Is it possible to get rid of Jack Smith?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lack of action? He cannot fix covid.

No, but he could bring students back to school, like they're doing all over the country and the world, even in places with higher community spread.

He's not even seriously trying to bring back special needs kids.

How do you propose he does that safely?

The same way that doctors, nurses, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, ABA providers, etc., are working in-person. They just do it while taking whatever precautions they reasonably can without interfering significantly with their jobs.

Not all of them are doing it in person and they see one person at a time vs. 35 students in a classroom with 8 classes. Doctors offices allow only the patient in if its in person and see much less and screen before coming in. SLP's, OT and PT's are not all back in person. Many are still virtual.

My spouse sees a lot more than 30 people in the exam over the course of a week. And definitely has closer contact than you would have with your students, unless something is going seriously wrong on your class.

Likewise for daycares, you're looking at slightly smaller cohorts, but much closer contact and much less compliant with rules.

But teachers are special. Or something.

[Anonymous]

And I don't know what everyone in the county is doing, but all of my child's providers are working in-person except for those from MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I don't know what everyone in the county is doing, but all of my child's providers are working in-person except for those from MCPS.

Provers are in a different situation working 1-1 with kids. Ours is virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lack of action? He cannot fix covid.

No, but he could bring students back to school, like they're doing all over the country and the world, even in places with higher community spread.

He's not even seriously trying to bring back special needs kids.

How do you propose he does that safely?

The same way that doctors, nurses, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, ABA providers, etc., are working in-person. They just do it while taking whatever precautions they reasonably can without interfering significantly with their jobs.

Not all of them are doing it in person and they see one person at a time vs. 35 students in a classroom with 8 classes. Doctors offices allow only the patient in if its in person and see much less and screen before coming in. SLP's, OT and PT's are not all back in person. Many are still virtual.

My spouse sees a lot more than 30 people in the exam over the course of a week. And definitely has closer contact than you would have with your students, unless something is going seriously wrong on your class.

Likewise for daycares, you're looking at slightly smaller cohorts, but much closer contact and much less compliant with rules.

But teachers are special. Or something.

Our middle school classes have 35 kids/8 classes. I'm not a teacher. Both my doctors are virtual only except in rare cases. Teachers and doctors have very different jobs. You just cannot handle your kids while your spouse works. There is no way to do cohorts at my school. We only have about 15 kids taking the same math in the grade and none are in any of the same classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lack of action? He cannot fix covid.

No, but he could bring students back to school, like they're doing all over the country and the world, even in places with higher community spread.

He's not even seriously trying to bring back special needs kids.

How do you propose he does that safely?

The same way that doctors, nurses, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, ABA providers, etc., are working in-person. They just do it while taking whatever precautions they reasonably can without interfering significantly with their jobs.

Not all of them are doing it in person and they see one person at a time vs. 35 students in a classroom with 8 classes. Doctors offices allow only the patient in if its in person and see much less and screen before coming in. SLP's, OT and PT's are not all back in person. Many are still virtual.

My spouse sees a lot more than 30 people in the exam over the course of a week. And definitely has closer contact than you would have with your students, unless something is going seriously wrong on your class.

Likewise for daycares, you're looking at slightly smaller cohorts, but much closer contact and much less compliant with rules.

But teachers are special. Or something.

If we go back to school, people get very sick he'll be seeing even more... enjoy covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary schools could be cohorted. Specials could be via zoom or outside. It’s doable for Elementary.

I’m onboard with firing Smith. the parent survey is so ridiculously awful.

They cannot do specials outside in the snow, rain and cold. Many schools are overcrowded and not enough teachers or classrooms to keep them at 10-12 students per class. If you want yours to go back, say that. I choose DL.

[Anonymous]

What specifically has Jack Smith done wrong? Not sweeping generalizations. I want specifics with evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What specifically has Jack Smith done wrong? Not sweeping generalizations. I want specifics with evidence.

Wait! That's so not DCUM! Not fair!

[Anonymous]

I'm old enough to remember that DCUM has never liked an MCPS superintendent, and has collectively brayed for the heads of every single one of them to date.

Maybe at a certain point folks need to realize that the problem isn't the parade of administrators that get cycled in and out in a futile effort to please UMC parents who want a bespoke private school experience in public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm old enough to remember that DCUM has never liked an MCPS superintendent, and has collectively brayed for the heads of every single one of them to date.

Maybe at a certain point folks need to realize that the problem isn't the parade of administrators that get cycled in and out in a futile effort to please UMC parents who want a bespoke private school experience in public school.

I just came here to say that too.

Jerry Weast? Terrible! (Curriculum 2.0, y'all.)
Joshua Starr? Damn him!!!1!!1!!
Larry Bowers? [He doesn't count.]
Jack Smith? Fire him!

There was no DCUM when Paul Vance was superintendent, but if there had been, DCUM would have hated him too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm old enough to remember that DCUM has never liked an MCPS superintendent, and has collectively brayed for the heads of every single one of them to date.

Maybe at a certain point folks need to realize that the problem isn't the parade of administrators that get cycled in and out in a futile effort to please UMC parents who want a bespoke private school experience in public school.

I just came here to say that too.

Jerry Weast? Terrible! (Curriculum 2.0, y'all.)
Joshua Starr? Damn him!!!1!!1!!
Larry Bowers? [He doesn't count.]
Jack Smith? Fire him!

There was no DCUM when Paul Vance was superintendent, but if there had been, DCUM would have hated him too.

So you're saying this is DCUM's raison d'être?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm old enough to remember that DCUM has never liked an MCPS superintendent, and has collectively brayed for the heads of every single one of them to date.

Maybe at a certain point folks need to realize that the problem isn't the parade of administrators that get cycled in and out in a futile effort to please UMC parents who want a bespoke private school experience in public school.

I just came here to say that too.

Jerry Weast? Terrible! (Curriculum 2.0, y'all.)
Joshua Starr? Damn him!!!1!!1!!
Larry Bowers? [He doesn't count.]
Jack Smith? Fire him!

There was no DCUM when Paul Vance was superintendent, but if there had been, DCUM would have hated him too.

Yep - whoever posted that BOE should not have shown Joshua Starr the door obviously is newer to this board and completely forgets all the "Damn you, Josh Starr!!!!" posts about EVERTHING. My favorite were the snow day/2 hour delay posts that inevitably turned into "Damn you, Josh Starr!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty clear that Jack Smith is the single person most responsible for the lack of action to bring kids back to school. I know he just got a renewed contract, but what would it take to fire him? Is this something only the BoE can do? Presumably they'd be some sort of financial penalty- would they have to buy out the remaining 3.5 years?

Why would you want to? I mean he's the best.

[Anonymous]

What we are all forgetting is this is a systemic problem with resources, over crowded schools, poor ventilation, and broken buildings are inherited problems. It starts with us, the parents and voters in Montogmery County. Start talking to or looking at your representatives and say we need our focus to be on education and the facilities that are required to house those needing that education. If you receive money from a developer, then develop what is needed. Astro turf for a sports field is not needed, working heat and air conditioning is, clean water in and windows and doors that work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm old enough to remember that DCUM has never liked an MCPS superintendent, and has collectively brayed for the heads of every single one of them to date.

Maybe at a certain point folks need to realize that the problem isn't the parade of administrators that get cycled in and out in a futile effort to please UMC parents who want a bespoke private school experience in public school.

I just came here to say that too.

Jerry Weast? Terrible! (Curriculum 2.0, y'all.)
Joshua Starr? Damn him!!!1!!1!!
Larry Bowers? [He doesn't count.]
Jack Smith? Fire him!

There was no DCUM when Paul Vance was superintendent, but if there had been, DCUM would have hated him too.

Why do they make such poor hiring decisions? Is there a lack of talent for this role?