Board Education meeting Tues June 11

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

What school is closing? The only closing I’ve heard so far is the MVA program

DP. That IS a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have some kids that would like to learn more about the functioning of government. Are there particular portions of the hearing that are likely to have more active debate or discussion about particular items? Looking at the agenda, it looks like the possibilities might be:
-- open public comments
-- final adoption of operating budget
-- final action, homework policy
-- charter schools discussion
Are any of these likely to be at all interesting or lively? These are kids aged 12 to 16 that would like to learn more about local government issues. (If anyone has a county council meetings that might be interesting, please let me know!)
Thank you!

Hoo boy...

Public Comments -- Will be terribly rushed (2 minutes) and limited (20 slots). Of course, much more might be unworkable with a million people in the county. The BOE will do almost nothing to go into any depth (beyond bare acknowledgement) to respond to them, both from an agenda standpoint (trying to stick to that, whatever it might be that day) and a political one (addressing some public testimony might undercut MCPS initiatives, and the BOE, as constructed for a long time, has done little to question the system).

Budget -- Make sure they understand the power of the purse held by the County, how funding also comes from State & Federal sources, how variability there (see: bullwhip effect) can make local obligation variable, how the MoCo BOE is a very part-time, semi-independent MD state body assigned to oversight of MCPS, which nominally constructs the overall budget for BOE approval, how the BOE can't often get deep into budget detail (but will occasionally pick out an item of ineterst to them), how the pressure to fund the system is met by the pressure to minimize tax burden.

Policies (homework, etc.) -- Make sure they know that there are many, that they come up for review on a periodic basis (though some can jump the line at the Superintendent's rec or BOE's request), that there is a separate set of engagements with the public (proper effect uncertain), that the whole process can take a long time.

Charter Schools -- not going there. Too political. Could be lively, but probably overshadowed by the budget at the moment.

Actually the charter school section looks interesting. The particular charter has been seeking approval for several years. MCPS has liked the curriculum concept, but the charter has had difficulty with the financial plans and appropriate facilities. It looks like they have something that will finally work and might receive approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

MVA is a program, not a school. Try again

[Anonymous]

I hope someone testifies about the Roscoe Nix appoinment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope someone testifies about the Roscoe Nix appoinment.

Will the BOE be reimbursing parents who have to take off work to protest mva, cuts, class sizes, principal appointments and the myriad items? That should tell you what a shitty job MCPS has done! Disgusted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

What school is closing? The only closing I’ve heard so far is the MVA program

DP. That IS a school.

No, it's a program. Look at the materials from MCPS. Students still belong to their home school, where they will be returning next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

Neither of those are true. No school is closing, and all teachers who want to work will be offered a position next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have some kids that would like to learn more about the functioning of government. Are there particular portions of the hearing that are likely to have more active debate or discussion about particular items? Looking at the agenda, it looks like the possibilities might be:
-- open public comments
-- final adoption of operating budget
-- final action, homework policy
-- charter schools discussion
Are any of these likely to be at all interesting or lively? These are kids aged 12 to 16 that would like to learn more about local government issues. (If anyone has a county council meetings that might be interesting, please let me know!)
Thank you!

Hoo boy...

Public Comments -- Will be terribly rushed (2 minutes) and limited (20 slots). Of course, much more might be unworkable with a million people in the county. The BOE will do almost nothing to go into any depth (beyond bare acknowledgement) to respond to them, both from an agenda standpoint (trying to stick to that, whatever it might be that day) and a political one (addressing some public testimony might undercut MCPS initiatives, and the BOE, as constructed for a long time, has done little to question the system).

Budget -- Make sure they understand the power of the purse held by the County, how funding also comes from State & Federal sources, how variability there (see: bullwhip effect) can make local obligation variable, how the MoCo BOE is a very part-time, semi-independent MD state body assigned to oversight of MCPS, which nominally constructs the overall budget for BOE approval, how the BOE can't often get deep into budget detail (but will occasionally pick out an item of ineterst to them), how the pressure to fund the system is met by the pressure to minimize tax burden.

Policies (homework, etc.) -- Make sure they know that there are many, that they come up for review on a periodic basis (though some can jump the line at the Superintendent's rec or BOE's request), that there is a separate set of engagements with the public (proper effect uncertain), that the whole process can take a long time.

Charter Schools -- not going there. Too political. Could be lively, but probably overshadowed by the budget at the moment.

Actually the charter school section looks interesting. The particular charter has been seeking approval for several years. MCPS has liked the curriculum concept, but the charter has had difficulty with the financial plans and appropriate facilities. It looks like they have something that will finally work and might receive approval.

Depends on how well MCPS prepped a rebuttal. Last time, that charter brought a presentation that answered the previous appeal condition, but was based on flimsy assumptions that Seth Adams eviscerated. Not that I think they should be granted a license on shaky foundations, but I don't think they saw that takedown coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

Neither of those are true. No school is closing, and all teachers who want to work will be offered a position next year.

We hope these things will be true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

Neither of those are true. No school is closing, and all teachers who want to work will be offered a position next year.

We hope these things will be true

We know no school is closing. But there will likely be changes to programs.

MCEA just told its members that there won't be layoffs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

Neither of those are true. No school is closing, and all teachers who want to work will be offered a position next year.

We hope these things will be true

We know no school is closing. But there will likely be changes to programs.

MCEA just told its members that there won't be layoffs.

How does it close the budget shortfall without layoffs? Is it just not filling open positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have some kids that would like to learn more about the functioning of government. Are there particular portions of the hearing that are likely to have more active debate or discussion about particular items? Looking at the agenda, it looks like the possibilities might be:
-- open public comments
-- final adoption of operating budget
-- final action, homework policy
-- charter schools discussion
Are any of these likely to be at all interesting or lively? These are kids aged 12 to 16 that would like to learn more about local government issues. (If anyone has a county council meetings that might be interesting, please let me know!)
Thank you!

Hoo boy...

Public Comments -- Will be terribly rushed (2 minutes) and limited (20 slots). Of course, much more might be unworkable with a million people in the county. The BOE will do almost nothing to go into any depth (beyond bare acknowledgement) to respond to them, both from an agenda standpoint (trying to stick to that, whatever it might be that day) and a political one (addressing some public testimony might undercut MCPS initiatives, and the BOE, as constructed for a long time, has done little to question the system).

Budget -- Make sure they understand the power of the purse held by the County, how funding also comes from State & Federal sources, how variability there (see: bullwhip effect) can make local obligation variable, how the MoCo BOE is a very part-time, semi-independent MD state body assigned to oversight of MCPS, which nominally constructs the overall budget for BOE approval, how the BOE can't often get deep into budget detail (but will occasionally pick out an item of ineterst to them), how the pressure to fund the system is met by the pressure to minimize tax burden.

Policies (homework, etc.) -- Make sure they know that there are many, that they come up for review on a periodic basis (though some can jump the line at the Superintendent's rec or BOE's request), that there is a separate set of engagements with the public (proper effect uncertain), that the whole process can take a long time.

Charter Schools -- not going there. Too political. Could be lively, but probably overshadowed by the budget at the moment.

Actually the charter school section looks interesting. The particular charter has been seeking approval for several years. MCPS has liked the curriculum concept, but the charter has had difficulty with the financial plans and appropriate facilities. It looks like they have something that will finally work and might receive approval.

Depends on how well MCPS prepped a rebuttal. Last time, that charter brought a presentation that answered the previous appeal condition, but was based on flimsy assumptions that Seth Adams eviscerated. Not that I think they should be granted a license on shaky foundations, but I don't think they saw that takedown coming.

The document linked from MCPS says in the summary that the charter has met the requirements. It will be up to the board to approve or not, but unless there is something completely overlooked, I think they will get approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

Neither of those are true. No school is closing, and all teachers who want to work will be offered a position next year.

We hope these things will be true

We know no school is closing. But there will likely be changes to programs.

MCEA just told its members that there won't be layoffs.

How does it close the budget shortfall without layoffs? Is it just not filling open positions?

You don't backfill every teacher who retires or otherwise leaves their position. You can make up some those by reassigning teachers from MVA back to schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

What school is closing? The only closing I’ve heard so far is the MVA program

The Virtual Academy Troll is strong in this one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are losing a school, teachers are losing jobs and your biggest worry is letting your kid sleep in later. Wow.

What school is closing? The only closing I’ve heard so far is the MVA program

The Virtual Academy Troll is strong in this one!

Sterling isn't a troll. He just has agoraphobia and munchausen's by proxy.