard there was a waitlist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

Virtual programs had been discussed as a possibility in the past, but it is an overstatement to say one was "in the works."

Different models have been attempted. Outside of MCPS, my high school tried doing classes over video conferencing between schools to provide additional courses, but it didn't work well and was abandoned after a few years.

One already existed.

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/why-online-school-31145/

MCPS still has IIS.

They didn't get an education and now will not again. IIS is not comparable. Its a few hours of tutoring a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

Virtual programs had been discussed as a possibility in the past, but it is an overstatement to say one was "in the works."

Different models have been attempted. Outside of MCPS, my high school tried doing classes over video conferencing between schools to provide additional courses, but it didn't work well and was abandoned after a few years.

One already existed.

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/why-online-school-31145/

MCPS still has IIS.

They didn't get an education and now will not again. IIS is not comparable. Its a few hours of tutoring a week.

Which is enough to keep a student from getting too far behind until they're able to return to class.

[Anonymous]

I personally think it would make a lot more sense for the state to run a MvA program that could then have more options and more cost efficiency. But I can’t imagine McPS is actually going to save anything cutting it as they will end up in endless litigation with many of the families over USPS and accommodations and private placements. I’m surprised there is not a private vendor offering this that the county can contract with and potentially save money that way. For HE students, many of the courses can be taken at virtual colleges — I know home school kids that do a lot of their work this way. I would think there would be a virtual K-8 private school that McPS could pay for as a SN placement, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did kids with all these medical issues and therefore couldn't attend school do before the pandemic/virtual academy? And why can't we go back to that?

Move forward, not back. Read more, folks. Things are not "going back". Move all of society forward not pull back. Allow those who use MVA because of medical reasons to continue doing so (they will have medical docs to show you). For others, a hybrid program. Too many needs not "enough" money.

They could have done that, but it would have required effort 2-3 years ago. There simply aren't enough kids with medical issues requiring virtual instruction to operate MVA at a county level. Supporters could have spent the last two years lobbying for a state-level program, but many were actively hostile to the idea. What happened today was the inevitable result.

MCPS PR enters the chat. Rule #1: Always blame parents for incompetent MCPS administrators.

MVA supporters have been told for years that MVA wasn't likely to survive the end of ESSER funds.

That's not what we were told. If you watched the BOE meetings, they were always saying they plan to continue it, and look for ways to expand it. In March they promised to fully fund it.

You have selective hearing. They never identified an alternative source of funding to backfill the loss of ESSER. If the closure of MVA came as a surprise to you, then you haven't been paying attention over the last three years. You have no one to blame but yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

Virtual programs had been discussed as a possibility in the past, but it is an overstatement to say one was "in the works."

Different models have been attempted. Outside of MCPS, my high school tried doing classes over video conferencing between schools to provide additional courses, but it didn't work well and was abandoned after a few years.

One already existed.

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/why-online-school-31145/

MCPS still has IIS.

They didn't get an education and now will not again. IIS is not comparable. Its a few hours of tutoring a week.

Which is enough to keep a student from getting too far behind until they're able to return to class.

Love it when random people come on here and blow hard about something they obviously don’t know anything about. 🙄. You all look and sound like absolute fools about this virtual program. So bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smondrowski is asking about requesting a supplemental budget increase in July from the County Council to fund the MVA once the budget process closed. Good news but bad news is that I’m not sure MCPS or the MVA would benefit from the scrutiny that the Council would bring on such a one-off, specific request.

Mva scores are good. They would no share them because then they could not justify the shut down.

What a strange conspiracy theory. Why do you think MCPS and the BoE are out to get you?

What is strange about wanting a public school system funded with public tax dollars to be transparent in their actions?

Would you prefer a King who makes pronouncements from a throne?

I certainly agree with the call for transparency, but you're accusing MCPS of suppressing data on MVA for the express purpose of terminating MVA under false pretenses. Why would you think that? What do you think their motives are?

Yes, they suppressed data. Did you see or hear of any data from last year or this year? Have you ever heard there was a waitlist?

There was a waitlist, yet there were 36 kids spread across 3 first grade teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

Virtual programs had been discussed as a possibility in the past, but it is an overstatement to say one was "in the works."

Different models have been attempted. Outside of MCPS, my high school tried doing classes over video conferencing between schools to provide additional courses, but it didn't work well and was abandoned after a few years.

One already existed.

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/why-online-school-31145/

MCPS still has IIS.

They didn't get an education and now will not again. IIS is not comparable. Its a few hours of tutoring a week.

Which is enough to keep a student from getting too far behind until they're able to return to class.

No, it's not enough. That is the problem. Are you even familiar with the program?