Two Montgomery school board seats will have primaries as new candidates join race

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/two-montgomery-school-board-seats-will-have-primaries-as-new-candidates-join-race/?fbclid=IwAR1q4IcKwXMD4ggMud0CIepTWT7uTJrNsH5yyZGQhBimY1Rr_5DWIJyLZhE

Ummm worst news ever. Please, someone else run. We don’t want these two deciding mcps policy for the next couple of years. Dawn is tone deaf. And Dawn don’t try and get this post removed like you usually do. As a candidate, you are now subject to public scrutiny. So heckling people at BOE meetings, wearing a MESH mask to BOE meetings (well before the mandate was lifted) in order to antagonize the BOE and those who were masked and picking on the SMOB are all things you will have to answer for.

Do you know who is on the Apple ballot yet?

For BOE, so far MCEA has endorsed only Julie Yang in the District 3 race.

She sounds great! Definitely has my vote.

She is Apple ballot endorsed, which will get a major side eye from me.

Apple ballot:
- Endorsed by teachers? Check.
- Not an incumbent? Check.

Good enough for me - Julie Yang it is!!!!

This is why the apple ballot is so powerful. The problem is that the apple ballot is not about support from teachers, it’s about support from the union. The priority is not education, but political influence and leverage for collective bargaining.

Here’s a Post article explaining that candidates are supposed to make contributions to the union in exchange for the endorsement. I’m pretty sure those contributions are not passed along to the individual teachers, much less applied to improving the educational experience in the classroom.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-perverse-politics/2014/02/01/98f099f2-8921-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

Here’s an article talking about the negative impact that too much emphasis on union priorities can have. It’s great that teachers get higher salaries and better benefits, but at some point that means not hiring as many teachers, which means bigger class sizes and less support.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-wrong-education-priorities/2012/05/24/gJQA0wOBoU_story.html

Currently, the union holds the power, because when it comes time to vote, most people want to support the teachers and will vote the apple ballot rather than doing the hard work to see what the actual issues are and where the candidates stand on those issues. So, the voters support the union (thinking they’re supporting teachers). The union supports the candidates that it feels will support them in contract negotiations (and of course contributing to the union is a way of demonstrating their good will). The school board, once elected, makes sure the administration negotiates favorable terms with the union, and doesn’t interfere too much with the actual running of things, because after all, they’re doing such a great job - just ask them. The administration gives the union what they want and keeps doing whatever it wants to otherwise. Standardized test scores may be low. They may have to cancel finals because too many students are failing the finals they’ve written for courses they’ve written. Colleges are recognizing that MCPS grades are inflated. Private tutoring is a booming industry. Even a curriculum audit shows what many parents have been saying all along, that their in-house curriculum is fundamentally deficient. Then the MCPS PR department (which I think is probably the only part of MCPS that functions effectively) tells everyone that MCPS is “one of the best school systems in the nation”. Voters feel vindicated that they were right to cast that apple ballot. It’s all very cozy, and everybody’s happy, except maybe little Larlo/Larla who won’t have the skills they need to succeed academically and to be fully prepared to meet their needs, let alone follow their dreams.

According to the state of Maryland, our percent proficiency for E/M/H students is:
Math - 52% / 42.5% / 56.2%
English Language Arts - 53% / 54.8% / 67.3%

https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX/2019

Think how hard it is to learn Algebra, if you’re one of the 48% who isn’t proficient in the fundamentals taught in elementary, or about absorbing complex texts in history, science, and of course literature, if you’re one of the 47% who isn’t proficient in English Language Arts. How many of these kids are functionally illiterate? These numbers include those whose parents teach them at home or take them to regular tutoring sessions.

Thanks - this was actually quite helpful. In past years, I remember seeing the apple ballots handed out at polling places, but I didn't fully understand how those endorsements were decided.

I have also been concerned about math/language proficiency, based on what I see with my own children, so I appreciate seeing the county wide numbers. I vaguely remember a news article about saturday school (virginia maybe?) to help with learning loss. But I haven't heard much about a similar approach or tutoring services for mcps students. Has anyone else? We are currently looking for local tutoring options or recommendations.

Here’s a link about the MCPS Saturday school. My kids never went, so I don’t know anything about it.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/596315/Saturday-School/

They are also offering tutoring at some schools and virtually.

Check the ESSER funding. Millions of covid money was dedicated in that budget? Not sure what tutoring there really is available though? Anyone know?

It is available but hard to get tutors. We got a lovely tutor on one topic but cannot seem to get one for math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you’re not wrong. All the candidates are awful. But I'll never vote for Wolff or Coll, so Iannaco-Hahn it is. And I shudder to think that I might have to vote for Silvestre, given that Fryar seems mentally unstable and Giandomenico doesn't seem capable of substantive thought.

Coll seems like the clear choice in this race.

Coll is anti-gifted programs and acceleration. May not matter to some people of course.

Where did you get this info? Cite your source please.

I don't have an opinion either way - just haven't seen any info on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/two-montgomery-school-board-seats-will-have-primaries-as-new-candidates-join-race/?fbclid=IwAR1q4IcKwXMD4ggMud0CIepTWT7uTJrNsH5yyZGQhBimY1Rr_5DWIJyLZhE

Ummm worst news ever. Please, someone else run. We don’t want these two deciding mcps policy for the next couple of years. Dawn is tone deaf. And Dawn don’t try and get this post removed like you usually do. As a candidate, you are now subject to public scrutiny. So heckling people at BOE meetings, wearing a MESH mask to BOE meetings (well before the mandate was lifted) in order to antagonize the BOE and those who were masked and picking on the SMOB are all things you will have to answer for.

Do you know who is on the Apple ballot yet?

For BOE, so far MCEA has endorsed only Julie Yang in the District 3 race.

She sounds great! Definitely has my vote.

She is Apple ballot endorsed, which will get a major side eye from me.

Apple ballot:
- Endorsed by teachers? Check.
- Not an incumbent? Check.

Good enough for me - Julie Yang it is!!!!

Teachers really need to clarify this for me, does mcea truly represent teachers and if it’s an endorsement is this a real teacher endorsement? I asked this a couple of years ago and I was told here on DCUM that it was not. The entire time I always thought an Apple endorsement was supporting teachers.

I think it's endorsement by NCA it's not necessary endorsement where all the teachers in Montgomery county are voting for whom to endorse. To be perfectly fair I don't attend Union meetings and maybe that's when it comes up in conversation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Docca running again? At the very least I hope everyone can agree she needs to go.

Docca is not running again.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/docca-not-running-for-re-election-to-montgomery-county-school-board/?fbclid=IwAR2OKbdZkck7tlXKcbjD-bIhIWcpQI0LoEACOTB_LI6EKUa8UvxJzn461d0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Docca running again? At the very least I hope everyone can agree she needs to go.

Docca is not running again.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/docca-not-running-for-re-election-to-montgomery-county-school-board/?fbclid=IwAR2OKbdZkck7tlXKcbjD-bIhIWcpQI0LoEACOTB_LI6EKUa8UvxJzn461d0

What did Docca do that makes you believe this? I'm sorry I actually don't know this and am curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Docca running again? At the very least I hope everyone can agree she needs to go.

Docca is not running again.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/docca-not-running-for-re-election-to-montgomery-county-school-board/?fbclid=IwAR2OKbdZkck7tlXKcbjD-bIhIWcpQI0LoEACOTB_LI6EKUa8UvxJzn461d0

What did Docca do that makes you believe this? I'm sorry I actually don't know this and am curious.

DP. Quoting from the linked article: "Docca did not file to run by the 9 p.m. deadline on Friday."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/two-montgomery-school-board-seats-will-have-primaries-as-new-candidates-join-race/?fbclid=IwAR1q4IcKwXMD4ggMud0CIepTWT7uTJrNsH5yyZGQhBimY1Rr_5DWIJyLZhE

Ummm worst news ever. Please, someone else run. We don’t want these two deciding mcps policy for the next couple of years. Dawn is tone deaf. And Dawn don’t try and get this post removed like you usually do. As a candidate, you are now subject to public scrutiny. So heckling people at BOE meetings, wearing a MESH mask to BOE meetings (well before the mandate was lifted) in order to antagonize the BOE and those who were masked and picking on the SMOB are all things you will have to answer for.

Do you know who is on the Apple ballot yet?

For BOE, so far MCEA has endorsed only Julie Yang in the District 3 race.

She sounds great! Definitely has my vote.

She is Apple ballot endorsed, which will get a major side eye from me.

Apple ballot:
- Endorsed by teachers? Check.
- Not an incumbent? Check.

Good enough for me - Julie Yang it is!!!!

This is why the apple ballot is so powerful. The problem is that the apple ballot is not about support from teachers, it’s about support from the union. The priority is not education, but political influence and leverage for collective bargaining.

Here’s a Post article explaining that candidates are supposed to make contributions to the union in exchange for the endorsement. I’m pretty sure those contributions are not passed along to the individual teachers, much less applied to improving the educational experience in the classroom.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-perverse-politics/2014/02/01/98f099f2-8921-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

Here’s an article talking about the negative impact that too much emphasis on union priorities can have. It’s great that teachers get higher salaries and better benefits, but at some point that means not hiring as many teachers, which means bigger class sizes and less support.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-wrong-education-priorities/2012/05/24/gJQA0wOBoU_story.html

Currently, the union holds the power, because when it comes time to vote, most people want to support the teachers and will vote the apple ballot rather than doing the hard work to see what the actual issues are and where the candidates stand on those issues. So, the voters support the union (thinking they’re supporting teachers). The union supports the candidates that it feels will support them in contract negotiations (and of course contributing to the union is a way of demonstrating their good will). The school board, once elected, makes sure the administration negotiates favorable terms with the union, and doesn’t interfere too much with the actual running of things, because after all, they’re doing such a great job - just ask them. The administration gives the union what they want and keeps doing whatever it wants to otherwise. Standardized test scores may be low. They may have to cancel finals because too many students are failing the finals they’ve written for courses they’ve written. Colleges are recognizing that MCPS grades are inflated. Private tutoring is a booming industry. Even a curriculum audit shows what many parents have been saying all along, that their in-house curriculum is fundamentally deficient. Then the MCPS PR department (which I think is probably the only part of MCPS that functions effectively) tells everyone that MCPS is “one of the best school systems in the nation”. Voters feel vindicated that they were right to cast that apple ballot. It’s all very cozy, and everybody’s happy, except maybe little Larlo/Larla who won’t have the skills they need to succeed academically and to be fully prepared to meet their needs, let alone follow their dreams.

According to the state of Maryland, our percent proficiency for E/M/H students is:
Math - 52% / 42.5% / 56.2%
English Language Arts - 53% / 54.8% / 67.3%

https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX/2019

Think how hard it is to learn Algebra, if you’re one of the 48% who isn’t proficient in the fundamentals taught in elementary, or about absorbing complex texts in history, science, and of course literature, if you’re one of the 47% who isn’t proficient in English Language Arts. How many of these kids are functionally illiterate? These numbers include those whose parents teach them at home or take them to regular tutoring sessions.

Thanks - this was actually quite helpful. In past years, I remember seeing the apple ballots handed out at polling places, but I didn't fully understand how those endorsements were decided.

I have also been concerned about math/language proficiency, based on what I see with my own children, so I appreciate seeing the county wide numbers. I vaguely remember a news article about saturday school (virginia maybe?) to help with learning loss. But I haven't heard much about a similar approach or tutoring services for mcps students. Has anyone else? We are currently looking for local tutoring options or recommendations.

Here’s a link about the MCPS Saturday school. My kids never went, so I don’t know anything about it.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/596315/Saturday-School/

They are also offering tutoring at some schools and virtually.

Check the ESSER funding. Millions of covid money was dedicated in that budget? Not sure what tutoring there really is available though? Anyone know?

I know one school was giving out SSL hours for students willing to tutor, so I know where the tutoring money ISN'T going.

I'm interested in an honest, boe centrist who:
- treats all kids, of all colors and religions, equally
- doesn't lie like a snake
- is reasonable about providing health and safety options (both for the families that need in-person, but options to protect bus drivers, teachers, staff and students when the situation warrants it, such as hybrid)
- will tell the sup that "no, you can't go flying off to pick up an award until you have a coherent covid plan that reasonably provided health and safety options"
- will support teachers to ensure they're funded before bocce ball is
- will tell the other boe members, "no, you will publish the full list of which schools went to Kid Museum last year for $2M and calculate the admission cost per student"
- will fight for funds to renovate schools before spending 4M on training or electronic instruction boards the teachers don't know how to use
- will ask the CO to investigate and respond to why they had so many open discrimination cases this summer
- makes Spec Ed programs for those in need or who qualify, and fights for that funding
- provides unfiltered data to parents and publish the reasons why they're doing things
- doesn't go around wasting taxpayer money on crazy pet projects, then goes begging for more money
- focuses on education (versus politics)

You know. A mature adult. Like they have on TV.

[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:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/two-montgomery-school-board-seats-will-have-primaries-as-new-candidates-join-race/?fbclid=IwAR1q4IcKwXMD4ggMud0CIepTWT7uTJrNsH5yyZGQhBimY1Rr_5DWIJyLZhE

Ummm worst news ever. Please, someone else run. We don’t want these two deciding mcps policy for the next couple of years. Dawn is tone deaf. And Dawn don’t try and get this post removed like you usually do. As a candidate, you are now subject to public scrutiny. So heckling people at BOE meetings, wearing a MESH mask to BOE meetings (well before the mandate was lifted) in order to antagonize the BOE and those who were masked and picking on the SMOB are all things you will have to answer for.

Do you know who is on the Apple ballot yet?

For BOE, so far MCEA has endorsed only Julie Yang in the District 3 race.

She sounds great! Definitely has my vote.

She is Apple ballot endorsed, which will get a major side eye from me.

Apple ballot:
- Endorsed by teachers? Check.
- Not an incumbent? Check.

Good enough for me - Julie Yang it is!!!!

This is why the apple ballot is so powerful. The problem is that the apple ballot is not about support from teachers, it’s about support from the union. The priority is not education, but political influence and leverage for collective bargaining.

Here’s a Post article explaining that candidates are supposed to make contributions to the union in exchange for the endorsement. I’m pretty sure those contributions are not passed along to the individual teachers, much less applied to improving the educational experience in the classroom.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-perverse-politics/2014/02/01/98f099f2-8921-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

Here’s an article talking about the negative impact that too much emphasis on union priorities can have. It’s great that teachers get higher salaries and better benefits, but at some point that means not hiring as many teachers, which means bigger class sizes and less support.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-wrong-education-priorities/2012/05/24/gJQA0wOBoU_story.html

Currently, the union holds the power, because when it comes time to vote, most people want to support the teachers and will vote the apple ballot rather than doing the hard work to see what the actual issues are and where the candidates stand on those issues. So, the voters support the union (thinking they’re supporting teachers). The union supports the candidates that it feels will support them in contract negotiations (and of course contributing to the union is a way of demonstrating their good will). The school board, once elected, makes sure the administration negotiates favorable terms with the union, and doesn’t interfere too much with the actual running of things, because after all, they’re doing such a great job - just ask them. The administration gives the union what they want and keeps doing whatever it wants to otherwise. Standardized test scores may be low. They may have to cancel finals because too many students are failing the finals they’ve written for courses they’ve written. Colleges are recognizing that MCPS grades are inflated. Private tutoring is a booming industry. Even a curriculum audit shows what many parents have been saying all along, that their in-house curriculum is fundamentally deficient. Then the MCPS PR department (which I think is probably the only part of MCPS that functions effectively) tells everyone that MCPS is “one of the best school systems in the nation”. Voters feel vindicated that they were right to cast that apple ballot. It’s all very cozy, and everybody’s happy, except maybe little Larlo/Larla who won’t have the skills they need to succeed academically and to be fully prepared to meet their needs, let alone follow their dreams.

According to the state of Maryland, our percent proficiency for E/M/H students is:
Math - 52% / 42.5% / 56.2%
English Language Arts - 53% / 54.8% / 67.3%

https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX/2019

Think how hard it is to learn Algebra, if you’re one of the 48% who isn’t proficient in the fundamentals taught in elementary, or about absorbing complex texts in history, science, and of course literature, if you’re one of the 47% who isn’t proficient in English Language Arts. How many of these kids are functionally illiterate? These numbers include those whose parents teach them at home or take them to regular tutoring sessions.

Thanks - this was actually quite helpful. In past years, I remember seeing the apple ballots handed out at polling places, but I didn't fully understand how those endorsements were decided.

I have also been concerned about math/language proficiency, based on what I see with my own children, so I appreciate seeing the county wide numbers. I vaguely remember a news article about saturday school (virginia maybe?) to help with learning loss. But I haven't heard much about a similar approach or tutoring services for mcps students. Has anyone else? We are currently looking for local tutoring options or recommendations.

Here’s a link about the MCPS Saturday school. My kids never went, so I don’t know anything about it.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/596315/Saturday-School/

They are also offering tutoring at some schools and virtually.

Check the ESSER funding. Millions of covid money was dedicated in that budget? Not sure what tutoring there really is available though? Anyone know?

I know one school was giving out SSL hours for students willing to tutor, so I know where the tutoring money ISN'T going.

I'm interested in an honest, boe centrist who:
- treats all kids, of all colors and religions, equally
- doesn't lie like a snake
- is reasonable about providing health and safety options (both for the families that need in-person, but options to protect bus drivers, teachers, staff and students when the situation warrants it, such as hybrid)
- will tell the sup that "no, you can't go flying off to pick up an award until you have a coherent covid plan that reasonably provided health and safety options"
- will support teachers to ensure they're funded before bocce ball is
- will tell the other boe members, "no, you will publish the full list of which schools went to Kid Museum last year for $2M and calculate the admission cost per student"
- will fight for funds to renovate schools before spending 4M on training or electronic instruction boards the teachers don't know how to use
- will ask the CO to investigate and respond to why they had so many open discrimination cases this summer
- makes Spec Ed programs for those in need or who qualify, and fights for that funding
- provides unfiltered data to parents and publish the reasons why they're doing things
- doesn't go around wasting taxpayer money on crazy pet projects, then goes begging for more money
- focuses on education (versus politics)

You know. A mature adult. Like they have on TV.

That's great stuff. My kids loved the children's museum and also really enjoyed bocce in PE. That's wonderful stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Docca running again? At the very least I hope everyone can agree she needs to go.

Docca is not running again.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/docca-not-running-for-re-election-to-montgomery-county-school-board/?fbclid=IwAR2OKbdZkck7tlXKcbjD-bIhIWcpQI0LoEACOTB_LI6EKUa8UvxJzn461d0

What did Docca do that makes you believe this? I'm sorry I actually don't know this and am curious.

DP. Quoting from the linked article: "Docca did not file to run by the 9 p.m. deadline on Friday."

The article gives me the impression she isn't running.

[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:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/two-montgomery-school-board-seats-will-have-primaries-as-new-candidates-join-race/?fbclid=IwAR1q4IcKwXMD4ggMud0CIepTWT7uTJrNsH5yyZGQhBimY1Rr_5DWIJyLZhE

Ummm worst news ever. Please, someone else run. We don’t want these two deciding mcps policy for the next couple of years. Dawn is tone deaf. And Dawn don’t try and get this post removed like you usually do. As a candidate, you are now subject to public scrutiny. So heckling people at BOE meetings, wearing a MESH mask to BOE meetings (well before the mandate was lifted) in order to antagonize the BOE and those who were masked and picking on the SMOB are all things you will have to answer for.

Do you know who is on the Apple ballot yet?

For BOE, so far MCEA has endorsed only Julie Yang in the District 3 race.

She sounds great! Definitely has my vote.

She is Apple ballot endorsed, which will get a major side eye from me.

Apple ballot:
- Endorsed by teachers? Check.
- Not an incumbent? Check.

Good enough for me - Julie Yang it is!!!!

This is why the apple ballot is so powerful. The problem is that the apple ballot is not about support from teachers, it’s about support from the union. The priority is not education, but political influence and leverage for collective bargaining.

Here’s a Post article explaining that candidates are supposed to make contributions to the union in exchange for the endorsement. I’m pretty sure those contributions are not passed along to the individual teachers, much less applied to improving the educational experience in the classroom.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-perverse-politics/2014/02/01/98f099f2-8921-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

Here’s an article talking about the negative impact that too much emphasis on union priorities can have. It’s great that teachers get higher salaries and better benefits, but at some point that means not hiring as many teachers, which means bigger class sizes and less support.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-wrong-education-priorities/2012/05/24/gJQA0wOBoU_story.html

Currently, the union holds the power, because when it comes time to vote, most people want to support the teachers and will vote the apple ballot rather than doing the hard work to see what the actual issues are and where the candidates stand on those issues. So, the voters support the union (thinking they’re supporting teachers). The union supports the candidates that it feels will support them in contract negotiations (and of course contributing to the union is a way of demonstrating their good will). The school board, once elected, makes sure the administration negotiates favorable terms with the union, and doesn’t interfere too much with the actual running of things, because after all, they’re doing such a great job - just ask them. The administration gives the union what they want and keeps doing whatever it wants to otherwise. Standardized test scores may be low. They may have to cancel finals because too many students are failing the finals they’ve written for courses they’ve written. Colleges are recognizing that MCPS grades are inflated. Private tutoring is a booming industry. Even a curriculum audit shows what many parents have been saying all along, that their in-house curriculum is fundamentally deficient. Then the MCPS PR department (which I think is probably the only part of MCPS that functions effectively) tells everyone that MCPS is “one of the best school systems in the nation”. Voters feel vindicated that they were right to cast that apple ballot. It’s all very cozy, and everybody’s happy, except maybe little Larlo/Larla who won’t have the skills they need to succeed academically and to be fully prepared to meet their needs, let alone follow their dreams.

According to the state of Maryland, our percent proficiency for E/M/H students is:
Math - 52% / 42.5% / 56.2%
English Language Arts - 53% / 54.8% / 67.3%

https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX/2019

Think how hard it is to learn Algebra, if you’re one of the 48% who isn’t proficient in the fundamentals taught in elementary, or about absorbing complex texts in history, science, and of course literature, if you’re one of the 47% who isn’t proficient in English Language Arts. How many of these kids are functionally illiterate? These numbers include those whose parents teach them at home or take them to regular tutoring sessions.

Thanks - this was actually quite helpful. In past years, I remember seeing the apple ballots handed out at polling places, but I didn't fully understand how those endorsements were decided.

I have also been concerned about math/language proficiency, based on what I see with my own children, so I appreciate seeing the county wide numbers. I vaguely remember a news article about saturday school (virginia maybe?) to help with learning loss. But I haven't heard much about a similar approach or tutoring services for mcps students. Has anyone else? We are currently looking for local tutoring options or recommendations.

Here’s a link about the MCPS Saturday school. My kids never went, so I don’t know anything about it.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/596315/Saturday-School/

They are also offering tutoring at some schools and virtually.

Check the ESSER funding. Millions of covid money was dedicated in that budget? Not sure what tutoring there really is available though? Anyone know?

I know one school was giving out SSL hours for students willing to tutor, so I know where the tutoring money ISN'T going.

I'm interested in an honest, boe centrist who:
- treats all kids, of all colors and religions, equally
- doesn't lie like a snake
- is reasonable about providing health and safety options (both for the families that need in-person, but options to protect bus drivers, teachers, staff and students when the situation warrants it, such as hybrid)
- will tell the sup that "no, you can't go flying off to pick up an award until you have a coherent covid plan that reasonably provided health and safety options"
- will support teachers to ensure they're funded before bocce ball is
- will tell the other boe members, "no, you will publish the full list of which schools went to Kid Museum last year for $2M and calculate the admission cost per student"
- will fight for funds to renovate schools before spending 4M on training or electronic instruction boards the teachers don't know how to use
- will ask the CO to investigate and respond to why they had so many open discrimination cases this summer
- makes Spec Ed programs for those in need or who qualify, and fights for that funding
- provides unfiltered data to parents and publish the reasons why they're doing things
- doesn't go around wasting taxpayer money on crazy pet projects, then goes begging for more money
- focuses on education (versus politics)

You know. A mature adult. Like they have on TV.

I think Giandomenico is your At-Large candidate, then.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Is Docca running again? At the very least I hope everyone can agree she needs to go.

Docca is not running again.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/docca-not-running-for-re-election-to-montgomery-county-school-board/?fbclid=IwAR2OKbdZkck7tlXKcbjD-bIhIWcpQI0LoEACOTB_LI6EKUa8UvxJzn461d0

What did Docca do that makes you believe this? I'm sorry I actually don't know this and am curious.

DP. Quoting from the linked article: "Docca did not file to run by the 9 p.m. deadline on Friday."

The article gives me the impression she isn't running.

Yes, the headline is "Docca not running for re-election to Montgomery County school board." I don't understand what the "What did Docca do..." PP is asking about.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/two-montgomery-school-board-seats-will-have-primaries-as-new-candidates-join-race/?fbclid=IwAR1q4IcKwXMD4ggMud0CIepTWT7uTJrNsH5yyZGQhBimY1Rr_5DWIJyLZhE

Ummm worst news ever. Please, someone else run. We don’t want these two deciding mcps policy for the next couple of years. Dawn is tone deaf. And Dawn don’t try and get this post removed like you usually do. As a candidate, you are now subject to public scrutiny. So heckling people at BOE meetings, wearing a MESH mask to BOE meetings (well before the mandate was lifted) in order to antagonize the BOE and those who were masked and picking on the SMOB are all things you will have to answer for.

Do you know who is on the Apple ballot yet?

For BOE, so far MCEA has endorsed only Julie Yang in the District 3 race.

She sounds great! Definitely has my vote.

She is Apple ballot endorsed, which will get a major side eye from me.

Apple ballot:
- Endorsed by teachers? Check.
- Not an incumbent? Check.

Good enough for me - Julie Yang it is!!!!

This is why the apple ballot is so powerful. The problem is that the apple ballot is not about support from teachers, it’s about support from the union. The priority is not education, but political influence and leverage for collective bargaining.

Here’s a Post article explaining that candidates are supposed to make contributions to the union in exchange for the endorsement. I’m pretty sure those contributions are not passed along to the individual teachers, much less applied to improving the educational experience in the classroom.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-perverse-politics/2014/02/01/98f099f2-8921-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

Here’s an article talking about the negative impact that too much emphasis on union priorities can have. It’s great that teachers get higher salaries and better benefits, but at some point that means not hiring as many teachers, which means bigger class sizes and less support.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/montgomery-countys-wrong-education-priorities/2012/05/24/gJQA0wOBoU_story.html

Currently, the union holds the power, because when it comes time to vote, most people want to support the teachers and will vote the apple ballot rather than doing the hard work to see what the actual issues are and where the candidates stand on those issues. So, the voters support the union (thinking they’re supporting teachers). The union supports the candidates that it feels will support them in contract negotiations (and of course contributing to the union is a way of demonstrating their good will). The school board, once elected, makes sure the administration negotiates favorable terms with the union, and doesn’t interfere too much with the actual running of things, because after all, they’re doing such a great job - just ask them. The administration gives the union what they want and keeps doing whatever it wants to otherwise. Standardized test scores may be low. They may have to cancel finals because too many students are failing the finals they’ve written for courses they’ve written. Colleges are recognizing that MCPS grades are inflated. Private tutoring is a booming industry. Even a curriculum audit shows what many parents have been saying all along, that their in-house curriculum is fundamentally deficient. Then the MCPS PR department (which I think is probably the only part of MCPS that functions effectively) tells everyone that MCPS is “one of the best school systems in the nation”. Voters feel vindicated that they were right to cast that apple ballot. It’s all very cozy, and everybody’s happy, except maybe little Larlo/Larla who won’t have the skills they need to succeed academically and to be fully prepared to meet their needs, let alone follow their dreams.

According to the state of Maryland, our percent proficiency for E/M/H students is:
Math - 52% / 42.5% / 56.2%
English Language Arts - 53% / 54.8% / 67.3%

https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX/2019

Think how hard it is to learn Algebra, if you’re one of the 48% who isn’t proficient in the fundamentals taught in elementary, or about absorbing complex texts in history, science, and of course literature, if you’re one of the 47% who isn’t proficient in English Language Arts. How many of these kids are functionally illiterate? These numbers include those whose parents teach them at home or take them to regular tutoring sessions.

Thanks - this was actually quite helpful. In past years, I remember seeing the apple ballots handed out at polling places, but I didn't fully understand how those endorsements were decided.

I have also been concerned about math/language proficiency, based on what I see with my own children, so I appreciate seeing the county wide numbers. I vaguely remember a news article about saturday school (virginia maybe?) to help with learning loss. But I haven't heard much about a similar approach or tutoring services for mcps students. Has anyone else? We are currently looking for local tutoring options or recommendations.

Here’s a link about the MCPS Saturday school. My kids never went, so I don’t know anything about it.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/596315/Saturday-School/

They are also offering tutoring at some schools and virtually.

Check the ESSER funding. Millions of covid money was dedicated in that budget? Not sure what tutoring there really is available though? Anyone know?

I know one school was giving out SSL hours for students willing to tutor, so I know where the tutoring money ISN'T going.

I'm interested in an honest, boe centrist who:
- treats all kids, of all colors and religions, equally
- doesn't lie like a snake
- is reasonable about providing health and safety options (both for the families that need in-person, but options to protect bus drivers, teachers, staff and students when the situation warrants it, such as hybrid)
- will tell the sup that "no, you can't go flying off to pick up an award until you have a coherent covid plan that reasonably provided health and safety options"
- will support teachers to ensure they're funded before bocce ball is
- will tell the other boe members, "no, you will publish the full list of which schools went to Kid Museum last year for $2M and calculate the admission cost per student"
- will fight for funds to renovate schools before spending 4M on training or electronic instruction boards the teachers don't know how to use
- will ask the CO to investigate and respond to why they had so many open discrimination cases this summer
- makes Spec Ed programs for those in need or who qualify, and fights for that funding
- provides unfiltered data to parents and publish the reasons why they're doing things
- doesn't go around wasting taxpayer money on crazy pet projects, then goes begging for more money
- focuses on education (versus politics)

You know. A mature adult. Like they have on TV.

That's great stuff. My kids loved the children's museum and also really enjoyed bocce in PE. That's wonderful stuff.

Tell you what.

If you like bocce so much, I'll spend $40 bucks to buy 2090 bocce ball sets (about $83,600) - that's 10 for every school, then pocket the other $696K of covid money!

I'll even throw in $40 Kid Museum memberships for each and every of the 30,862 Middle School students in all of MCPS (not just for the few picked), and pocket the $765K in change!

(And if you're the one who pocketed that money, I really hope the Sheriff comes knocking on your door someday.)

[Anonymous]

I like how Dawn, who treated teachers HORRIBLY during the pandemic, is now pretending to be their BFF and side with them in order to earn their vote. No. The entire county remembers every vile thing Dawn has said about teachers. No one will forget at the polls, no matter how hard you try to pretend you actually care, Dawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like how Dawn, who treated teachers HORRIBLY during the pandemic, is now pretending to be their BFF and side with them in order to earn their vote. No. The entire county remembers every vile thing Dawn has said about teachers. No one will forget at the polls, no matter how hard you try to pretend you actually care, Dawn.

Wow, it is really encouraging that so many consider Dawn to be a threat. Let's hope you are right!!

[Anonymous]

When is MCEA going to announce the rest of their endorsements?? All the candidates are out there.