8/20 2024 BOE meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

The idea isn't to pay them on top of a primary job, it's to expect that being on the BOE would be their primary, if not only, job. The idea of having competent oversight of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise on a part-time or volunteer basis is a joke. They'd all come from one of the 4 categories mentioned. Why do you think it's such a mess?

That would only work if they quit their other jobs, which is doubtful. I think its a mess as they aren't financial folks and they allow their personal bias and friends/employers to take advantage of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

Most nonprofit boards are volunteers, but most corporate boards are not.

The reason most nonprofit boards are run by volunteers is because they're run by wealthy, privileged people who can afford to give their time for free.

You cannot compare coporate to government or non-profit. This is more of a non-profit. If they cannot afford to live on the stipend, don't take the job. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

Most nonprofit boards are volunteers, but most corporate boards are not.

The reason most nonprofit boards are run by volunteers is because they're run by wealthy, privileged people who can afford to give their time for free.

And those aren't the people you want representing working families.

There is a huge disconnect between the BOE and the students/families/staff they represent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

Most nonprofit boards are volunteers, but most corporate boards are not.

The reason most nonprofit boards are run by volunteers is because they're run by wealthy, privileged people who can afford to give their time for free.

You cannot compare coporate to government or non-profit. This is more of a non-profit. If they cannot afford to live on the stipend, don't take the job. Simple.

Or we can decide to change a structure that privileges the privileged and a make a job that comes with a livable wage so that anyone can afford to do the work and still sustain themselves and their family?

It's strange that you see the only path forward as the status quo where we expect people to spend full-time hours but officially be deemed part-timers, to oversee a $3 billion+ organization for a stipend and on a part-time basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

The idea isn't to pay them on top of a primary job, it's to expect that being on the BOE would be their primary, if not only, job. The idea of having competent oversight of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise on a part-time or volunteer basis is a joke. They'd all come from one of the 4 categories mentioned. Why do you think it's such a mess?

That would only work if they quit their other jobs, which is doubtful. I think its a mess as they aren't financial folks and they allow their personal bias and friends/employers to take advantage of them.

I think you might mistake the suggestion that BOE members be paid a salary commensurate with our expectation of their compentency and of their time commitment as a suggestion that these BOE members be paid that much. Some of them might, if they won an election against the array of competent (likely much more so, from a financial/managerial perspective) opponents who threw their hat in the ring once a realistic compensation was offered (and understanding the expectation of professional levels of effort -- full time or more, as likely would be needed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

Most nonprofit boards are volunteers, but most corporate boards are not.

The reason most nonprofit boards are run by volunteers is because they're run by wealthy, privileged people who can afford to give their time for free.

You cannot compare coporate to government or non-profit. This is more of a non-profit. If they cannot afford to live on the stipend, don't take the job. Simple.

Or we can decide to change a structure that privileges the privileged and a make a job that comes with a livable wage so that anyone can afford to do the work and still sustain themselves and their family?

It's strange that you see the only path forward as the status quo where we expect people to spend full-time hours but officially be deemed part-timers, to oversee a $3 billion+ organization for a stipend and on a part-time basis.

Most of these BOE are not going to quit their full time job. You could pay $60-65K a year but not $180K. That shows a huge disrespect for the staff at MCPS, some like the bus drivers and para's who basically make minimum wage. How about paying them more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

The idea isn't to pay them on top of a primary job, it's to expect that being on the BOE would be their primary, if not only, job. The idea of having competent oversight of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise on a part-time or volunteer basis is a joke. They'd all come from one of the 4 categories mentioned. Why do you think it's such a mess?

That would only work if they quit their other jobs, which is doubtful. I think its a mess as they aren't financial folks and they allow their personal bias and friends/employers to take advantage of them.

I think you might mistake the suggestion that BOE members be paid a salary commensurate with our expectation of their compentency and of their time commitment as a suggestion that these BOE members be paid that much. Some of them might, if they won an election against the array of competent (likely much more so, from a financial/managerial perspective) opponents who threw their hat in the ring once a realistic compensation was offered (and understanding the expectation of professional levels of effort -- full time or more, as likely would be needed).

Anyone who is truely tallented wlll want $200-600K, and the point of boards is not to have paid positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

Most nonprofit boards are volunteers, but most corporate boards are not.

The reason most nonprofit boards are run by volunteers is because they're run by wealthy, privileged people who can afford to give their time for free.

And those aren't the people you want representing working families.

There is a huge disconnect between the BOE and the students/families/staff they represent.

That's the ideologue BOE contingent in action, there. Maybe with some time constraint from needing alternate income limiting constiuent interaction thrown in for good measure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

Most nonprofit boards are volunteers, but most corporate boards are not.

The reason most nonprofit boards are run by volunteers is because they're run by wealthy, privileged people who can afford to give their time for free.

You cannot compare coporate to government or non-profit. This is more of a non-profit. If they cannot afford to live on the stipend, don't take the job. Simple.

Or we can decide to change a structure that privileges the privileged and a make a job that comes with a livable wage so that anyone can afford to do the work and still sustain themselves and their family?

It's strange that you see the only path forward as the status quo where we expect people to spend full-time hours but officially be deemed part-timers, to oversee a $3 billion+ organization for a stipend and on a part-time basis.

Most of these BOE are not going to quit their full time job. You could pay $60-65K a year but not $180K. That shows a huge disrespect for the staff at MCPS, some like the bus drivers and para's who basically make minimum wage. How about paying them more?

So who do you expect to do a full-time+ job overseeing a $3 billion job for $60K that is competent, talented and capable?

The only people who can afford to do that are those who come from wealth and/or those who have a partner who shoulders the bulk of the household bills. That's what you think is best?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

The idea isn't to pay them on top of a primary job, it's to expect that being on the BOE would be their primary, if not only, job. The idea of having competent oversight of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise on a part-time or volunteer basis is a joke. They'd all come from one of the 4 categories mentioned. Why do you think it's such a mess?

That would only work if they quit their other jobs, which is doubtful. I think its a mess as they aren't financial folks and they allow their personal bias and friends/employers to take advantage of them.

I think you might mistake the suggestion that BOE members be paid a salary commensurate with our expectation of their compentency and of their time commitment as a suggestion that these BOE members be paid that much. Some of them might, if they won an election against the array of competent (likely much more so, from a financial/managerial perspective) opponents who threw their hat in the ring once a realistic compensation was offered (and understanding the expectation of professional levels of effort -- full time or more, as likely would be needed).

Anyone who is truely tallented wlll want $200-600K, and the point of boards is not to have paid positions.

The point of boards is to provide oversight & guidance. If you want good oversight & guidance, why do you not expect to pay for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

The idea isn't to pay them on top of a primary job, it's to expect that being on the BOE would be their primary, if not only, job. The idea of having competent oversight of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise on a part-time or volunteer basis is a joke. They'd all come from one of the 4 categories mentioned. Why do you think it's such a mess?

That would only work if they quit their other jobs, which is doubtful. I think its a mess as they aren't financial folks and they allow their personal bias and friends/employers to take advantage of them.

I think you might mistake the suggestion that BOE members be paid a salary commensurate with our expectation of their compentency and of their time commitment as a suggestion that these BOE members be paid that much. Some of them might, if they won an election against the array of competent (likely much more so, from a financial/managerial perspective) opponents who threw their hat in the ring once a realistic compensation was offered (and understanding the expectation of professional levels of effort -- full time or more, as likely would be needed).

Anyone who is truely tallented wlll want $200-600K, and the point of boards is not to have paid positions.

How about we just match the BOE members' salaries to be in line with the County Councilmembers? Those folks don't get paid $200-$600k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

Most nonprofit boards are volunteers, but most corporate boards are not.

The reason most nonprofit boards are run by volunteers is because they're run by wealthy, privileged people who can afford to give their time for free.

You cannot compare coporate to government or non-profit. This is more of a non-profit. If they cannot afford to live on the stipend, don't take the job. Simple.

Or we can decide to change a structure that privileges the privileged and a make a job that comes with a livable wage so that anyone can afford to do the work and still sustain themselves and their family?

It's strange that you see the only path forward as the status quo where we expect people to spend full-time hours but officially be deemed part-timers, to oversee a $3 billion+ organization for a stipend and on a part-time basis.

Most of these BOE are not going to quit their full time job. You could pay $60-65K a year but not $180K. That shows a huge disrespect for the staff at MCPS, some like the bus drivers and para's who basically make minimum wage. How about paying them more?

Again, it's not for this BOE at current levels of effort. Its to get people who are highly capable to provide the representation, oversight and guidance to the school system to do so at the levels of effort (i.e., professional/full-time+, and without another "real" job on the side) that would be needed to be effective for an enterprise with tens of thousands of employees, hundreds of thousands of direct stakeholders and billions of dollars in budget.

The kind of oversight that might lead to better management of funding...that might lead to greater confidence in providing adequate funding from the county council...that might lead to more reasonable pay for teachers, paras, bus drivers, maintenance workers, cafeteria workers -- all the people who keep this highly essential public service running but who, in this country, have routinely been underpaid versus the value they provide.

If you took the $1M or so needed -- heck, call it $2M and throw in a reasonable direct support staff -- and spread that out instead over 20K teachers and others not in principal positions or upper central management, you'd only be giving each $100. Do you think there isn't that much waste that a BOE with reasonably high competencies and full-time, main-job (preferably only-job) levels of effort could eliminate in favor of better pay?

Separately, but perhaps related, I would imagine that the union leaders might not want such capable oversight with whom they might have to contend. On the other hand, that depends a lot on how adverserial they may see things -- one often can do much better overall if both sides bring competency to the table.

[Anonymous]

If the BOE managed the money properly there would be enough to fund all the things MCPS cut and pay the lower paid workers a more reasonable salary and be fully staffed. Paying the BOE more isn't going to fix the problem and have them do a better job. Nice thought though. And, $100 for someone on minimum wage can be a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably will hear from many many heartbroken and disappointed mva families.

MVA will be at each and every BOE meeting until the MVA is restored. But, otherwise nothing will come of the BOE meeting. The BOE is a joke.

I don't know why the BOE is still allowing MVA testimonies when they clearly have the ability to screen and filter out testimonies based on topics that aren't on the BOE's agenda for that meeting.

Why screen it? MVA famlies have a right to speak and will continue.

They've already spoken. Now they're just wasting everyone's time.

They are working on funding for next school year. They can easily reopen it. Its not a waste of time if its important to them. Why are you so hateful and bitter to the MVA? What experience do you have with it?

They're not. The BoE and council had opportunities to fund it, and they chose not to. The budget situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. If Courtney and Sterling were serious about finding a long-term solution to virtual school, they'd be lobbying the state to create a program, rather than continuing to whine to the people that already told them no.

Even if the state created a program, MCPS would have to pay for it. Are you really that clueless? All the state can do is approve a private program, which will cost more than the MVA. Why the obsession with the state doing it? States only approve programs, they do not run programs.

But two BOE members are virtual because they want that option.

That's intereting isn't it. They also are known to work virtually regularly. But, some are working two jobs, not sure how they can work full time, lets say at MC and the BOE. More interesting given they are working full-time at another job, they are asking for a pay raise.

If you don't effectively compensate elected representatives for their time, you get one of these as candidates:

1) Wealthy socialites who don't need compensation
2) Folks whose alternate employment opportunities are limited to at or near minimum wage
3) Ideologues willing to sacrifice financially to push their agenda
4) Folks that will spend the absolute minimum time on the job

If you want highly capable representatives spending the more-than-full-time needed to do this job well (it covers 200+ schools and a multi-billion-dollar budget), then you need to offer commensurate compensation, say the equivalent of a GS-14 step 6 or so with the locality adjustment for this area -- somewhere north of $160k. Then you can expect them not to have other jobs.

Its a huge conflict of interest when one works for MC, and clearly cannot be working 40 hours with all her duties. It would be ok paying them a salary if that was their only job but its not ok they are double dipping. Most board jobs are volunteer. Paying them $160K would not be ok when thats way more than an average teacher. Most don't have any educational background or training specific to this job. And, we don't need to pay them that much to muck things up.

The idea isn't to pay them on top of a primary job, it's to expect that being on the BOE would be their primary, if not only, job. The idea of having competent oversight of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise on a part-time or volunteer basis is a joke. They'd all come from one of the 4 categories mentioned. Why do you think it's such a mess?

That would only work if they quit their other jobs, which is doubtful. I think its a mess as they aren't financial folks and they allow their personal bias and friends/employers to take advantage of them.

I think you might mistake the suggestion that BOE members be paid a salary commensurate with our expectation of their compentency and of their time commitment as a suggestion that these BOE members be paid that much. Some of them might, if they won an election against the array of competent (likely much more so, from a financial/managerial perspective) opponents who threw their hat in the ring once a realistic compensation was offered (and understanding the expectation of professional levels of effort -- full time or more, as likely would be needed).

Anyone who is truely tallented wlll want $200-600K, and the point of boards is not to have paid positions.

The point of boards is to provide oversight & guidance. If you want good oversight & guidance, why do you not expect to pay for it?

Because we have central office who are paid oversight. The board is supposed to be a check and balances and they get a stipend, its not a paid job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the BOE managed the money properly there would be enough to fund all the things MCPS cut and pay the lower paid workers a more reasonable salary and be fully staffed. Paying the BOE more isn't going to fix the problem and have them do a better job. Nice thought though. And, $100 for someone on minimum wage can be a lot.

You presume that better BOE members attracted by reasonable compensation and working on the matter full time would not result in more effective management. I disagree.

While I agree that $100 is not nothing, I would expect more than that to be available as a result of the more effective management.