$25M cut to MCPS, and $4M subsidy to Costco, on the same day

[Anonymous]

Truly, it boggles the mind.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/leggett-scores-victory-on-wheaton-costco-deal/2011/05/16/AFuvpC5G_story.html

WHAT does this mean?

“I don’t think [Westfield needs] the money to bring Costco to Wheaton,” Riemer said Monday. “But the integrity of the county is at stake, and I don’t think it’s my right to jeopardize the integrity of the county.”

And budget cuts to MCPS:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/montgomery-county-budget-to-cut-25-million-from-schools/2011/05/16/AFd5vG5G_story.html

This part is hilarious:

"The council would largely direct the school cuts to an account covering employee benefits, said Ervin, a former Board of Education member. The goal, she said, is to keep the cuts from affecting classrooms, while making sure that school employees share in countywide budget cuts.

With an overall budget that tops $2 billion, the school board should be able to find $25 million in cuts “without a whole lot of trouble,” Ervin said. Although the school board decides how to spend its funds, the council has the authority to appropriate money in broad categories.

“We’re going to stay out of any of the categories that impact the classroom. The board will say, ‘That’s not possible.’ We beg to differ,” Ervin said."

Where does she get the idea that cutting the benefits of the people who RUN the classrooms will not have an impact on those classrooms?

I sincerely believe that MoCo is going to hell in a handbasket.

[Anonymous]

The idea that politicians are giving away our tax dollars to corporations while at the same time cutting services and stripping worker pay and benefits is revolting.

Further evidence that we live in a corporacracy.

[Anonymous]

This is disgusting. we should vote these bastards out.

[Anonymous]

Folks, this Costco project comes with what will be the busiest gas station in the entire County shoehorned next to an outdoor community pool and single-family residences. The project also got a waiver from Environmental Site Design, an exemption from Forest Conservation Plan, and does not even require a site plan or a traffic study.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it will help generate extra tax dollars that will in the end help the school? Not saying it is a good idea..but there might be some benefits once the decision was made..

[Anonymous]

Valerie Ervin ... she needs to go.

[Anonymous]

They all do and you had your chance a few months ago-where were you then?

The education cut is nto going to impact the classrooms, the teachers are going to have to pay more than the 5% for health care that they do now. time for them to join the ranks and don;t give me the "oh we work so hard etc. We all do and we all pay a lot for it. Maybe you can use your $700 in gift cards from teacher appreciation week to help you

[AngryTeacher]

Thanks for being our $24M Poster Child for the Cuts, PP.

Other PPs, take note. below - a writing sample not unlike the ones you'll soon see from MCPS grads who suffered through classes of 30+ students b/c of more budget cuts

Anonymous wrote:They all do and you had your chance a few months ago-where were you then?

The education cut is nto going to impact the classrooms, the teachers are going to have to pay more than the 5% for health care that they do now. time for them to join the ranks and don;t give me the "oh we work so hard etc. We all do and we all pay a lot for it. Maybe you can use your $700 in gift cards from teacher appreciation week to help you[/quote]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is disgusting. we should vote these bastards out.

I will vote the members of the Board of Education out first. The County Council is finally showing a backbone. Bravo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They all do and you had your chance a few months ago-where were you then?

The education cut is nto going to impact the classrooms, the teachers are going to have to pay more than the 5% for health care that they do now. time for them to join the ranks and don;t give me the "oh we work so hard etc. We all do and we all pay a lot for it. Maybe you can use your $700 in gift cards from teacher appreciation week to help you

Um, how do you know I didn't vote?!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They all do and you had your chance a few months ago-where were you then?

The education cut is nto going to impact the classrooms, the teachers are going to have to pay more than the 5% for health care that they do now. time for them to join the ranks and don;t give me the "oh we work so hard etc. We all do and we all pay a lot for it. Maybe you can use your $700 in gift cards from teacher appreciation week to help you

Um, how do you know I didn't vote?!?!

I did not vote for them either, but the Apple Ballot folks were everywhere taking advantage of electorate apathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is disgusting. we should vote these bastards out.

I will vote the members of the Board of Education out first. The County Council is finally showing a backbone. Bravo!

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is disgusting. we should vote these bastards out.

I will vote the members of the Board of Education out first. The County Council is finally showing a backbone. Bravo!

Agreed.

We have a winner.

[Anonymous]

Other PPs, take note. below - a writing sample not unlike the ones you'll soon see from MCPS grads who suffered through classes of 30+ students b/c of more budget cuts

The irony, it burns.

[Anonymous]

The "no impact on classrooms" is a joke! Many young teachers I know are looking for second jobs just to make ends meet. That means there won't be time to spend 2-3 hours a night grading papers, analyzing data to plan for individual needs, return the many parent emails/phone calls that come in daily....Many of those things will either not happen or happen during the "duty free teacher 30-minute lunch" which is often spent providing additional support to students!

This whole "teacher bashing" nonsense isn't productive...and it's not accurate!

Ervin needs to go (but let's get her to pay her back taxes first!)!