Maryland's State Board of Education report says MCPS electric bus deal is illegal

[Anonymous]

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A new report from the Maryland State Board of Education has declared Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) $168 million electric school bus contract “illegal,” saying the district violated its own procurement rules when awarding the deal.
https://wjla.com/features/i-team/maryland-report-says-mcps-electric-bus-deal-is-illegal-montgomery-county-public-schools-parents-coalition-iteam

[Anonymous]

Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Why can't red states have better public education?

[Anonymous]

MCPS and the BOE don't care. They aren't scared of MSDE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

https://wjla.com/features/i-team/maryland-report-says-mcps-electric-bus-deal-is-illegal-montgomery-county-public-schools-parents-coalition-iteam

Additional questions about the deal surfaced last year, when a public report cast doubt on the district’s claim that transitioning from diesel to electric buses would result in “zero net change” in transportation costs. Soon after, the Montgomery County Inspector General raised further concerns, citing delivery delays and the district’s failure to recover $372,000 from Highland for buses that were not operational.

The state board’s 11-page report also referenced the criminal convictions of two former MCPS transportation officials, including an assistant director who stole more than $300,000 from the project. Their involvement, the board concluded, further “tainted” the procurement process.

[Anonymous]

This was the old board. Lynn Harris talking about wanting to be first in the country with electric buses. She is 100% to blame. Along with losing in the Supreme Court on the books issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

The BOE's rubber stamp of all MCPS proposals would not change if they were full time (though I agree they should be).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

The BOE's rubber stamp of all MCPS proposals would not change if they were full time (though I agree they should be).

Have you tried to do anything with your special powers to predict the future and opine that things will never change?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

The BOE's rubber stamp of all MCPS proposals would not change if they were full time (though I agree they should be).

Have you tried to do anything with your special powers to predict the future and opine that things will never change?

Essie McGuire is full-time. She was full-time when this contract came before the BOE. She is well paid.
She said she was very confident in this lease. She said it was an innovation. She said it can be checked by legal, budget and MCPS Dept of Transportation. She said she was very excited to bring this to the BOE.
Paying her a good salary to work full-time got MCPS in financial trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

https://wjla.com/features/i-team/maryland-report-says-mcps-electric-bus-deal-is-illegal-montgomery-county-public-schools-parents-coalition-iteam

Additional questions about the deal surfaced last year, when a public report cast doubt on the district’s claim that transitioning from diesel to electric buses would result in “zero net change” in transportation costs. Soon after, the Montgomery County Inspector General raised further concerns, citing delivery delays and the district’s failure to recover $372,000 from Highland for buses that were not operational.

The state board’s 11-page report also referenced the criminal convictions of two former MCPS transportation officials, including an assistant director who stole more than $300,000 from the project. Their involvement, the board concluded, further “tainted” the procurement process.

Even if they were paid, they would be real oversight. They've let this happen and hold no one accountable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

The BOE's rubber stamp of all MCPS proposals would not change if they were full time (though I agree they should be).

Have you tried to do anything with your special powers to predict the future and opine that things will never change?

Essie McGuire is full-time. She was full-time when this contract came before the BOE. She is well paid.
She said she was very confident in this lease. She said it was an innovation. She said it can be checked by legal, budget and MCPS Dept of Transportation. She said she was very excited to bring this to the BOE.
Paying her a good salary to work full-time got MCPS in financial trouble.

You're confusing MCPS Central Office implementation with BOE oversight. Yes, MCPS Central Office staff are full-time and shouldn't have screwed up this contract. But expecting BOE oversight with part-time people paid $25k a year to do a full-time job is basically saying you don't value oversight of MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

The BOE's rubber stamp of all MCPS proposals would not change if they were full time (though I agree they should be).

Have you tried to do anything with your special powers to predict the future and opine that things will never change?

Essie McGuire is full-time. She was full-time when this contract came before the BOE. She is well paid.
She said she was very confident in this lease. She said it was an innovation. She said it can be checked by legal, budget and MCPS Dept of Transportation. She said she was very excited to bring this to the BOE.
Paying her a good salary to work full-time got MCPS in financial trouble.

You're confusing MCPS Central Office implementation with BOE oversight. Yes, MCPS Central Office staff are full-time and shouldn't have screwed up this contract. But expecting BOE oversight with part-time people paid $25k a year to do a full-time job is basically saying you don't value oversight of MCPS.

County council members are paid full-time salaries. No oversight there either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS just be more competent?

Part of the problem is that Board of Education member are treated like part-time volunteers rather than have meaningful oversight...

The BOE's rubber stamp of all MCPS proposals would not change if they were full time (though I agree they should be).

Have you tried to do anything with your special powers to predict the future and opine that things will never change?

Essie McGuire is full-time. She was full-time when this contract came before the BOE. She is well paid.
She said she was very confident in this lease. She said it was an innovation. She said it can be checked by legal, budget and MCPS Dept of Transportation. She said she was very excited to bring this to the BOE.
Paying her a good salary to work full-time got MCPS in financial trouble.

You're confusing MCPS Central Office implementation with BOE oversight. Yes, MCPS Central Office staff are full-time and shouldn't have screwed up this contract. But expecting BOE oversight with part-time people paid $25k a year to do a full-time job is basically saying you don't value oversight of MCPS.

County council members are paid full-time salaries. No oversight there either.

Voters have oversight over the County Council.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A new report from the Maryland State Board of Education has declared Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) $168 million electric school bus contract “illegal,” saying the district violated its own procurement rules when awarding the deal.
https://wjla.com/features/i-team/maryland-report-says-mcps-electric-bus-deal-is-illegal-montgomery-county-public-schools-parents-coalition-iteam

Will charges be brought against any current MCPS staff? That would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A new report from the Maryland State Board of Education has declared Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) $168 million electric school bus contract “illegal,” saying the district violated its own procurement rules when awarding the deal.
https://wjla.com/features/i-team/maryland-report-says-mcps-electric-bus-deal-is-illegal-montgomery-county-public-schools-parents-coalition-iteam

Will charges be brought against any current MCPS staff? That would be helpful.

Plz lord fire Essie McGuire please! She was deeply involved in this scandal and then now she is leading the regional program study which will purchase another big batch of school bus! Noooo!