KID Museum moving to Bethesda Metro?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a thread on this a few months ago. I have had 4 kids go through MCPS and my youngest is now in MS. How many field trips did your MCPS kid do pre-covid? How many post-covid? There has been a huge reduction in field trips over the years. Teachers don't want to organize. Principals don't consider them part of the curriculum. Now Covid is STILL a reason. All sorts of excuses. MCPS will barely use this museum. Must be someone on the board or leadership of the museum who knows someone in MCPS Central Office to advocate for this. I'd like to know who.

It’s one of the BOE members’ wives who founded it and runs it and the former superintendent (starr’s wife) is director of communications. We need an inspector general now!

Absolutely. MCPS desperately needs more oversight. It’s an incredibly corrupt system that wastes an incredible amount of taxpayer money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money Kid Museum gets is akin to the students going to Strathmore for a concert and Imagination Stage for a performance, only STEM. MCPS does not "fund them."

That being said, I was expecting something like the Exploratorium in California, and disappointingly found it to be more arts and craftsy.

I reached out on behalf of our pta for a virtual fiend trip and they wanted to charge us and no fee waivers for lower income schools. Strathmore gives reduced or free to mcps.

Strathnore gives nothing for free. MCPS also funds Strathmore with an annual payment.

Yes, the annual payment but do they charge additional fees per student? I thought they just paid a lump sum and that was it? This place wants a lump sum and then to charge MCPS schools additional fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money Kid Museum gets is akin to the students going to Strathmore for a concert and Imagination Stage for a performance, only STEM. MCPS does not "fund them."

That being said, I was expecting something like the Exploratorium in California, and disappointingly found it to be more arts and craftsy.

I reached out on behalf of our pta for a virtual fiend trip and they wanted to charge us and no fee waivers for lower income schools. Strathmore gives reduced or free to mcps.

Strathnore gives nothing for free. MCPS also funds Strathmore with an annual payment.

Yes, the annual payment but do they charge additional fees per student? I thought they just paid a lump sum and that was it? This place wants a lump sum and then to charge MCPS schools additional fees.

You should take it up with the KID museum. Personally, I prefer the Smithsonian which is free.

[Anonymous]

I thought they were just opening up a 2nd location... we're signed up for 2 weeks of summer camp there, which were still listed as being at Davis (there was an option for Bethesda too, but that was more of a pain for us.)

[Anonymous]

Kid Museums' annual report is right on their website:
https://kid-museum.org/annual-report-2021/

In 2021, they got about $570k in government grants, but it doesn't break down there from which organizations. I see MCED (Economic Development) is listed as a big sponsor, but not MCPS.

The location used to be a food court that slowly died away, then the offices for a design firm (Street Sense). It's a weird space not conducive to typical offices. Location is great -- directly on top of the metro. I don't think you'll find any large spaces at street level with such good metro access in the county. As for Silver Spring access, the Purple Line will be done in a couple years and that will have a station in both SS and Bethesda for a quick < 15 minute journey.

The latest IRS form 990 I can find for them is 2019. Their legal name is "MOCO KIDSCO, INC" if you want to look them up. I see no red flags there (I am trained in forensic accounting). The board is all volunteer and the CEO earned $72k.

I've never been there, and I don't know anyone involved in it, but it seems like people are bashing them with little evidence behind their claims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid Museums' annual report is right on their website:
https://kid-museum.org/annual-report-2021/

In 2021, they got about $570k in government grants, but it doesn't break down there from which organizations. I see MCED (Economic Development) is listed as a big sponsor, but not MCPS.

The location used to be a food court that slowly died away, then the offices for a design firm (Street Sense). It's a weird space not conducive to typical offices. Location is great -- directly on top of the metro. I don't think you'll find any large spaces at street level with such good metro access in the county. As for Silver Spring access, the Purple Line will be done in a couple years and that will have a station in both SS and Bethesda for a quick < 15 minute journey.

The latest IRS form 990 I can find for them is 2019. Their legal name is "MOCO KIDSCO, INC" if you want to look them up. I see no red flags there (I am trained in forensic accounting). The board is all volunteer and the CEO earned $72k.

I've never been there, and I don't know anyone involved in it, but it seems like people are bashing them with little evidence behind their claims.

+1...it's a DCUM tradition!

[Anonymous]

I don't see that this is evidence of anything nefarious, but this is the memo about MCPS's most recent contract with them:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/C6GJTZ4E2726/$file/Cont%20Apprv%20Bid%204403.1%20STEM%20Programs.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid Museums' annual report is right on their website:
https://kid-museum.org/annual-report-2021/

In 2021, they got about $570k in government grants, but it doesn't break down there from which organizations. I see MCED (Economic Development) is listed as a big sponsor, but not MCPS.

The location used to be a food court that slowly died away, then the offices for a design firm (Street Sense). It's a weird space not conducive to typical offices. Location is great -- directly on top of the metro. I don't think you'll find any large spaces at street level with such good metro access in the county. As for Silver Spring access, the Purple Line will be done in a couple years and that will have a station in both SS and Bethesda for a quick < 15 minute journey.

The latest IRS form 990 I can find for them is 2019. Their legal name is "MOCO KIDSCO, INC" if you want to look them up. I see no red flags there (I am trained in forensic accounting). The board is all volunteer and the CEO earned $72k.

I've never been there, and I don't know anyone involved in it, but it seems like people are bashing them with little evidence behind their claims.

Well you stink as a forensic accountant.
Here are the payments from the Board of Education for the last two years.


2022 MOCO KidsCo Inc $1,540,827
2021 MOCO KidsCo Inc $1,046,725

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid Museums' annual report is right on their website:
https://kid-museum.org/annual-report-2021/

In 2021, they got about $570k in government grants, but it doesn't break down there from which organizations. I see MCED (Economic Development) is listed as a big sponsor, but not MCPS.

The location used to be a food court that slowly died away, then the offices for a design firm (Street Sense). It's a weird space not conducive to typical offices. Location is great -- directly on top of the metro. I don't think you'll find any large spaces at street level with such good metro access in the county. As for Silver Spring access, the Purple Line will be done in a couple years and that will have a station in both SS and Bethesda for a quick < 15 minute journey.

The latest IRS form 990 I can find for them is 2019. Their legal name is "MOCO KIDSCO, INC" if you want to look them up. I see no red flags there (I am trained in forensic accounting). The board is all volunteer and the CEO earned $72k.

I've never been there, and I don't know anyone involved in it, but it seems like people are bashing them with little evidence behind their claims.

Well you stink as a forensic accountant.
Here are the payments from the Board of Education for the last two years.


2022 MOCO KidsCo Inc $1,540,827
2021 MOCO KidsCo Inc $1,046,725

That is quite a sum of money from the Board of Education.

[Anonymous]

Our focus school did one field trip while my kid was in K. My friends kid at Wims ES in Clarksburg went on 4 field trips the same year/grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid Museums' annual report is right on their website:
https://kid-museum.org/annual-report-2021/

In 2021, they got about $570k in government grants, but it doesn't break down there from which organizations. I see MCED (Economic Development) is listed as a big sponsor, but not MCPS.

The location used to be a food court that slowly died away, then the offices for a design firm (Street Sense). It's a weird space not conducive to typical offices. Location is great -- directly on top of the metro. I don't think you'll find any large spaces at street level with such good metro access in the county. As for Silver Spring access, the Purple Line will be done in a couple years and that will have a station in both SS and Bethesda for a quick < 15 minute journey.

The latest IRS form 990 I can find for them is 2019. Their legal name is "MOCO KIDSCO, INC" if you want to look them up. I see no red flags there (I am trained in forensic accounting). The board is all volunteer and the CEO earned $72k.

I've never been there, and I don't know anyone involved in it, but it seems like people are bashing them with little evidence behind their claims.

Well you stink as a forensic accountant.
Here are the payments from the Board of Education for the last two years.


2022 MOCO KidsCo Inc $1,540,827
2021 MOCO KidsCo Inc $1,046,725

That is quite a sum of money from the Board of Education.

DP. Are we talking about the $2M from ESSER covid money? If so, that was a gift from Uncle Sam'taclause to help schools fight covid and pay for covid-related expenses.. (along with $780K for bocce balls.. because.. you know.. they're round.. and look like a covid virus..)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our focus school did one field trip while my kid was in K. My friends kid at Wims ES in Clarksburg went on 4 field trips the same year/grade.

My k kid went to 2 field trips, one in imagination stage and one in butler orchard. They ask for parent volunteers and chaperone for both trips.

Where dies your friend kud go for 4 field trips this year at k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money Kid Museum gets is akin to the students going to Strathmore for a concert and Imagination Stage for a performance, only STEM. MCPS does not "fund them."

That being said, I was expecting something like the Exploratorium in California, and disappointingly found it to be more arts and craftsy.

I reached out on behalf of our pta for a virtual fiend trip and they wanted to charge us and no fee waivers for lower income schools. Strathmore gives reduced or free to mcps.

Strathnore gives nothing for free. MCPS also funds Strathmore with an annual payment.

Yes, the annual payment but do they charge additional fees per student? I thought they just paid a lump sum and that was it? This place wants a lump sum and then to charge MCPS schools additional fees.

You should take it up with the KID museum. Personally, I prefer the Smithsonian which is free.

I did, and asked them to do a fee waiver and they said no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our focus school did one field trip while my kid was in K. My friends kid at Wims ES in Clarksburg went on 4 field trips the same year/grade.

My k kid went to 2 field trips, one in imagination stage and one in butler orchard. They ask for parent volunteers and chaperone for both trips.

Where dies your friend kud go for 4 field trips this year at k.

It's been a while but my kids did 4 a year. One was a play or performance. One was a bigger trip Baltimore, St Mary's DC. One was local like Butlers and one was in school. Principal pushed it. Rockville school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a thread on this a few months ago. I have had 4 kids go through MCPS and my youngest is now in MS. How many field trips did your MCPS kid do pre-covid? How many post-covid? There has been a huge reduction in field trips over the years. Teachers don't want to organize. Principals don't consider them part of the curriculum. Now Covid is STILL a reason. All sorts of excuses. MCPS will barely use this museum. Must be someone on the board or leadership of the museum who knows someone in MCPS Central Office to advocate for this. I'd like to know who.

It’s one of the BOE members’ wives who founded it and runs it and the former superintendent (starr’s wife) is director of communications. We need an inspector general now!

Absolutely. MCPS desperately needs more oversight. It’s an incredibly corrupt system that wastes an incredible amount of taxpayer money.

I get that you like saying these things over and over but without any tangible proof, it's kind of meaningless.