MoCo OIG Blasts Taylor and MCPS for lies over backlog and non-compliance with background and CPS checks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

No, the report is not JUST speaking to CPS checks. It also speaks to background checks. You need to re-read the report before yourself before you attempt to accuse and chastise others for getting information wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

This is not accurate. MCPS does the finger printing prior to orientation. This report isn’t about them not running background checks, it’s about connecting background checks to CPS and other agencies, which is relatively new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

This is not accurate. MCPS does the finger printing prior to orientation. This report isn’t about them not running background checks, it’s about connecting background checks to CPS and other agencies, which is relatively new.

I think you might be stretching the limits of the phrase "relatively new," since the issues stretch back to 2019, which is over five years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

This is not accurate. MCPS does the finger printing prior to orientation. This report isn’t about them not running background checks, it’s about connecting background checks to CPS and other agencies, which is relatively new.

I think you might be stretching the limits of the phrase "relatively new," since the issues stretch back to 2019, which is over five years ago.

Things were paused during the pandemic, this applied to a broad range of programs, even medical, but what never stopped was fingerprinting and screening for new employees, we are discussing renewals and enrollments which are still important but many on this thread are making it seem like NO background screening has been in place, which isn't true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

This is not accurate. MCPS does the finger printing prior to orientation. This report isn’t about them not running background checks, it’s about connecting background checks to CPS and other agencies, which is relatively new.

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

No, the report is not JUST speaking to CPS checks. It also speaks to background checks. You need to re-read the report before yourself before you attempt to accuse and chastise others for getting information wrong.

No 'attempt' here. The information that mcps does not screen new employees is wrong. Full stop. You can't even register or enroll in payroll before your screening is completed.

[Anonymous]

Washington Post coverage is out now: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/08/05/montgomery-schools-background-checks/

It includes an interview with Limarzi who says:

Limarzi said in an interview the tone of the superintendent’s response letter was unusual, but she maintained that her office’s work was factually accurate. She noted that the school system agreed to most of the report’s recommendations.

“I think a lot of this back-and-forth really is a distraction, and it’s to get people to talk about something other than the deficiencies that we identified and that are contained in the report,” she said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

No, the report is not JUST speaking to CPS checks. It also speaks to background checks. You need to re-read the report before yourself before you attempt to accuse and chastise others for getting information wrong.

No 'attempt' here. The information that mcps does not screen new employees is wrong. Full stop. You can't even register or enroll in payroll before your screening is completed.

The poster you are attempting to correct did NOT claim that MCPS "does not screen new employees." The poster compared the serious, business-focused nature of new teacher orientation at PGCPS, which included the fingerprint and background screening, compared to MCPS's light, fluffy, child-like new teacher orientation, which focused on content delivery from reading slides verbatim.

Your reading comprehension is lacking. Go back to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

No, the report is not JUST speaking to CPS checks. It also speaks to background checks. You need to re-read the report before yourself before you attempt to accuse and chastise others for getting information wrong.

Right, but the background check issue is not that people aren't getting background checks when they're hired. It's that they started a new "rap back" system in 2019 that notifies them of new criminal background issues for existing employees, but still haven't gotten all the previous employees enrolled into the system. There is no accusation or concern that new employees are not getting criminal background checks before hire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Less than one year for Taylor to establish his reputation as completely untrustworthy and arrogant, deflecting criticism instead of showing thanks for it.

Many were after him from day 30, "he hasn't made any changes." Others saying give him time. It looks like those at CO were looking for changes in HR without saying HR. Now a year later, what had improved?

He had a year. He’s had time. He blew off the meetings and concern.

Maybe this is all he really wants -- one year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

No, the report is not JUST speaking to CPS checks. It also speaks to background checks. You need to re-read the report before yourself before you attempt to accuse and chastise others for getting information wrong.

Right, but the background check issue is not that people aren't getting background checks when they're hired. It's that they started a new "rap back" system in 2019 that notifies them of new criminal background issues for existing employees, but still haven't gotten all the previous employees enrolled into the system. There is no accusation or concern that new employees are not getting criminal background checks before hire.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

No, the report is not JUST speaking to CPS checks. It also speaks to background checks. You need to re-read the report before yourself before you attempt to accuse and chastise others for getting information wrong.

No 'attempt' here. The information that mcps does not screen new employees is wrong. Full stop. You can't even register or enroll in payroll before your screening is completed.

The poster you are attempting to correct did NOT claim that MCPS "does not screen new employees." The poster compared the serious, business-focused nature of new teacher orientation at PGCPS, which included the fingerprint and background screening, compared to MCPS's light, fluffy, child-like new teacher orientation, which focused on content delivery from reading slides verbatim.

Your reading comprehension is lacking. Go back to school.

DP.
No, the poster was trying to purposefully mislead.
Read between the lines. It's obvious it's your reading comprehension that is lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inexcusable and bizarre. I worked in PGCPS before MCPS. They have mandatory new teacher orientation where they fingerprint you, run your background check, the whole thing. When I got hired in MCPS the new teacher orientation was a ton of speeches, kid performances, and then almost a full day of getting curriculum slides read to me. MCPS gets away with SO much because of reputation. State test security and special education services need to be investigated next.

MCPS fingerprints all new employees. You know, unless youre lying, that MCPS orientation is AFTER youve been cleared. It states this on all orientation materials, you can't attend until you have been. This report is speaking to cps checks not fingerprints or background checks, they are separate

No, the report is not JUST speaking to CPS checks. It also speaks to background checks. You need to re-read the report before yourself before you attempt to accuse and chastise others for getting information wrong.

No 'attempt' here. The information that mcps does not screen new employees is wrong. Full stop. You can't even register or enroll in payroll before your screening is completed.

The poster you are attempting to correct did NOT claim that MCPS "does not screen new employees." The poster compared the serious, business-focused nature of new teacher orientation at PGCPS, which included the fingerprint and background screening, compared to MCPS's light, fluffy, child-like new teacher orientation, which focused on content delivery from reading slides verbatim.

Your reading comprehension is lacking. Go back to school.

DP.
No, the poster was trying to purposefully mislead.
Read between the lines. It's obvious it's your reading comprehension that is lacking.

I’m the poster and I assure you I was not trying to mislead. I was just sharing my experience. The attitude that MCPS is infallible needs to change. I don’t know how we can make improvements when there are so many people that refuse to admit when there are issues. That mindset is why employees were still filling out paper time sheets up until last year. Other districts aren’t having these problems so MCPS needs to adapt and get with the times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington Post coverage is out now: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/08/05/montgomery-schools-background-checks/

It includes an interview with Limarzi who says:

Limarzi said in an interview the tone of the superintendent’s response letter was unusual, but she maintained that her office’s work was factually accurate. She noted that the school system agreed to most of the report’s recommendations.

“I think a lot of this back-and-forth really is a distraction, and it’s to get people to talk about something other than the deficiencies that we identified and that are contained in the report,” she said.

Is there a week when mcps is not on WaPo? The community of 160k are asking for a boring news week and year. Please.