2/22/24 BOE meeting

[Anonymous]

Looking for the list of bills Patricia Ursprung, Coordinator of Legislative Affairs presented and how this Board voted today at the BOE meeting. Any other highlights?

[Anonymous]

A few were

HB 137 (mcps BOE voted to support)
HB 791 (" " opposed)
HB1084 (" " opposed)
HB 1442 (opposed)
1426 (support)
522 (oppose)

[Anonymous]

I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

Well, it wasn't on the agenda. It only came up because several people raised it during their public comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

I thought the feds changed the demographics but I could be wrong. Or, with housing prices climbing and those schools are the only affordable housing left, maybe the demographics are changing in those areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

Well, it wasn't on the agenda. It only came up because several people raised it during their public comments.

Yes, after months of raising it in working sessions and in testimony at other meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

I thought the feds changed the demographics but I could be wrong. Or, with housing prices climbing and those schools are the only affordable housing left, maybe the demographics are changing in those areas.

It was a combination of a lot of things. One being demographics of the county, another being how the feds measure it. But MCPS also switched a part of its methodology too. It’s admittedly complicated but it was shocking that no one could explain it well and that none of the BOE members had taken the time before to understand it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

Well, it wasn't on the agenda. It only came up because several people raised it during their public comments.

Yes, after months of raising it in working sessions and in testimony at other meetings.

The changes to which schools would qualify were only recently announced though. I can see why that would be the call to action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

The level of questioning needed to get details is usually lacking. Don't blame the BOE members they are way in over their heads. Or they have some sort of deal with mcps - we'll act like we are asking some questions and you give us answers that make it seem like we're all doing our jobs. We need skilled people on BOE. The job requires more work. Unfortunately we don't seem to have any new candidates worth voting for this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

Agreed. The level of confusion and incompetence on something that everyone should have been an expert on was embarrassing. Our school system appears to be run by nincompoops.

[Anonymous]

Esther Wells always gives abit of a run down on twitter https://twitter.com/EstherLWells/status/1760793613632442379

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Esther Wells always gives abit of a run down on twitter https://twitter.com/EstherLWells/status/1760793613632442379

I wouldn't trust Esther Wells to tell me if it's raining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I wouldn't trust Esther Wells to tell me if it's raining.

Bless your heart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Esther Wells always gives abit of a run down on twitter https://twitter.com/EstherLWells/status/1760793613632442379

I wouldn't trust Esther Wells to tell me if it's raining.

No worries. Trump can tell he is still president and you believe him. Enjoy your dementia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it shocking how confused the BOE was about how Title I schools are designated and why some schools this year saw big shifts in their status (some losing Title I classification after having it for years). It was embarrassing how little they knew and how poorly staff explained it to them. It almost seems like MCPS staff was trying to hide something but the BOE was so ill equipped on the issue that they all just stammered around the issue and asked for follow up briefings. For an issue as big as this one, you’d think they’d have those briefings first and then be ready at the meeting.

I don’t even have a dog in the fight but it was honestly shocking how such an important issue just flies right over their heads

I thought the feds changed the demographics but I could be wrong. Or, with housing prices climbing and those schools are the only affordable housing left, maybe the demographics are changing in those areas.

The feds changed how certain extremely high-poverty schools qualify for free and reduced meals. Essentially, rather than having families fill out individual eligibility forms, it makes more sense to look at the school community as a whole and just offer free meals to every student in schools where a certain percentage of kids receive SNAP.

That's good. No complaints about that - it reduces paperwork, saves resources, and ensures that kids whose families are reluctant to engage with paperwork are able to eat two meals a day at school.

The problem is MCPS. Since those highest needs schools were no longer collecting individual FARMS forms, MCPS decided to *also* use the SNAP data to determine how they allocate Title I funds. Literally anyone who regularly engages with poor/working class communities could have told you why that was a bad idea. Not only is the process of applying for SNAP complicated, and not only does it require interaction with state authorities, but undocumented immigrants are not eligible.

So, in schools with a lot of mixed-status families (like Oak View), you are going to have many fewer families that receive SNAP than who would have received FARMS.

I don't want to get into a whole thing about undocumented immigrants and benefits, but this was absolutely predictable. A school like Oak View has large number of families with US citizen kids and undocumented parents. We want those kids to have access to services, because it helps them become more integrated members of our shared community. Stripping the school of those supports does nobody any good.