BoE--We voted for them

[Anonymous]

So many people are upset with the state of MCPS. From the boundary study, the new regional programs, the lack of resources, the lack of AP classes in certain schools, the lack of safety, and the list goes on. So why don't people do something about it. In East Ramapo, NY, the Haredi Jews won enough seats to change the way the school board operates. I don't agree with the changes that they made, but they wanted change and the majority came out and voted for those that would make the changes. It also required people to stand up and say -- I will run on our platform.

If we're all so upset with the changes MCPS is making, why does no one stand up and say I want change?

Why not me?---I want to get more involved. But honestly, I don't know how. I can attend a board meeting but with pre-vetted questions, it doesn't seem like much gets actually discussed at these sessions but rather it's more a public airing of what is coming. I don't have an education background and I've never been in a classroom as a teacher or even a sub. My resume for BoE member would be lacking in all areas except desire to fix what is broken.

[Anonymous]

I suspect it’s because the vast majority people who aren’t on DCUM are perfectly happy with the school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect it’s because the vast majority people who aren’t on DCUM are perfectly happy with the school system.

+1000

[Anonymous]

It's not so easy to entice qualified people to run when they'd only get paid a small stipend and would have to sit through 8-hour meetings, get thousands of angry emails, and have everyone hate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not so easy to entice qualified people to run when they'd only get paid a small stipend and would have to sit through 8-hour meetings, get thousands of angry emails, and have everyone hate them.

+1. It’s 25k a year to be a BoE member, for a role that is in reality more than full time and involves a lot of stress and responsibility and yes, people hating you for whatever decisions are made.

[Anonymous]

you've also seen what happens to candidates who don't tow the union line.
And anything counter to progressives gets run out of town

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect it’s because the vast majority people who aren’t on DCUM are perfectly happy with the school system.

+1000

They aren’t. They leave the County or enroll in private.

Parents don’t vote. The majority of voters do not have children in public school.

[Anonymous]

The BOE elections are just a litmus test for progressive orthodoxy. If you get the union approval you are in - with no vetting for competence or strategic vision.

The BOE has no concept of making things better- just under paid, over worked machine politicians there to keep money flowing to vested interests and keep ticking the virtue politics boxes!

I see no evidence at all they care one bit about student achievement - which I believe is the best way to achieve their stated diversity goals.

[Anonymous]

Everyone was hopeful when all incumbents (Lynne Harris, Rebecca Smondrowski and Shebra Evans) were pushed out of the BOE.

But Rita Montoya, Laura Stewart and Natalie Zimmerman have all been absolute flops who have failed to deliver on their campaign promises of increased transparency and accountability for MCPS. They almost immediately became part of the MCPS machine and have been chirpily toeing the party line and nauesatingly spending their time in BOE meetings thanking people for showing up to present or testify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you've also seen what happens to candidates who don't tow the union line.
And anything counter to progressives gets run out of town

Um the boundary study options and regional program model are positively MAGA

Their versions of "progressiveness" and "equity" are completely performative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone was hopeful when all incumbents (Lynne Harris, Rebecca Smondrowski and Shebra Evans) were pushed out of the BOE.

But Rita Montoya, Laura Stewart and Natalie Zimmerman have all been absolute flops who have failed to deliver on their campaign promises of increased transparency and accountability for MCPS. They almost immediately became part of the MCPS machine and have been chirpily toeing the party line and nauesatingly spending their time in BOE meetings thanking people for showing up to present or testify.

Agreed- it's disappointing. I thought we would finally see a shift but it's been more of the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many people are upset with the state of MCPS. From the boundary study, the new regional programs, the lack of resources, the lack of AP classes in certain schools, the lack of safety, and the list goes on. So why don't people do something about it. In East Ramapo, NY, the Haredi Jews won enough seats to change the way the school board operates. I don't agree with the changes that they made, but they wanted change and the majority came out and voted for those that would make the changes. It also required people to stand up and say -- I will run on our platform.

If we're all so upset with the changes MCPS is making, why does no one stand up and say I want change?

Why not me?---I want to get more involved. But honestly, I don't know how. I can attend a board meeting but with pre-vetted questions, it doesn't seem like much gets actually discussed at these sessions but rather it's more a public airing of what is coming. I don't have an education background and I've never been in a classroom as a teacher or even a sub. My resume for BoE member would be lacking in all areas except desire to fix what is broken.

Because it’s easier to complain, especially from behind a keyboard. Change requires actual work and most people shy away then.

You don’t have to be an educator to run for Booze. But you do need ideas and to understand how some of the process works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone was hopeful when all incumbents (Lynne Harris, Rebecca Smondrowski and Shebra Evans) were pushed out of the BOE.

But Rita Montoya, Laura Stewart and Natalie Zimmerman have all been absolute flops who have failed to deliver on their campaign promises of increased transparency and accountability for MCPS. They almost immediately became part of the MCPS machine and have been chirpily toeing the party line and nauesatingly spending their time in BOE meetings thanking people for showing up to present or testify.

Exhibit A — internet posters complaining about BoE members thanking people for showing up to testify or present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many people are upset with the state of MCPS. From the boundary study, the new regional programs, the lack of resources, the lack of AP classes in certain schools, the lack of safety, and the list goes on. So why don't people do something about it. In East Ramapo, NY, the Haredi Jews won enough seats to change the way the school board operates. I don't agree with the changes that they made, but they wanted change and the majority came out and voted for those that would make the changes. It also required people to stand up and say -- I will run on our platform.

If we're all so upset with the changes MCPS is making, why does no one stand up and say I want change?

Why not me?---I want to get more involved. But honestly, I don't know how. I can attend a board meeting but with pre-vetted questions, it doesn't seem like much gets actually discussed at these sessions but rather it's more a public airing of what is coming. I don't have an education background and I've never been in a classroom as a teacher or even a sub. My resume for BoE member would be lacking in all areas except desire to fix what is broken.

Because it’s easier to complain, especially from behind a keyboard. Change requires actual work and most people shy away then.

You don’t have to be an educator to run for Booze. But you do need ideas and to understand how some of the process works.

Have you watched BOE meetings? The BOE regularly fumbles through parliamentary procedures and is confused on what they're supposed to do or who is supposed to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone was hopeful when all incumbents (Lynne Harris, Rebecca Smondrowski and Shebra Evans) were pushed out of the BOE.

But Rita Montoya, Laura Stewart and Natalie Zimmerman have all been absolute flops who have failed to deliver on their campaign promises of increased transparency and accountability for MCPS. They almost immediately became part of the MCPS machine and have been chirpily toeing the party line and nauesatingly spending their time in BOE meetings thanking people for showing up to present or testify.

Exhibit A — internet posters complaining about BoE members thanking people for showing up to testify or present.

I'm complaining about them doing that because that is literally all they have to offer after public comments. No one is taking their time or energy to testify to the BOE just to be thanked. They want substantive engagement and follow-up action on the incidents they're raising.

Just thanking people for testifying over and over again is an empty platitude. And several people who have testified have the BOE as much.