MOCO BOE update: Beidleman Report summary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

He was the only one. I don't know if that is because he resigned or if he was fired.

Someone in this thread said it was because he resigned. So who knows. The others were put on admin leave, which suggests that wasn't their choice. I think that's the case for Beidleman as well, but again, would be good if MCPS spoke clearly and directly about this.

I also don't know if the investigations against him have been reopened and are being pursued again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

He was the only one. I don't know if that is because he resigned or if he was fired.

Someone in this thread said it was because he resigned. So who knows. The others were put on admin leave, which suggests that wasn't their choice. I think that's the case for Beidleman as well, but again, would be good if MCPS spoke clearly and directly about this.

I also don't know if the investigations against him have been reopened and are being pursued again?

The MoCo inspector general has two investigations ongoing now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

He was the only one. I don't know if that is because he resigned or if he was fired.

Someone in this thread said it was because he resigned. So who knows. The others were put on admin leave, which suggests that wasn't their choice. I think that's the case for Beidleman as well, but again, would be good if MCPS spoke clearly and directly about this.

I also don't know if the investigations against him have been reopened and are being pursued again?

The MoCo inspector general has two investigations ongoing now.

I thought the IG investigations were going into how MCPS handled the investigations against Beidleman, which MCPS determined had no merit or finding?

The IG doesn't have the jurisdiction to resume that investigation. It's tasked with measuring the performance and accountability of government agencies, not doing their jobs for them. So MCPS's DCI would have to resume the investigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

He was the only one. I don't know if that is because he resigned or if he was fired.

Someone in this thread said it was because he resigned. So who knows. The others were put on admin leave, which suggests that wasn't their choice. I think that's the case for Beidleman as well, but again, would be good if MCPS spoke clearly and directly about this.

I also don't know if the investigations against him have been reopened and are being pursued again?

The MoCo inspector general has two investigations ongoing now.

I thought the IG investigations were going into how MCPS handled the investigations against Beidleman, which MCPS determined had no merit or finding?

The IG doesn't have the jurisdiction to resume that investigation. It's tasked with measuring the performance and accountability of government agencies, not doing their jobs for them. So MCPS's DCI would have to resume the investigation.

This is what the IG wrote:

"...the Office of the Inspector General is opening two engagements related to allegations against Dr. Joel Beidleman and Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) handling of misconduct complaints. The first engagement is a review of MCPS’s process for receiving and responding to allegations of misconduct against school system employees. Through this review we will assess whether MCPS has effective procedures for the receipt, assignment, investigation, referral, resolution, documentation and retention of allegations of misconduct by its employees. The second engagement is an investigation into all allegations of misconduct by Dr. Beidleman that have been received since July 2023 as well as any previous allegations that were not yet investigated."

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/09/21/county-inspector-general-kicks-off-two-investigations-of-mcps/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

Names and titles are not protected personnel records exempt from disclosure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

He was the only one. I don't know if that is because he resigned or if he was fired.

Someone in this thread said it was because he resigned. So who knows. The others were put on admin leave, which suggests that wasn't their choice. I think that's the case for Beidleman as well, but again, would be good if MCPS spoke clearly and directly about this.

I also don't know if the investigations against him have been reopened and are being pursued again?

The MoCo inspector general has two investigations ongoing now.

I thought the IG investigations were going into how MCPS handled the investigations against Beidleman, which MCPS determined had no merit or finding?

The IG doesn't have the jurisdiction to resume that investigation. It's tasked with measuring the performance and accountability of government agencies, not doing their jobs for them. So MCPS's DCI would have to resume the investigation.

This is what the IG wrote:

"...the Office of the Inspector General is opening two engagements related to allegations against Dr. Joel Beidleman and Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) handling of misconduct complaints. The first engagement is a review of MCPS’s process for receiving and responding to allegations of misconduct against school system employees. Through this review we will assess whether MCPS has effective procedures for the receipt, assignment, investigation, referral, resolution, documentation and retention of allegations of misconduct by its employees. The second engagement is an investigation into all allegations of misconduct by Dr. Beidleman that have been received since July 2023 as well as any previous allegations that were not yet investigated."

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/09/21/county-inspector-general-kicks-off-two-investigations-of-mcps/

It’s never been clear to me whether the first investigation is just a review of the procedures more a more expansive probe into whether the procedures were followed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Joel Biedleman still employed by MCPS?

Would be good if Nicole and Alexandria could confirm this, but MCPS deflects and punts on any and all personnel decisions. So it'd have to be someone on the inside leaking this information.

Except MCPS did confirm that Murphy is no longer working there.

He was the only one. I don't know if that is because he resigned or if he was fired.

Someone in this thread said it was because he resigned. So who knows. The others were put on admin leave, which suggests that wasn't their choice. I think that's the case for Beidleman as well, but again, would be good if MCPS spoke clearly and directly about this.

I also don't know if the investigations against him have been reopened and are being pursued again?

The MoCo inspector general has two investigations ongoing now.

I thought the IG investigations were going into how MCPS handled the investigations against Beidleman, which MCPS determined had no merit or finding?

The IG doesn't have the jurisdiction to resume that investigation. It's tasked with measuring the performance and accountability of government agencies, not doing their jobs for them. So MCPS's DCI would have to resume the investigation.

This is what the IG wrote:

"...the Office of the Inspector General is opening two engagements related to allegations against Dr. Joel Beidleman and Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) handling of misconduct complaints. The first engagement is a review of MCPS’s process for receiving and responding to allegations of misconduct against school system employees. Through this review we will assess whether MCPS has effective procedures for the receipt, assignment, investigation, referral, resolution, documentation and retention of allegations of misconduct by its employees. The second engagement is an investigation into all allegations of misconduct by Dr. Beidleman that have been received since July 2023 as well as any previous allegations that were not yet investigated."

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/09/21/county-inspector-general-kicks-off-two-investigations-of-mcps/

Got it. I stand corrected. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

MCPS changing its promotion process. Administrators under investigation can no longer be considered for a promotion.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/10/montgomery-co-schools-changes-promotion-process-after-former-principal-was-promoted-while-under-investigation/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS changing its promotion process. Administrators under investigation can no longer be considered for a promotion.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/10/montgomery-co-schools-changes-promotion-process-after-former-principal-was-promoted-while-under-investigation/

Oh good, they will just wait until they close the "investigation" and promote them afterwards. What a huge improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS changing its promotion process. Administrators under investigation can no longer be considered for a promotion.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/10/montgomery-co-schools-changes-promotion-process-after-former-principal-was-promoted-while-under-investigation/

Oh good, they will just wait until they close the "investigation" and promote them afterwards. What a huge improvement.

They really shouldn't be promoting someone under investigation or at all until they're exonerated so glad MCPS is correcting their policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS changing its promotion process. Administrators under investigation can no longer be considered for a promotion.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/10/montgomery-co-schools-changes-promotion-process-after-former-principal-was-promoted-while-under-investigation/

Oh good, they will just wait until they close the "investigation" and promote them afterwards. What a huge improvement.

Umm that is an improvement. Means that would need to be checked as part of the process and would help ensure people who have potentially done some inappropriate are not be rewarded and given more authority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS changing its promotion process. Administrators under investigation can no longer be considered for a promotion.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/10/montgomery-co-schools-changes-promotion-process-after-former-principal-was-promoted-while-under-investigation/

Oh good, they will just wait until they close the "investigation" and promote them afterwards. What a huge improvement.

Umm that is an improvement. Means that would need to be checked as part of the process and would help ensure people who have potentially done some inappropriate are not be rewarded and given more authority.

??? Where does it say they can not be promoted after an investigation? You made a big assumption in your comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS changing its promotion process. Administrators under investigation can no longer be considered for a promotion.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/10/montgomery-co-schools-changes-promotion-process-after-former-principal-was-promoted-while-under-investigation/

Oh good, they will just wait until they close the "investigation" and promote them afterwards. What a huge improvement.

Umm that is an improvement. Means that would need to be checked as part of the process and would help ensure people who have potentially done some inappropriate are not be rewarded and given more authority.

??? Where does it say they can not be promoted after an investigation? You made a big assumption in your comment.

+1 Biedleman would still have been promoted under this scenario.

[Anonymous]

County Exec Elrich is calling for more direct county control and oversight of MCPS in light of the Beidleman debacle.

SOURCE: https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/09/08/county-leaders-renew-push-for-oversight-on-education-spending/

A number of county leaders around the state say requirements to increase spending on education need to be coupled with greater authority for them to oversee that spending.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D), a former math teacher, said his relationship with his school system is sometimes frustrating and often relegates his role to being an ATM.

He and other county leaders are renewing a call for a larger role in overseeing how education dollars are spent.

“We do not have a truly cooperative, interactive relationship, at this point, but nobody does,” Elrich said. “Montgomery County is not unique. You’ll find these kinds of arguments all around the state between county governments and the local school boards. We’re like a money machine but we have no power in how the money gets tapped at some point.”

Education spending represents a large portion of county budgets. Montgomery County sends a total of $3 billion to its school system. In many counties, spending on education, including state aid, represents nearly half of the annual budget.

Implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a 10-year, multi-billion-dollar education reform plan, will require even more money from local governments.

“The county has no authority,” he said. “We can’t even, for example, look at a budget line item and say we don’t think you should do that program. We’re not going to fund that program and we want you to fund a different program. County has no ability to do that. We’re restricted to giving the school system the same amount of money that it had last year, adjusted for population growth and inflation. That’s our whopping authority over there.”