WaPo: Montgomery’s top school leader says district is still reckoning with past mistakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's a hard job. The previous Super helped protect a sexual abuser, which got her fired (with comp, which is crazy!). So far, Taylor hasn't sunk that low.

I mean yes, but that's a low bar. It's sad that he can both be "really bad" and "better than other recent superintendents" but it's true.

Among other things, he has a pattern of screwing over poorer communities, schools, and kids and it's really gross. His latest proposal fo increase class sizes for little kids in poor schools to cover the cost of decreasing them for richer schools is the last straw... previously I thought things like how the regional HS programs will benefit richer schools over poorer schools was maybe just thoughtlessness, but at this point it seems pretty likely he's intentionally throwing poor kids under the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

Was the same courtesy extended to the previous Super or the interim?

I certainly did, and then was outraged when the Beidleman scandal came out.

Why aren't you outraged back the background screening failures and Taylor's failures to comply with the OIG's alert and requests to address the screening issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's a hard job. The previous Super helped protect a sexual abuser, which got her fired (with comp, which is crazy!). So far, Taylor hasn't sunk that low.

I mean yes, but that's a low bar. It's sad that he can both be "really bad" and "better than other recent superintendents" but it's true.

Among other things, he has a pattern of screwing over poorer communities, schools, and kids and it's really gross. His latest proposal fo increase class sizes for little kids in poor schools to cover the cost of decreasing them for richer schools is the last straw... previously I thought things like how the regional HS programs will benefit richer schools over poorer schools was maybe just thoughtlessness, but at this point it seems pretty likely he's intentionally throwing poor kids under the bus.

Its hard to say if it's intentional or not but it may be he is being told things by his team who is pretty clueless on what goes on at the actual school level. When I talk to central office, they had no clue what was going on at the actual school level nor did they understand graduation requirements. They give principals all the power in what classes are offered, so some of the focus and blame should be on the principals and their supervisors. Taylor needs to take a good look at what's going on and stop not knowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

He's not sincere. He's a showman which is why he was hired. He's changing things for the sake of change, not to make them better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

He's not sincere. He's a showman which is why he was hired. He's changing things for the sake of change, not to make them better.

Yeah, there's some misdirection going on, too, pulling people's attention with promises of paraeducators while actually gutting special education programs across the district. It is pretty hard for school districts to lose due process proceedings, but I think he's setting things up for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

He's not sincere. He's a showman which is why he was hired. He's changing things for the sake of change, not to make them better.

Yeah, there's some misdirection going on, too, pulling people's attention with promises of paraeducators while actually gutting special education programs across the district. It is pretty hard for school districts to lose due process proceedings, but I think he's setting things up for that.

Its near impossible to get any help from MCPS and they spend more time fighting parents than helping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

He's not sincere. He's a showman which is why he was hired. He's changing things for the sake of change, not to make them better.

Yeah, there's some misdirection going on, too, pulling people's attention with promises of paraeducators while actually gutting special education programs across the district. It is pretty hard for school districts to lose due process proceedings, but I think he's setting things up for that.

Its near impossible to get any help from MCPS and they spend more time fighting parents than helping.

In many cases, those parents want things that contradict what the political masters of MCPS want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

He's not sincere. He's a showman which is why he was hired. He's changing things for the sake of change, not to make them better.

Yeah, there's some misdirection going on, too, pulling people's attention with promises of paraeducators while actually gutting special education programs across the district. It is pretty hard for school districts to lose due process proceedings, but I think he's setting things up for that.

Its near impossible to get any help from MCPS and they spend more time fighting parents than helping.

In many cases, those parents want things that contradict what the political masters of MCPS want.

Most parents want their kids reading and writing on grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's a hard job. The previous Super helped protect a sexual abuser, which got her fired (with comp, which is crazy!). So far, Taylor hasn't sunk that low.

You don’t get a $1million+ settlement when you’re fired. Still so ridiculous.

Is this a joke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

Was the same courtesy extended to the previous Super or the interim?

I certainly did, and then was outraged when the Beidleman scandal came out.

This. The Beidleman scandal was beyond the pale and she lied about how much she knew

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's a hard job. The previous Super helped protect a sexual abuser, which got her fired (with comp, which is crazy!). So far, Taylor hasn't sunk that low.

You don’t get a $1million+ settlement when you’re fired. Still so ridiculous.

It took that much money to get enough BOE members to sign off on getting rid of McKnight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

He's not sincere. He's a showman which is why he was hired. He's changing things for the sake of change, not to make them better.

Yeah, there's some misdirection going on, too, pulling people's attention with promises of paraeducators while actually gutting special education programs across the district. It is pretty hard for school districts to lose due process proceedings, but I think he's setting things up for that.

Its near impossible to get any help from MCPS and they spend more time fighting parents than helping.

In many cases, those parents want things that contradict what the political masters of MCPS want.

Most parents want their kids reading and writing on grade level.

That would require that MCPS stop writing its own curriculum and instead obtain externally developed and externally vetted curriculum, as required by Maryland's Blueprint. Where is the BOE on this matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a lot of problems to fix. Hard to blame him for that. MCPS behaved recklessly when MD had a budget surplus. The $$$$ spent on legal fees are not his fault. I’m still not sure what I think of him but he can only do so much

+1
I think the programs proposal is an ambitious move that could have moved the needle to fixing some things, but has been so poorly thought through and so rushed that he’ll ruin what goodwill he could have had if it’s implemented. He strikes me as a sincere and good person though.

He's not sincere. He's a showman which is why he was hired. He's changing things for the sake of change, not to make them better.

Yeah, there's some misdirection going on, too, pulling people's attention with promises of paraeducators while actually gutting special education programs across the district. It is pretty hard for school districts to lose due process proceedings, but I think he's setting things up for that.

Its near impossible to get any help from MCPS and they spend more time fighting parents than helping.

In many cases, those parents want things that contradict what the political masters of MCPS want.

Most parents want their kids reading and writing on grade level.

Not here in Lake Wobegon.

Seriously, though, and understanding the considerable difficulties experienced (kids, families & teachers/admin) in educating a large portion of the MCPS student population to that standard, when "on grade level" is redefined/implemented as below that which many, if not most, would expect from the combination of their own experience and the anecdotes of others they know in good schools, and when the differentiation (and identification for that) needed to mitigate that is implemented inconsistently (sometimes not at all due to school funding allocation algorithms vs. difficult cohorts), this kind of conflict becomes inevitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's a hard job. The previous Super helped protect a sexual abuser, which got her fired (with comp, which is crazy!). So far, Taylor hasn't sunk that low.

I mean yes, but that's a low bar. It's sad that he can both be "really bad" and "better than other recent superintendents" but it's true.

Among other things, he has a pattern of screwing over poorer communities, schools, and kids and it's really gross. His latest proposal fo increase class sizes for little kids in poor schools to cover the cost of decreasing them for richer schools is the last straw... previously I thought things like how the regional HS programs will benefit richer schools over poorer schools was maybe just thoughtlessness, but at this point it seems pretty likely he's intentionally throwing poor kids under the bus.

Its hard to say if it's intentional or not but it may be he is being told things by his team who is pretty clueless on what goes on at the actual school level. When I talk to central office, they had no clue what was going on at the actual school level nor did they understand graduation requirements. They give principals all the power in what classes are offered, so some of the focus and blame should be on the principals and their supervisors. Taylor needs to take a good look at what's going on and stop not knowing.

THIS is the problem with MCPS. It’s a system of schools versus a school system. I’ve put it in writing several times to the BOE, Taylor and County Council that nothing will change as long as principals get to do whatever they want. It’s like they learned nothing from the Beidleman scandal.