$2M no bid contract to Joftus wife? BOE to approve on 9/8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

You're obsessed. Get some sleep.

The same old unhinged poster who brings this matter up every 2-3 weeks until someone points out the guy recused himself, but their plan seems to be cry foul often enough people will believe even without any real evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else see this article? Is it true? Can the BOE just approve such a large contract without seeking other bids? Esp if it really is to a BOE spouse’s company?

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2022/09/breaking-another-237m-to-company-of.html?m=1

It's such a wonderful asset so glad they're doing this for the kids!

What kind of other bids? In its defense, who else is doing what KID Museum is doing?

I don’t know anything about this except for what I read on here and next-door. But I will say there is no other place doing anything like this to request a bid from. It’s sole-source.

As to The question of general oversight for MCPS and they’re spending, I do think there needs to be less rubber stamping and more critical oversight.

Say that to the other 4 companies that wanted to bid on this contract. They might have something to teach you about making up crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

[Anonymous]

This disgusts me. What's the ROI in investing in this kids museum? If MC PS has money for that, they should have money to have a athletic trainer at every sports game. I just found out in my high school booster club meeting last night that we have a shortage of athletic trainers and that many of our schools don't have one this year I think I heard that only three high schools has an athletic trainer What happens if a student gets injured playing a sport? The athletic trainers are there to help them work through injuries, cramps, everything. MC PS is failing our student athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

Can the bolded part be substantiated? Because it is against the law for a 501c3 to spend money on activities that directly benefit any of the organization’s leaders. Income to the executive director’s household would, i should think, fall under that category.
It would be illegal —https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/inurement-private-benefit-charitable-organizations
I haven’t seen any evidence about Joftus receiving fees from the Kid Museum, but I haven’t looked very far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

You keep making lots of vaguely sinister suggestions but there's no there there. When Joftus was selected by the board in late 2021, MCPS had already been contracting with Kid Museum for several years. He was asked to submit conflict of interest disclosures to be vetted before he was installed on the board. Do you have any evidence that he falsified those disclosures? Since being installed, he has repeatedly recused himself from votes dealing with Kid Museum. Do you have any evidence that he didn't recuse himself and did vote on any of their contracts? The onus is on you as the accuser to back up your insinuations with proof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else see this article? Is it true? Can the BOE just approve such a large contract without seeking other bids? Esp if it really is to a BOE spouse’s company?

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2022/09/breaking-another-237m-to-company-of.html?m=1

It's such a wonderful asset so glad they're doing this for the kids!

What kind of other bids? In its defense, who else is doing what KID Museum is doing?

I don’t know anything about this except for what I read on here and next-door. But I will say there is no other place doing anything like this to request a bid from. It’s sole-source.

As to The question of general oversight for MCPS and they’re spending, I do think there needs to be less rubber stamping and more critical oversight.

Say that to the other 4 companies that wanted to bid on this contract. They might have something to teach you about making up crap.

What 4 companies?

[Anonymous]

https://moderatelymoco.com/scott-joftus-mcps-boe-candidate-responds-to-questions-regarding-kid-museum-organization-founded-by-wife/

Joftus’s Additional Points

Scott Joftus also wanted to point out a few other things regarding KID Museum:

1) My wife, Cara Lesser (founder and executive director of KID), has had a 10-year relationship with MCPS, spanning three superintendents.

2) This contract was well underway in the planning stages before I even considered applying to the board.

3) I have had nothing to do with discussions or negotiations about KID—as can be confirmed with conversations with any board member or administrator—and I have and will continue to recuse myself from any decisions involving KID.

4) Coincidentally, there is a good chance that the contract is going to be pulled from tomorrow’s Board agenda due to a technical error in the contracting process. If that is the case, the issue will be fixed soon and the contract will come before the Board at a later date—hopefully next Board meeting.

5) I recognize that people are going to believe what they believe, but everything related to my role on the Board and KID Museum has been reviewed and deemed to be appropriate. I am incredibly proud of my wife and the role that KID Museum plays in improving STEM education for students across Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else see this article? Is it true? Can the BOE just approve such a large contract without seeking other bids? Esp if it really is to a BOE spouse’s company?

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2022/09/breaking-another-237m-to-company-of.html?m=1

It's such a wonderful asset so glad they're doing this for the kids!

What kind of other bids? In its defense, who else is doing what KID Museum is doing?

I don’t know anything about this except for what I read on here and next-door. But I will say there is no other place doing anything like this to request a bid from. It’s sole-source.

As to The question of general oversight for MCPS and they’re spending, I do think there needs to be less rubber stamping and more critical oversight.

Pay the BoE a living wage and maybe they'll do more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

Didn’t he recuse himself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

You keep making lots of vaguely sinister suggestions but there's no there there. When Joftus was selected by the board in late 2021, MCPS had already been contracting with Kid Museum for several years. He was asked to submit conflict of interest disclosures to be vetted before he was installed on the board. Do you have any evidence that he falsified those disclosures? Since being installed, he has repeatedly recused himself from votes dealing with Kid Museum. Do you have any evidence that he didn't recuse himself and did vote on any of their contracts? The onus is on you as the accuser to back up your insinuations with proof.

thank you. In this area, it is impossible to avoid spousal conflicts of interest. there are well-established ethics rules and practices to ensure that they are mitigated. as long as Joftus disclosed his interest in the contract and recused himself, these are all false allegations. Someone clearly has knives out for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

Didn’t he recuse himself?

Yes. Multiple times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

You keep making lots of vaguely sinister suggestions but there's no there there. When Joftus was selected by the board in late 2021, MCPS had already been contracting with Kid Museum for several years. He was asked to submit conflict of interest disclosures to be vetted before he was installed on the board. Do you have any evidence that he falsified those disclosures? Since being installed, he has repeatedly recused himself from votes dealing with Kid Museum. Do you have any evidence that he didn't recuse himself and did vote on any of their contracts? The onus is on you as the accuser to back up your insinuations with proof.

thank you. In this area, it is impossible to avoid spousal conflicts of interest. there are well-established ethics rules and practices to ensure that they are mitigated. as long as Joftus disclosed his interest in the contract and recused himself, these are all false allegations. Someone clearly has knives out for him.

Who's his opponent in November?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The memo that's posted says this contract is to expand the program to include elementary schools in addition to middle.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CJ2UCW78A3B3/$file/STEM%20Enrichment%20Training%20REVISED.pdf

Thanks PR department. That's a brand new memo just posted this evening. Want to tell everyone why the entire memo has now been changed and why
there is still no mention of the wife of the board member being the CEO of this company?

For people who do not understand the difference between a company and a nonprofit, this thread had a more helpful and nuanced discussion than what we're seeing here on DCUM. (No, I am not the author of any of these tweets nor do I work for "MCPS PR")

Far from nuanced. Joftus' wife is a founder of KID Museum. She also sits on the Board of KID Museum. She pays herself a salary. Joftus himself is a consultant to the KID Museum.
KID Museum is a client of Joftus' company.

You keep making lots of vaguely sinister suggestions but there's no there there. When Joftus was selected by the board in late 2021, MCPS had already been contracting with Kid Museum for several years. He was asked to submit conflict of interest disclosures to be vetted before he was installed on the board. Do you have any evidence that he falsified those disclosures? Since being installed, he has repeatedly recused himself from votes dealing with Kid Museum. Do you have any evidence that he didn't recuse himself and did vote on any of their contracts? The onus is on you as the accuser to back up your insinuations with proof.

I know that seems all proper and above board but I love these sordid little conspiracies even if they are total works of fiction. I feel it helps my grievance narrative about MCPS and the BOE.