New Superintendent to be named on February 8th

[Anonymous]

A group of Black pastors have sent their support of Dr. McKnight

There is no way this is true. Any church that does this loses their status as a non-profit.

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/charities-churches-and-politics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

A group of Black pastors have sent their support of Dr. McKnight

There is no way this is true. Any church that does this loses their status as a non-profit.

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/charities-churches-and-politics

Although the behavior is undeniably political, a superintendent is not a partisan political position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

A group of Black pastors have sent their support of Dr. McKnight

There is no way this is true. Any church that does this loses their status as a non-profit.

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/charities-churches-and-politics

Although the behavior is undeniably political, a superintendent is not a partisan political position.

+1 The tax code does not apply for espousing support for a Superintendent candidate.

I do find the attempt to legitimize her candidacy by a single group of religious leaders distasteful. If she has Protestant pastor support, what about Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Budist, agnostic, and atheist support?

What about separating a public school leader from religion altogether? The relevant issue would be if these supporters live in Montgomery County and if they actually have children in MCPS schools.

This was such an odd PR move by Dr. McKnight.

[Anonymous]

So does that mean a church can endorse a Police Officer's promotion? Or a Health Department / DHHS official responsible for policy?

This definitely seems to violate the principles behind the separation of church and state?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I. know she's done an amazing job in light of the mess she was handed. She's got my vote!

Wait. Wasn't she the Deputy Sup before? it's a nice spin though - try to make it look like it wasn't her issue.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/bio.aspx

This WAS her own mess to clean up. Plus, all the really bad stuff happened on HER watch, so she can't blame anyone else.

Let’s be clear.

McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was deputy.
McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was interim.
McKnight will not be responsible for anything that will happen when she is the superintendent.

You woke up at 7:56am on a Sunday to reply? This was the first thing on your mind when you woke up?? Crazy idea: give her the contract. In Maryland, Supers can only serve 4 year terms -- they can't get extensions for 1 year, 2 years, etc. If she isn't showing progressing leadership qualities by the end of the term, and results aren't improving (though it takes more time and requires the same people building on their predecessor as the average superintendent serves 3 years), then don't renew. God, why does DCUM have to be so crazy, unreasonable, and uptight? Sometimes I feel like there are 5 year olds on these threads, not middle age folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I. know she's done an amazing job in light of the mess she was handed. She's got my vote!

Wait. Wasn't she the Deputy Sup before? it's a nice spin though - try to make it look like it wasn't her issue.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/bio.aspx

This WAS her own mess to clean up. Plus, all the really bad stuff happened on HER watch, so she can't blame anyone else.

Let’s be clear.

McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was deputy.
McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was interim.
McKnight will not be responsible for anything that will happen when she is the superintendent.

You woke up at 7:56am on a Sunday to reply? This was the first thing on your mind when you woke up?? Crazy idea: give her the contract. In Maryland, Supers can only serve 4 year terms -- they can't get extensions for 1 year, 2 years, etc. If she isn't showing progressing leadership qualities by the end of the term, and results aren't improving (though it takes more time and requires the same people building on their predecessor as the average superintendent serves 3 years), then don't renew. God, why does DCUM have to be so crazy, unreasonable, and uptight? Sometimes I feel like there are 5 year olds on these threads, not middle age folks.

Lol. Most parents don’t sleep in till 10am on a Sunday. Who says posting on this thread was the first thing that PP did? Even so, so what?

BTW - your four year argument to test Dr. McKnight out is the lamest thing I have ever read on DCUM. Four years is 1/3 of a child’s public school education. She was Deputy Superintendent and she was the Interim Superintendent. She has shown to be disconnected from the school system that she is leading. Violence is up. There was next to no planning for the surge of COVID following winter break. No confidence votes by two major unions in MCPS.

Nope. You don’t give her a four year contract. Dr. McKnight has already shown she does not have the skills for the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I. know she's done an amazing job in light of the mess she was handed. She's got my vote!

Wait. Wasn't she the Deputy Sup before? it's a nice spin though - try to make it look like it wasn't her issue.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/bio.aspx

This WAS her own mess to clean up. Plus, all the really bad stuff happened on HER watch, so she can't blame anyone else.

Let’s be clear.

McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was deputy.
McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was interim.
McKnight will not be responsible for anything that will happen when she is the superintendent.

You woke up at 7:56am on a Sunday to reply? This was the first thing on your mind when you woke up?? Crazy idea: give her the contract. In Maryland, Supers can only serve 4 year terms -- they can't get extensions for 1 year, 2 years, etc. If she isn't showing progressing leadership qualities by the end of the term, and results aren't improving (though it takes more time and requires the same people building on their predecessor as the average superintendent serves 3 years), then don't renew. God, why does DCUM have to be so crazy, unreasonable, and uptight? Sometimes I feel like there are 5 year olds on these threads, not middle age folks.

Lol. Most parents don’t sleep in till 10am on a Sunday. Who says posting on this thread was the first thing that PP did? Even so, so what?

BTW - your four year argument to test Dr. McKnight out is the lamest thing I have ever read on DCUM. Four years is 1/3 of a child’s public school education. She was Deputy Superintendent and she was the Interim Superintendent. She has shown to be disconnected from the school system that she is leading. Violence is up. There was next to no planning for the surge of COVID following winter break. No confidence votes by two major unions in MCPS.

Nope. You don’t give her a four year contract. Dr. McKnight has already shown she does not have the skills for the job.

Firstly, I'm a parent as well. Moreover, knowing that there is a pronounced shortage of superintendent candidates nationwide, who else do you recommend, especially when it comes to dealing with very demanding DC area parents? Instead of throwing insults, please note that the four-year "argument" is established Maryland law, and I'd rather have consistency in a critical role. In terms of "violence" being up, correlation does not equal causation. Not every union member voted, it's only the most vocal ones that we end up hearing from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I. know she's done an amazing job in light of the mess she was handed. She's got my vote!

Wait. Wasn't she the Deputy Sup before? it's a nice spin though - try to make it look like it wasn't her issue.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/bio.aspx

This WAS her own mess to clean up. Plus, all the really bad stuff happened on HER watch, so she can't blame anyone else.

Let’s be clear.

McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was deputy.
McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was interim.
McKnight will not be responsible for anything that will happen when she is the superintendent.

You woke up at 7:56am on a Sunday to reply? This was the first thing on your mind when you woke up?? Crazy idea: give her the contract. In Maryland, Supers can only serve 4 year terms -- they can't get extensions for 1 year, 2 years, etc. If she isn't showing progressing leadership qualities by the end of the term, and results aren't improving (though it takes more time and requires the same people building on their predecessor as the average superintendent serves 3 years), then don't renew. God, why does DCUM have to be so crazy, unreasonable, and uptight? Sometimes I feel like there are 5 year olds on these threads, not middle age folks.

Oooh facts! I like facts! Here's a copy from earlier in this thread.

Sure, let's talk about "actual facts" about McKnight and the board's record.

If we want to discuss leadership and policy planning, let's talk about the disaster this January. Instead of preparing a covid response, McKnight spent her time making videos to tell everyone what her favorite subject in school or cafeteria lunch was (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbZjpank-s0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_yWDfS2p9g). Because of bad planning, MCPS had to change their color code dashboard policy in the same week. There were only, what, 15 days of actual instructional days in January (due to weather, holidays, etc.). In just 15 days, 2100 teachers and staff were out sick, 9% of the entire student body with covid. Heck, even her own Central Office had so many people out they couldn't even get out the covid stats out on time? MCPS leadership had to even go begging for National Guard to drive kids to school, and got humiliated when they were told it's a school issue to solve. Then they shut down 31 schools that now that may need to make up the instructional time this summer? The 31 schools weren't always the ones that affected the students the worst by covid?

If we want to discuss McKnight and the boards support of parents and their children's health and safety, remember they were both tone deaf to parents. (https://www.change.org/p/mcps-board-of-education-w...ed-virtual-learning-right-now, https://www.change.org/p/in-person-learning-is-the...ls-open-for-in-person-learning)

If we want to discuss ability to lead staff and teachers, she has had two no-confidence votes against her. MCEA doesn't need every single member to vote when it's a 94% landslide, and an emergency council session needs to be called. (https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools...on-on-mcps-covid-19-response/, https://www.fox5dc.com/news/montgomery-co-public-s...ncil-holding-emergency-session)

If we want to discuss whether McKnight and the board shouldn't be blamed for these fiascos, McKnight and the board can't say they didn't know (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTrT2NKc2NQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaLpALVHrc). On Aug 24, 2021, MCPS released a video where McKnight led with "let me be clear - health and safety is our first priority, always has been, and will continue to be." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzftOw9Vgqo). In the same video (at time 4:25) McKnight admitted that students were able to thrive in a virtual environment, which is the virtual academy opened for 3,000 students. Just as McKnight spoke about the delta variant, the video was cut off.

If we want to discuss her strongest focus issue, discrimination, this stellar track record doesn't even include the massive number of open investigations by the Department of Education OCR. MCPS was a top-20 ranker in open discrimination cases. McKnight and the board didn't need to conduct any survey - all they needed to do was to look in the inbox.

If we want to discuss student safety, showing up an hour late to the school shooting press conference dressed in pink while their children are held inside the school probably didn't send a caring message to parents. https://original.newsbreak.com/@heather-jauquet-56...leased-at-magruder-high-school Remember this is the same person who said "let me be clear - health and safety is our first priority, always has been , and will continue to be"

If we want to discuss financial management, $1.6M of covid funding spent on Kids Museum? The board even filled a position, with out a vote, with a person who's spouse is associated with Kids Museum? $160M on electric buses approved by the board (and it's not clear whether the electrical grid can handle it)? Two upper management in transportation suddenly removed? The optics of this doesn't look good from an ethics perspective.

All of this was even before McKnight was confirmed as the superintendent. But if you still want to claim McKnight and the board are blameless and keep them in charge of your taxpayer dollars and children's health and safety - I'm sure that they'll do even worse things in the future that will shock even the most ardent supporter.

Now, where are yours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I encourage Dr. McKnight to fill the vacancies and not just talk about filling vacancies. I also encourage her to actually step foot in a school to see how staff are struggling to cover the shortages.

With her magic wand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I encourage Dr. McKnight to fill the vacancies and not just talk about filling vacancies. I also encourage her to actually step foot in a school to see how staff are struggling to cover the shortages.

If you haven't noticed, the whole country is having trouble hiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I. know she's done an amazing job in light of the mess she was handed. She's got my vote!

Wait. Wasn't she the Deputy Sup before? it's a nice spin though - try to make it look like it wasn't her issue.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/superintendent/bio.aspx

This WAS her own mess to clean up. Plus, all the really bad stuff happened on HER watch, so she can't blame anyone else.

Let’s be clear.

McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was deputy.
McKnight is not responsible for anything that happened while she was interim.
McKnight will not be responsible for anything that will happen when she is the superintendent.

You woke up at 7:56am on a Sunday to reply? This was the first thing on your mind when you woke up?? Crazy idea: give her the contract. In Maryland, Supers can only serve 4 year terms -- they can't get extensions for 1 year, 2 years, etc. If she isn't showing progressing leadership qualities by the end of the term, and results aren't improving (though it takes more time and requires the same people building on their predecessor as the average superintendent serves 3 years), then don't renew. God, why does DCUM have to be so crazy, unreasonable, and uptight? Sometimes I feel like there are 5 year olds on these threads, not middle age folks.

Lol. Most parents don’t sleep in till 10am on a Sunday. Who says posting on this thread was the first thing that PP did? Even so, so what?

BTW - your four year argument to test Dr. McKnight out is the lamest thing I have ever read on DCUM. Four years is 1/3 of a child’s public school education. She was Deputy Superintendent and she was the Interim Superintendent. She has shown to be disconnected from the school system that she is leading. Violence is up. There was next to no planning for the surge of COVID following winter break. No confidence votes by two major unions in MCPS.

Nope. You don’t give her a four year contract. Dr. McKnight has already shown she does not have the skills for the job.

Firstly, I'm a parent as well. Moreover, knowing that there is a pronounced shortage of superintendent candidates nationwide, who else do you recommend, especially when it comes to dealing with very demanding DC area parents? Instead of throwing insults, please note that the four-year "argument" is established Maryland law, and I'd rather have consistency in a critical role. In terms of "violence" being up, correlation does not equal causation. Not every union member voted, it's only the most vocal ones that we end up hearing from.

What shortage? 12 people applied!

[Anonymous]

8 school districts in the state of Maryland alone are looking for new Superintendents.

My guess is MCPS will name McKnight for the job, and they can continue their downward slide. New blood is so needed, to clean house and fix the mess brought by the last few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8 school districts in the state of Maryland alone are looking for new Superintendents.

My guess is MCPS will name McKnight for the job, and they can continue their downward slide. New blood is so needed, to clean house and fix the mess brought by the last few.

Why not let one of the other 8 have her? She’s bounced from other school systems before she was named Deputy Superintendent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I encourage Dr. McKnight to fill the vacancies and not just talk about filling vacancies. I also encourage her to actually step foot in a school to see how staff are struggling to cover the shortages.

With her magic wand?

No. With high pay and changing the bully culture in MCPS that makes it a nightmare to work for.

I am sure hoping that she is not appointed to the permanent position. If she is, then the Board of Ed is sending a message that it’s not listening to the educators in the classroom. I wonder where the Board members would be without the MCEA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 school districts in the state of Maryland alone are looking for new Superintendents.

My guess is MCPS will name McKnight for the job, and they can continue their downward slide. New blood is so needed, to clean house and fix the mess brought by the last few.

Why not let one of the other 8 have her? She’s bounced from other school systems before she was named Deputy Superintendent.

That’s my view as well. I see excuses frequently that things are not her fault because MCPS is so big. Maybe it’s just too big for her? Perhaps her supporters are right that she can be a good super but maybe only in the right environment. Nothing to be ashamed of for her to take on a smaller district and maybe even one a little closer to home would work better for her family.