MOCO BOE update: Beidleman Report summary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is Jackson Lewis's statement is based on the notion that there is no proof that BOE members saw the email. Not that it was never sent.

+1. This is what their footnote says: "After searching the MCPS servers and interviewing several witnesses, Jackson Lewis found that neither the Superintendent nor the Board received an alleged May 3, 2022 anonymous email and a May 9, 2022 email from an MCEA representative containing anonymous allegations."

MCEA: "We, also, find it curious that Jackson Lewis uncovered 30,000+ documents during their investigation, but somehow could not find emails sent by MCEA members and staff to the Board of Education, MCPS, and Superintendent McKnight outlining the harassment claims."

Where are the emails?

Maybe they're imaginary?

Arguing over whether McKnight and the BOE received the emails is a distraction and exactly what McKnight and the BOE want people to do. But whether she received them is immaterial. In either scenario, McKnight was incompetent or willfully neglected her duty. Not receiving the emails at all is actually worse if you prefer the Jackson Lewis narrative.

Well then why is MCEA making an issue of it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hardly the same situation.

Are you speaking of the former wheaton principal who is now at thomas edison?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hardly the same situation.

so sexual harassment is different for different people?
I don’t think so…
He too was promoted and kept his job.

is this the former wheaton principal that’s now at edison?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how anybody looks at this situation and thinks anything other than that MCPS is a toxic, abusive place to work. Not great for the kids either. God help our children. Where is the MeToo movement now ffs?

Open communication from Board members?

https://wjla.com/news/local/joel-beidleman-montgomery-county-board-education-summary-report-findings-mcps-principal-promotion-sexual-harassment-bullying-paint-branch-law-firm-jackson-lewis-pc-investigation-moco-boe-closed-door-meeting

The Board of Education promised after the initial Washington Post article there would be transparency and accountability. Thus far as WJLA demonstrates, there’s still neither. Not keeping your word is a bad look for elected officials and the MCPS Superintendent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hardly the same situation.

so sexual harassment is different for different people?
I don’t think so…
He too was promoted and kept his job.

is this the former wheaton principal that’s now at edison?

The former Wheaton principal is not at Edison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all trickles down. Many principals have teachers on their staff who had been put on administrative leave after a complaint and then returned to their building whenever central office decided it was safe to do so, safe meaning that they didn’t expect anyone to make noise about the teacher’s return. Many principals don’t ask questions when the person comes back, they just take them back. If a principal does make noise about it, which principled ones do, then the teacher will be shipped off to another school. All MCPS principals know it’s just a waiting game and no one is investigating anything. They also know the teachers who are returned to the building dont get any harassment training. These principals are complicit in this horrible culture we have to work in too.

It all trickles down from the top. Is it in the MCPS training or just an unspoken rule that plays out over and over so staff learn the practice?

I bet the Jackson Lewis report and whomever becomes the fall guy for Beidleman will have answers as to how so many in MCPS just stood by and let Beidleman kept sexually harassing and bullying his staff.

The Jackson Lewis report won’t have these answers. Jackson Lewis was hired to represent the board in the investigation, not to conduct an independent investigation. Jackson Lewis will protect the board and whoever in management that the board wants to be protected.

Jackson Lewis:
"There is no evidence that the Board was aware of the pending MCPS investigation, the disposition of that investigation, and/or any other allegations relating to Dr. Beidleman prior to its June 27, 2023 promotional decision.“

The BOE paid Jackson Lewis for this statement.

Yes, that statement was worth every penny of the bill. Too bad for MCPS it got knocked down within days.

What was "knocked down"?

The claim that no one got any of the emails.

The claim being made was about the Board, not "no one."

Give it up. The board and superintendent either got those emails (passed up the chain by the employee who acknowledged receipt) or they run an extremely dysfunctional organization that’s indifferent to victims. Pick your narrative. Neither is worthy of Montgomery County.

If you have the full email to the board please share it. Otherwise stop claiming there is any proof.

Maybe not related to this case, but I know of a couple of CFP's where ample proof of wrongdoing was provided directly to the Board, possibly criminal, and yes it was rubber-stamped. The investigators need to just review the CFP stacks. It's all there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is Jackson Lewis's statement is based on the notion that there is no proof that BOE members saw the email. Not that it was never sent.

+1. This is what their footnote says: "After searching the MCPS servers and interviewing several witnesses, Jackson Lewis found that neither the Superintendent nor the Board received an alleged May 3, 2022 anonymous email and a May 9, 2022 email from an MCEA representative containing anonymous allegations."

MCEA: "We, also, find it curious that Jackson Lewis uncovered 30,000+ documents during their investigation, but somehow could not find emails sent by MCEA members and staff to the Board of Education, MCPS, and Superintendent McKnight outlining the harassment claims."

Where are the emails?

Maybe they're imaginary?

Arguing over whether McKnight and the BOE received the emails is a distraction and exactly what McKnight and the BOE want people to do. But whether she received them is immaterial. In either scenario, McKnight was incompetent or willfully neglected her duty. Not receiving the emails at all is actually worse if you prefer the Jackson Lewis narrative.

Well then why is MCEA making an issue of it?

They're not. Someone asked them to produce the emails so they did. But in either scenario, McKnight breached her contract and gave the board separate cause to fire her under state law, so it really doesn't matter. Notice how the board has been meeting in closed session without her? They can only do that if they're discussing her performance evaluation, contract, or termination. It's out of cycle for her evaluation and her contract isn't up for 2.5 more years. That means they're talking about firing her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all trickles down. Many principals have teachers on their staff who had been put on administrative leave after a complaint and then returned to their building whenever central office decided it was safe to do so, safe meaning that they didn’t expect anyone to make noise about the teacher’s return. Many principals don’t ask questions when the person comes back, they just take them back. If a principal does make noise about it, which principled ones do, then the teacher will be shipped off to another school. All MCPS principals know it’s just a waiting game and no one is investigating anything. They also know the teachers who are returned to the building dont get any harassment training. These principals are complicit in this horrible culture we have to work in too.

It all trickles down from the top. Is it in the MCPS training or just an unspoken rule that plays out over and over so staff learn the practice?

I bet the Jackson Lewis report and whomever becomes the fall guy for Beidleman will have answers as to how so many in MCPS just stood by and let Beidleman kept sexually harassing and bullying his staff.

The Jackson Lewis report won’t have these answers. Jackson Lewis was hired to represent the board in the investigation, not to conduct an independent investigation. Jackson Lewis will protect the board and whoever in management that the board wants to be protected.

Jackson Lewis:
"There is no evidence that the Board was aware of the pending MCPS investigation, the disposition of that investigation, and/or any other allegations relating to Dr. Beidleman prior to its June 27, 2023 promotional decision.“

The BOE paid Jackson Lewis for this statement.

Yes, that statement was worth every penny of the bill. Too bad for MCPS it got knocked down within days.

What was "knocked down"?

The claim that no one got any of the emails.

The claim being made was about the Board, not "no one."

Give it up. The board and superintendent either got those emails (passed up the chain by the employee who acknowledged receipt) or they run an extremely dysfunctional organization that’s indifferent to victims. Pick your narrative. Neither is worthy of Montgomery County.

If you have the full email to the board please share it. Otherwise stop claiming there is any proof.

Maybe not related to this case, but I know of a couple of CFP's where ample proof of wrongdoing was provided directly to the Board, possibly criminal, and yes it was rubber-stamped. The investigators need to just review the CFP stacks. It's all there.

What is a CFP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is Jackson Lewis's statement is based on the notion that there is no proof that BOE members saw the email. Not that it was never sent.

+1. This is what their footnote says: "After searching the MCPS servers and interviewing several witnesses, Jackson Lewis found that neither the Superintendent nor the Board received an alleged May 3, 2022 anonymous email and a May 9, 2022 email from an MCEA representative containing anonymous allegations."

MCEA: "We, also, find it curious that Jackson Lewis uncovered 30,000+ documents during their investigation, but somehow could not find emails sent by MCEA members and staff to the Board of Education, MCPS, and Superintendent McKnight outlining the harassment claims."

Where are the emails?

Maybe they're imaginary?

Arguing over whether McKnight and the BOE received the emails is a distraction and exactly what McKnight and the BOE want people to do. But whether she received them is immaterial. In either scenario, McKnight was incompetent or willfully neglected her duty. Not receiving the emails at all is actually worse if you prefer the Jackson Lewis narrative.

Well then why is MCEA making an issue of it?

They're not. Someone asked them to produce the emails so they did. But in either scenario, McKnight breached her contract and gave the board separate cause to fire her under state law, so it really doesn't matter. Notice how the board has been meeting in closed session without her? They can only do that if they're discussing her performance evaluation, contract, or termination. It's out of cycle for her evaluation and her contract isn't up for 2.5 more years. That means they're talking about firing her.

Which was in response to the MCEA press release raising the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all trickles down. Many principals have teachers on their staff who had been put on administrative leave after a complaint and then returned to their building whenever central office decided it was safe to do so, safe meaning that they didn’t expect anyone to make noise about the teacher’s return. Many principals don’t ask questions when the person comes back, they just take them back. If a principal does make noise about it, which principled ones do, then the teacher will be shipped off to another school. All MCPS principals know it’s just a waiting game and no one is investigating anything. They also know the teachers who are returned to the building dont get any harassment training. These principals are complicit in this horrible culture we have to work in too.

It all trickles down from the top. Is it in the MCPS training or just an unspoken rule that plays out over and over so staff learn the practice?

I bet the Jackson Lewis report and whomever becomes the fall guy for Beidleman will have answers as to how so many in MCPS just stood by and let Beidleman kept sexually harassing and bullying his staff.

The Jackson Lewis report won’t have these answers. Jackson Lewis was hired to represent the board in the investigation, not to conduct an independent investigation. Jackson Lewis will protect the board and whoever in management that the board wants to be protected.

Jackson Lewis:
"There is no evidence that the Board was aware of the pending MCPS investigation, the disposition of that investigation, and/or any other allegations relating to Dr. Beidleman prior to its June 27, 2023 promotional decision.“

The BOE paid Jackson Lewis for this statement.

Yes, that statement was worth every penny of the bill. Too bad for MCPS it got knocked down within days.

What was "knocked down"?

The claim that no one got any of the emails.

The claim being made was about the Board, not "no one."

Give it up. The board and superintendent either got those emails (passed up the chain by the employee who acknowledged receipt) or they run an extremely dysfunctional organization that’s indifferent to victims. Pick your narrative. Neither is worthy of Montgomery County.

If you have the full email to the board please share it. Otherwise stop claiming there is any proof.

OK. Let's say she didn't know. The complaint got buried in her organization along with all the others because her organization is poorly governed and doesn't follow its own written policies. What does that say about her fitness as a leader and manager?

It says nothing unless the situation had been brought to her attention and she did nothing or it’s a repeated problem under her leadership.

[Anonymous]

Just think what it takes to protect someone like Biedleman. So many people were aware of the allegations. Presumably, not all of them were his buddies. Some of them probably thought the whole situation was messed up. Did they feel empowered to complain about the people who were protecting him? Honestly if this is a case of a few bad apples, then I am Mickey Mouse. MCPS is rotten at the core. McKnight absolutely must have known, probably about Biedleman specifically but definitely about the culture that allowed him to stay. No way he's the only one. Every second that goes by without her being fired is a disgrace and an insult to teachers and students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how anybody looks at this situation and thinks anything other than that MCPS is a toxic, abusive place to work. Not great for the kids either. God help our children. Where is the MeToo movement now ffs?

It's a big operation. There are a lot of nice parts of MCPS.

Absolutely! MCPS has an awesome core of teachers and staff. It's a shame that they have to be associated with and answer to such incompetent leadership. It's been this way for a while.

[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:It all trickles down. Many principals have teachers on their staff who had been put on administrative leave after a complaint and then returned to their building whenever central office decided it was safe to do so, safe meaning that they didn’t expect anyone to make noise about the teacher’s return. Many principals don’t ask questions when the person comes back, they just take them back. If a principal does make noise about it, which principled ones do, then the teacher will be shipped off to another school. All MCPS principals know it’s just a waiting game and no one is investigating anything. They also know the teachers who are returned to the building dont get any harassment training. These principals are complicit in this horrible culture we have to work in too.

It all trickles down from the top. Is it in the MCPS training or just an unspoken rule that plays out over and over so staff learn the practice?

I bet the Jackson Lewis report and whomever becomes the fall guy for Beidleman will have answers as to how so many in MCPS just stood by and let Beidleman kept sexually harassing and bullying his staff.

The Jackson Lewis report won’t have these answers. Jackson Lewis was hired to represent the board in the investigation, not to conduct an independent investigation. Jackson Lewis will protect the board and whoever in management that the board wants to be protected.

Jackson Lewis:
"There is no evidence that the Board was aware of the pending MCPS investigation, the disposition of that investigation, and/or any other allegations relating to Dr. Beidleman prior to its June 27, 2023 promotional decision.“

The BOE paid Jackson Lewis for this statement.

Yes, that statement was worth every penny of the bill. Too bad for MCPS it got knocked down within days.

What was "knocked down"?

The claim that no one got any of the emails.

The claim being made was about the Board, not "no one."

Give it up. The board and superintendent either got those emails (passed up the chain by the employee who acknowledged receipt) or they run an extremely dysfunctional organization that’s indifferent to victims. Pick your narrative. Neither is worthy of Montgomery County.

If you have the full email to the board please share it. Otherwise stop claiming there is any proof.

OK. Let's say she didn't know. The complaint got buried in her organization along with all the others because her organization is poorly governed and doesn't follow its own written policies. What does that say about her fitness as a leader and manager?

It says nothing unless the situation had been brought to her attention and she did nothing or it’s a repeated problem under her leadership.

Did you even read the Jackson Lewis report? Promotions, which she is responsible for overseeing, were systemically broken. Sexual harassment reporting and investigation, which she is responsible for overseeing, were systematically broken. Those were both repeated problems under her leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is Jackson Lewis's statement is based on the notion that there is no proof that BOE members saw the email. Not that it was never sent.

+1. This is what their footnote says: "After searching the MCPS servers and interviewing several witnesses, Jackson Lewis found that neither the Superintendent nor the Board received an alleged May 3, 2022 anonymous email and a May 9, 2022 email from an MCEA representative containing anonymous allegations."

MCEA: "We, also, find it curious that Jackson Lewis uncovered 30,000+ documents during their investigation, but somehow could not find emails sent by MCEA members and staff to the Board of Education, MCPS, and Superintendent McKnight outlining the harassment claims."

Where are the emails?

Maybe they're imaginary?

Arguing over whether McKnight and the BOE received the emails is a distraction and exactly what McKnight and the BOE want people to do. But whether she received them is immaterial. In either scenario, McKnight was incompetent or willfully neglected her duty. Not receiving the emails at all is actually worse if you prefer the Jackson Lewis narrative.

Well then why is MCEA making an issue of it?

They're not. Someone asked them to produce the emails so they did. But in either scenario, McKnight breached her contract and gave the board separate cause to fire her under state law, so it really doesn't matter. Notice how the board has been meeting in closed session without her? They can only do that if they're discussing her performance evaluation, contract, or termination. It's out of cycle for her evaluation and her contract isn't up for 2.5 more years. That means they're talking about firing her.

Which was in response to the MCEA press release raising the issue.

Someone asked MCEA a straightforward question and they answered it in a straightforward way. Imagine that.

[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:It all trickles down. Many principals have teachers on their staff who had been put on administrative leave after a complaint and then returned to their building whenever central office decided it was safe to do so, safe meaning that they didn’t expect anyone to make noise about the teacher’s return. Many principals don’t ask questions when the person comes back, they just take them back. If a principal does make noise about it, which principled ones do, then the teacher will be shipped off to another school. All MCPS principals know it’s just a waiting game and no one is investigating anything. They also know the teachers who are returned to the building dont get any harassment training. These principals are complicit in this horrible culture we have to work in too.

It all trickles down from the top. Is it in the MCPS training or just an unspoken rule that plays out over and over so staff learn the practice?

I bet the Jackson Lewis report and whomever becomes the fall guy for Beidleman will have answers as to how so many in MCPS just stood by and let Beidleman kept sexually harassing and bullying his staff.

The Jackson Lewis report won’t have these answers. Jackson Lewis was hired to represent the board in the investigation, not to conduct an independent investigation. Jackson Lewis will protect the board and whoever in management that the board wants to be protected.

Jackson Lewis:
"There is no evidence that the Board was aware of the pending MCPS investigation, the disposition of that investigation, and/or any other allegations relating to Dr. Beidleman prior to its June 27, 2023 promotional decision.“

The BOE paid Jackson Lewis for this statement.

Yes, that statement was worth every penny of the bill. Too bad for MCPS it got knocked down within days.

What was "knocked down"?

The claim that no one got any of the emails.

The claim being made was about the Board, not "no one."

Give it up. The board and superintendent either got those emails (passed up the chain by the employee who acknowledged receipt) or they run an extremely dysfunctional organization that’s indifferent to victims. Pick your narrative. Neither is worthy of Montgomery County.

If you have the full email to the board please share it. Otherwise stop claiming there is any proof.

Maybe not related to this case, but I know of a couple of CFP's where ample proof of wrongdoing was provided directly to the Board, possibly criminal, and yes it was rubber-stamped. The investigators need to just review the CFP stacks. It's all there.

What is a CFP?

I think PP is referring to Complaints From The Public.

These are discussed behind closed doors, the Board only decides on the written record, then the Board votes unanimously against the complainants. Since the process excludes the complainant and often MCPS staff come and go during the proceedings, anything could be said or presented that is false and the complainant doesn’t have an opportunity to challenge what is presented. It’s a process ripe for MCPS to cover up problems to the Board including misconduct. There’s no independent review by the Board of an appeal.