BOE - who are people voting for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meetings should be more frequent, more efficient and everyone comes prepared! Members need to devote full time to this gig! Oh that CO, staff from same departments can not even agree and there's inconsistent messages when have had to contact them unfortunately.

Sure, if you're amenable to paying them full time salaries.

It's a $3.3 billion budget in a highly regulated endeavor. If you want meaningful oversight, you have to pay the board full-time. It's pennies, relatively speaking, to empower this elected board.

We have a superintendent, who works full-time. But we can't trust the super so we have a full-time. Logically, then, we need am overboard to oversee the board to make sure they do their job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone highlight meaningful changes made by the current board? Lynne if you're still around in here, this one could be for you.

Well, firing the Superintendent was a significant change. I’m still not supporting any incumbents given that they agreed to pay her more than she had left in her contract, but it was a significant change.

The new super is the closest person they could find to the old super, down to also getting fired by the BoE.

So the BoE apparently thinks that what McKnight's goals were appropriate but incompetently executed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having watched BOE meetings, very few ask questions or followup, other than an occasional question for clarification. Either BOE hasn't done homework/research to know what exactly they should be asking; CO tells not to ask certain type of questions or any; or trying to keep peace in board room by not asking(!). If you follow the meetings, it may make you want to vote for outsiders such as those mentioned on this thread. By voting Apple, you are asking for more of the same. But, ask yourself, do you want a '16 U.S. Presidential general election type outcome by voting for the [two] outsiders talked about here? If they win, we will not be voting in the other half of BOE for another few years.

Or the BOE members apologize and insist they know how hard the MCPS staff are working, even though it's clear the staff in question are fumbling or have seriously dropped the ball.

There's a strange propensity among the BOE to apologize for even performing their basic oversight functions as board members.

I hadn't noticed, but I was hoping you could provide a few examples.

+1. All I can think of is when they apologize for falling behind in the scheduled timing of agenda items, which seems like a thing normal humans would do.

If you watch BOE meetings regularly, I don't see how you miss it.

Please cite specific examples

I’m not doing free labor for you. If you’re interested, go and watch previous BOE meetings. If not, keep it moving.

This is how you lose elections. If you want your candidates to win, you have to put in the labor. No one is going to do the free labor of voting the way you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sort of boils down to 3 groups of choices (District 2,4, at-large):
1. Incumbents - Smondrowski, Evans, Harris
2. Apple ballot (teacher's union endorsed) - Zimerman, Stewart, Montoya
3. Rebels: Diaz, Mandel, Mofor

Sorry, couldn't come up with a better name for group 3, but they are all sort of consistent in wanting big change, SROs back in schools, and stuff like that.

So if you like how things are going, vote group 1.

If you like the teacher's union (keep in mind their 2022 apple ballot picks currently sit on the board, but aren't up for election this cycle), vote group 2.

If you think big changes are needed, vote group 3.

No group three is not about change they are Nazi lovers. They are not intelligent they are sub humans who literally have zero to given students.

Mandel and Diaz are Moms4Liberty that is disqualifying period.

Mandel never once had a kid in public school she has only home schooled . Loves being called a Grandma killer and that children should befriend neo Nazis .

I don't know about those people but you clearly outed yourself as a Nazi.

Why would you think anyone would respect your opinion when you speak such monstrosities?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having watched BOE meetings, very few ask questions or followup, other than an occasional question for clarification. Either BOE hasn't done homework/research to know what exactly they should be asking; CO tells not to ask certain type of questions or any; or trying to keep peace in board room by not asking(!). If you follow the meetings, it may make you want to vote for outsiders such as those mentioned on this thread. By voting Apple, you are asking for more of the same. But, ask yourself, do you want a '16 U.S. Presidential general election type outcome by voting for the [two] outsiders talked about here? If they win, we will not be voting in the other half of BOE for another few years.

Or the BOE members apologize and insist they know how hard the MCPS staff are working, even though it's clear the staff in question are fumbling or have seriously dropped the ball.

There's a strange propensity among the BOE to apologize for even performing their basic oversight functions as board members.

I hadn't noticed, but I was hoping you could provide a few examples.

+1. All I can think of is when they apologize for falling behind in the scheduled timing of agenda items, which seems like a thing normal humans would do.

If you watch BOE meetings regularly, I don't see how you miss it.

Please cite specific examples

I’m not doing free labor for you. If you’re interested, go and watch previous BOE meetings. If not, keep it moving.

This is how you lose elections. If you want your candidates to win, you have to put in the labor. No one is going to do the free labor of voting the way you want.

You're making inaccurate presumptions about me. I haven't yet decided who I'm backing yet nor do I work for any campaigns, so I don't have any specific candidates I want to win.

[Anonymous]

Just because you don't like the current board, don't vote for people that are going to be way worse. That sort of "protest" is not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone highlight meaningful changes made by the current board? Lynne if you're still around in here, this one could be for you.

They have hired their own financial analyst and a deputy chief of staff, so I am hopeful they will be better equipped and prepared to provide oversight going forward. I also think the overdue changes in the HR processes in the wake of the scandal are meaningful.

they have HIRED a FA and a DCoS?! Another layer between the Board and us (you know the people who "hired" - voted the members). They have staff and still can't ask and get answers to questions concerning students, their safety and on other issues?

You can characterize it as a layer of bureaucracy if you want, but arming the board with independent advisors is a good thing; otherwise, they are reliant on the superintendent's staff to give them information. That has worked poorly.

They will be controlled by CO - which is all about portraying a positive image of the largest school district in MD. Who actually knows what went down with the last Super, scandal, what BOE knew and what they tried to do and didnt do when they learned whatever they learned regarding the scandal, what happened at CO and situation post McKnight? Do you? Expose the truth. MCPS caregivers should be angry as hell schools are not helped to make them be more safe nor has the focus been on improving the education. They spent months dealing with the misbehaviors of ADULTS. Damn you.

[Anonymous]

Diaz is for Moms4Liberty.

Denying that is an insult to her long, public campaign efforts to make religious preferences in particular supersede school policy on sexuality education and disease transmission practice

https://diazforboe.com/montgomery-perspective-questionnaire/

https://peacefulworldschoolers.com/podcast/episode-3-the-problem-of-public-school-with-brenda-diaz/

https://peacefulworldschoolers.com/podcast/episode-3-the-problem-of-public-school-with-brenda-diaz/


https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/C7HGGG43BCDC/$file/Brenda%20Diaz%20Written%20Testimony.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sort of boils down to 3 groups of choices (District 2,4, at-large):
1. Incumbents - Smondrowski, Evans, Harris
2. Apple ballot (teacher's union endorsed) - Zimerman, Stewart, Montoya
3. Rebels: Diaz, Mandel, Mofor

Sorry, couldn't come up with a better name for group 3, but they are all sort of consistent in wanting big change, SROs back in schools, and stuff like that.

So if you like how things are going, vote group 1.

If you like the teacher's union (keep in mind their 2022 apple ballot picks currently sit on the board, but aren't up for election this cycle), vote group 2.

If you think big changes are needed, vote group 3.

How does anyone justify voting 1 or 2 ?

How does anyone justify voting for group 3 - homeschooling parents and anti trans bigots?

In this thread I see info on Diaz and Mandel. What is Mofor's story?

Mofor's claimed in MCPS is an alumni of Sherwood and a stint as a former paraeducator.

He's the son of an immigration lawyer who holds an office in downtown silver spring. He also worked as a campaign manager for Maryland state senator Craig Zucker.

It's clear that Fitz has aspirations to become a politician and he views becoming a school board member as a logical entry point for that. Doesn't mean he's a bad candidate, but his motivations are pretty clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sort of boils down to 3 groups of choices (District 2,4, at-large):
1. Incumbents - Smondrowski, Evans, Harris
2. Apple ballot (teacher's union endorsed) - Zimerman, Stewart, Montoya
3. Rebels: Diaz, Mandel, Mofor

Sorry, couldn't come up with a better name for group 3, but they are all sort of consistent in wanting big change, SROs back in schools, and stuff like that.

So if you like how things are going, vote group 1.

If you like the teacher's union (keep in mind their 2022 apple ballot picks currently sit on the board, but aren't up for election this cycle), vote group 2.

If you think big changes are needed, vote group 3.

Apple ballot looks great. It's hard to go wrong with the Apple ballot, but group 3 are extremist Republicans running as Dems. The kind of change they want is not in anyone's interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone highlight meaningful changes made by the current board? Lynne if you're still around in here, this one could be for you.

They have hired their own financial analyst and a deputy chief of staff, so I am hopeful they will be better equipped and prepared to provide oversight going forward. I also think the overdue changes in the HR processes in the wake of the scandal are meaningful.

they have HIRED a FA and a DCoS?! Another layer between the Board and us (you know the people who "hired" - voted the members). They have staff and still can't ask and get answers to questions concerning students, their safety and on other issues?

You can characterize it as a layer of bureaucracy if you want, but arming the board with independent advisors is a good thing; otherwise, they are reliant on the superintendent's staff to give them information. That has worked poorly.

They will be controlled by CO - which is all about portraying a positive image of the largest school district in MD. Who actually knows what went down with the last Super, scandal, what BOE knew and what they tried to do and didnt do when they learned whatever they learned regarding the scandal, what happened at CO and situation post McKnight? Do you? Expose the truth. MCPS caregivers should be angry as hell schools are not helped to make them be more safe nor has the focus been on improving the education. They spent months dealing with the misbehaviors of ADULTS. Damn you.

Apparently, they didn't learn anything since the report found no wrongdoing, but people here keep trying to play it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meetings should be more frequent, more efficient and everyone comes prepared! Members need to devote full time to this gig! Oh that CO, staff from same departments can not even agree and there's inconsistent messages when have had to contact them unfortunately.

Sure, if you're amenable to paying them full time salaries.

It's a $3.3 billion budget in a highly regulated endeavor. If you want meaningful oversight, you have to pay the board full-time. It's pennies, relatively speaking, to empower this elected board.

There are proposals to make BOE positinos full-time with the pay bump that comes along with it. I think that's worth it, given the size of MCPS and the MCPS budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sort of boils down to 3 groups of choices (District 2,4, at-large):
1. Incumbents - Smondrowski, Evans, Harris
2. Apple ballot (teacher's union endorsed) - Zimerman, Stewart, Montoya
3. Rebels: Diaz, Mandel, Mofor

Sorry, couldn't come up with a better name for group 3, but they are all sort of consistent in wanting big change, SROs back in schools, and stuff like that.

So if you like how things are going, vote group 1.

If you like the teacher's union (keep in mind their 2022 apple ballot picks currently sit on the board, but aren't up for election this cycle), vote group 2.

If you think big changes are needed, vote group 3.

Do NOT vote for 1 listed above. Do NOT for the incumbents.

Do NOT vote for 3 listed above. You will regret.

More info about the candidates in 2 listed above should be shared here and elsewhere to get the info out. In the past, have heard neighbors who do not have children in MoCo schools say they choose Apple ballot. Will we be getting more of the same if we choose Apple?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which BOE candidates want to return SROs to schools? For my friend, that's her most important issue. I assume that excludes the incumbents or we'd already have SROs back.

Hidayat wants SROs to return. It's his main platform point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sort of boils down to 3 groups of choices (District 2,4, at-large):
1. Incumbents - Smondrowski, Evans, Harris
2. Apple ballot (teacher's union endorsed) - Zimerman, Stewart, Montoya
3. Rebels: Diaz, Mandel, Mofor

Sorry, couldn't come up with a better name for group 3, but they are all sort of consistent in wanting big change, SROs back in schools, and stuff like that.

So if you like how things are going, vote group 1.

If you like the teacher's union (keep in mind their 2022 apple ballot picks currently sit on the board, but aren't up for election this cycle), vote group 2.

If you think big changes are needed, vote group 3.

Do NOT vote for 1 listed above. Do NOT for the incumbents.

Do NOT vote for 3 listed above. You will regret.

More info about the candidates in 2 listed above should be shared here and elsewhere to get the info out. In the past, have heard neighbors who do not have children in MoCo schools say they choose Apple ballot. Will we be getting more of the same if we choose Apple?

Those aren't even all of the candidates.