Dec 18th: FY 2026 Recommended Operating Budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whole employee benefits fund issue is bizarre to me. They are essentially saying they won't set premiums at a level that will actually cover the cost of the services. Already the share paid by employees is low compared to other county employees. And this means it's even lower than they claim because they are subsidizing it. It's not transparent and it's not sustainable. They should be up front and admit

that the employee cost share is actually less than 17%

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

And now the last two parents are going crazy because MCPS doesn't have the money or the teachers to bring back the failed program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

Stop making up non-sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

Many of the kids didn't return, which makes up part of the kids leaving MCPS. Be thankful you or your child doesn't have health issues. Maybe if you'd be more cautious, their kids could return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

It was a good school and the costs were minimal for MCPS. But, now that they will be getting a huge budget increase, no reason not to bring it back.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

And now the last two parents are going crazy because MCPS doesn't have the money or the teachers to bring back the failed program.

On no. MCPS is funding the failed program. It is called MCPS. Taylor is going to offer a money back guarantee if your child can’t read or do math in 10 years! What a deal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

Stop making up non-sense.

Clearly you have never been in a school before. This is life and the MVA was an added layer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whole employee benefits fund issue is bizarre to me. They are essentially saying they won't set premiums at a level that will actually cover the cost of the services. Already the share paid by employees is low compared to other county employees. And this means it's even lower than they claim because they are subsidizing it. It's not transparent and it's not sustainable. They should be up front and admit

MCPS got burned on the unexpected costs last year and they must not have confidence in the consultant's predictive ability for the coming year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole employee benefits fund issue is bizarre to me. They are essentially saying they won't set premiums at a level that will actually cover the cost of the services. Already the share paid by employees is low compared to other county employees. And this means it's even lower than they claim because they are subsidizing it. It's not transparent and it's not sustainable. They should be up front and admit

MCPS got burned on the unexpected costs last year and they must not have confidence in the consultant's predictive ability for the coming year.

Uh no, from the sessions I've watched they seem pretty confident the premiums aren't covering costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole employee benefits fund issue is bizarre to me. They are essentially saying they won't set premiums at a level that will actually cover the cost of the services. Already the share paid by employees is low compared to other county employees. And this means it's even lower than they claim because they are subsidizing it. It's not transparent and it's not sustainable. They should be up front and admit

MCPS got burned on the unexpected costs last year and they must not have confidence in the consultant's predictive ability for the coming year.

Uh no, from the sessions I've watched they seem pretty confident the premiums aren't covering costs.

+1. They know premiums are not covering cost and that the employer share is too high. I think it was over 80%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole employee benefits fund issue is bizarre to me. They are essentially saying they won't set premiums at a level that will actually cover the cost of the services. Already the share paid by employees is low compared to other county employees. And this means it's even lower than they claim because they are subsidizing it. It's not transparent and it's not sustainable. They should be up front and admit

MCPS got burned on the unexpected costs last year and they must not have confidence in the consultant's predictive ability for the coming year.

Uh no, from the sessions I've watched they seem pretty confident the premiums aren't covering costs.

+1. They know premiums are not covering cost and that the employer share is too high. I think it was over 80%.

Let's see...how many BOE members owe their victories to the union?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

And now the last two parents are going crazy because MCPS doesn't have the money or the teachers to bring back the failed program.

On no. MCPS is funding the failed program. It is called MCPS. Taylor is going to offer a money back guarantee if your child can’t read or do math in 10 years! What a deal!

So, they keep failing kids in MCPS as they aren’t willing to actually educate kids and expect Mc to fix it? Too little too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

And now the last two parents are going crazy because MCPS doesn't have the money or the teachers to bring back the failed program.

The school has higher test scores than some in person. By your logic all underperforming schools should be closed. What is your obsession?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

And now the last two parents are going crazy because MCPS doesn't have the money or the teachers to bring back the failed program.

The school has higher test scores than some in person. By your logic all underperforming schools should be closed. What is your obsession?

What’s yours? MVA didn’t exist prior to the pandemic and no promised it would exist forever following said pandemic. There is not enough medically frail students to make it fiscally viable without it serving other student needs. And in that case it would need to include other teachers for select periods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

And now the last two parents are going crazy because MCPS doesn't have the money or the teachers to bring back the failed program.

The school has higher test scores than some in person. By your logic all underperforming schools should be closed. What is your obsession?

What’s yours? MVA didn’t exist prior to the pandemic and no promised it would exist forever following said pandemic. There is not enough medically frail students to make it fiscally viable without it serving other student needs. And in that case it would need to include other teachers for select periods.

That's why a state program would work better than a district-level program. Even then it might not have enough students, so states may need to partner on such a program.