How does MCPS get away with spending this much money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

MCPS needs buses to get kids to school. The bus fleet turns over. It's better to replace the diesel buses with electric buses than with more diesel buses, including for the lungs of the kids who ride the buses.

This makes way too much sense and even seems reasonable. How is that possible!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is far from perfect, but as the recipient of much of their money, in the form of special needs educational support for my oldest child, I understand that their many special programs (Autism, Asperger's, GT/LD, magnets, etc) are expensive. And yet they are what makes MCPS great - it's one of the few school systems in the world that tries to support ALL students, not just the ones in the range of normal. So I applaud some of the principles and values behind the spending.

Vehemently disagree. My special needs child was ignored and shunted aside (dyslexic). They support kids only if they receive extra Federal money (through Title 1). It’s ALL about the money. It is always about the money with MCPS.

Good Lord - just wait until the Blueprint for Maryland boondoggle gives MCPS even more billions.

I would also add that most of the billions are on autopilot. 90% of the budget goes to pensions, full healthcare and salaries. There is a separate budget for operating expenses! It never ends in terms of cash for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is far from perfect, but as the recipient of much of their money, in the form of special needs educational support for my oldest child, I understand that their many special programs (Autism, Asperger's, GT/LD, magnets, etc) are expensive. And yet they are what makes MCPS great - it's one of the few school systems in the world that tries to support ALL students, not just the ones in the range of normal. So I applaud some of the principles and values behind the spending.

All means just you? MCPS actively fights parents is special needs children as evidenced by the millions they spend on lawyers to fight them. That is the principle you applaud.

Exactly this. They get the help that others of us don't. We've spent everything we have for many years to get our child what they need as MCPS refused. We either had to pay for an attorney or private services so we choose private services as MCPS was clear they wouldn't help. They don't support ALL students. They support a select few. Get out of your bubble. Not all of us are high income and it sucks never taking a vacation, never doing much of anything as our child cannot get much of anything and there is a clear need.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is far from perfect, but as the recipient of much of their money, in the form of special needs educational support for my oldest child, I understand that their many special programs (Autism, Asperger's, GT/LD, magnets, etc) are expensive. And yet they are what makes MCPS great - it's one of the few school systems in the world that tries to support ALL students, not just the ones in the range of normal. So I applaud some of the principles and values behind the spending.

Vehemently disagree. My special needs child was ignored and shunted aside (dyslexic). They support kids only if they receive extra Federal money (through Title 1). It’s ALL about the money. It is always about the money with MCPS.

Good Lord - just wait until the Blueprint for Maryland boondoggle gives MCPS even more billions.

I would also add that most of the billions are on autopilot. 90% of the budget goes to pensions, full healthcare and salaries. There is a separate budget for operating expenses! It never ends in terms of cash for them.

How dare they expect healthcare and pensions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

We don't have more mental health support because a) there is a nationwide shortage and b) they can make significantly more money in the private sector. Why would they take an enormous caseload, deal with the mcps beurocracy, etc. for less money?

XX number of busses in the fleet are replaced every year. Electric busses are better for the planet, and will save money in the long run. Not getting them would be short sighted.

Special Ed is a mess. Teacher shortages, and most kids NOT getting the education they are entitled to by law. This is only going to get worse as overburdened special ed teachers continue to burn out and quit. Also a nationwide problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

We don't have more mental health support because a) there is a nationwide shortage and b) they can make significantly more money in the private sector. Why would they take an enormous caseload, deal with the mcps beurocracy, etc. for less money?

XX number of busses in the fleet are replaced every year. Electric busses are better for the planet, and will save money in the long run. Not getting them would be short sighted.

Special Ed is a mess. Teacher shortages, and most kids NOT getting the education they are entitled to by law. This is only going to get worse as overburdened special ed teachers continue to burn out and quit. Also a nationwide problem.

Welcome Monifa! Electric school buses are double or triple the cost of diesel buses and 1/3 of the electric buses you got aren’t even usable.

[Anonymous]

All this tech mode and having 3 screens in the classroom is weird. And oh, replacing the Promethean boards by Boxlights even in the music room is making things so difficult for the teachers as the speakers are of poor quality. Both my children are saying that the sound of the audio is distorted and even when the volume is at maximum, the music can barely be heard. Kids and teachers are getting frustrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

MCPS needs buses to get kids to school. The bus fleet turns over. It's better to replace the diesel buses with electric buses than with more diesel buses, including for the lungs of the kids who ride the buses.

This makes way too much sense and even seems reasonable. How is that possible!?

Yeah but too simplistic. You shouldn’t comment if you don’t follow the joint. This contract is about buying on ‘no bid’ which MCPS repeatedly has been docked for. But, since there is no inspector general for the schools - unlike other large districts like FCPS - it lets the cats play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

We don't have more mental health support because a) there is a nationwide shortage and b) they can make significantly more money in the private sector. Why would they take an enormous caseload, deal with the mcps beurocracy, etc. for less money?

XX number of busses in the fleet are replaced every year. Electric busses are better for the planet, and will save money in the long run. Not getting them would be short sighted.

Special Ed is a mess. Teacher shortages, and most kids NOT getting the education they are entitled to by law. This is only going to get worse as overburdened special ed teachers continue to burn out and quit. Also a nationwide problem.

Welcome Monifa! Electric school buses are double or triple the cost of diesel buses and 1/3 of the electric buses you got aren’t even usable.

How do you feel about bocce, though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All this tech mode and having 3 screens in the classroom is weird. And oh, replacing the Promethean boards by Boxlights even in the music room is making things so difficult for the teachers as the speakers are of poor quality. Both my children are saying that the sound of the audio is distorted and even when the volume is at maximum, the music can barely be heard. Kids and teachers are getting frustrated.

They replaced the Promethean board because the contract was up more than 5yrs ago and the boards used a old proprietary technology that did not allow interaction with a lot of mother tools now available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

We don't have more mental health support because a) there is a nationwide shortage and b) they can make significantly more money in the private sector. Why would they take an enormous caseload, deal with the mcps beurocracy, etc. for less money?

XX number of busses in the fleet are replaced every year. Electric busses are better for the planet, and will save money in the long run. Not getting them would be short sighted.

Special Ed is a mess. Teacher shortages, and most kids NOT getting the education they are entitled to by law. This is only going to get worse as overburdened special ed teachers continue to burn out and quit. Also a nationwide problem.

Welcome Monifa! Electric school buses are double or triple the cost of diesel buses and 1/3 of the electric buses you got aren’t even usable.

Again, follow the joint. MCPS encouraged (well their political arms) the full scale mass immigration influx from largely three countries called the Northern Triangle. Then MCPS demographers repeatedly lied - and just said, ‘oh we are 10,000 over enrolled? My goodness we must have miscounted.’ Then when these children appeared largely on the East Side they threatened to redistrict for equity. They didn’t miscount - the schools have been taxed by rural, poverty stricken economic refugees (which is not recognized by the UN for refugee status). This is on you MCPS - you and your democratic cronies wanted the Hispanic vote - well in exchange you’ve severely taxed and degraded the quality of the schools for legal Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is far from perfect, but as the recipient of much of their money, in the form of special needs educational support for my oldest child, I understand that their many special programs (Autism, Asperger's, GT/LD, magnets, etc) are expensive. And yet they are what makes MCPS great - it's one of the few school systems in the world that tries to support ALL students, not just the ones in the range of normal. So I applaud some of the principles and values behind the spending.

Vehemently disagree. My special needs child was ignored and shunted aside (dyslexic). They support kids only if they receive extra Federal money (through Title 1). It’s ALL about the money. It is always about the money with MCPS.

Good Lord - just wait until the Blueprint for Maryland boondoggle gives MCPS even more billions.

I would also add that most of the billions are on autopilot. 90% of the budget goes to pensions, full healthcare and salaries. There is a separate budget for operating expenses! It never ends in terms of cash for them.

How dare they expect healthcare and pensions!

Thank you MCPS employee! No what I am arguing for is backpack funding. The funding follows the child - not you and your greed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

We don't have more mental health support because a) there is a nationwide shortage and b) they can make significantly more money in the private sector. Why would they take an enormous caseload, deal with the mcps beurocracy, etc. for less money?

XX number of busses in the fleet are replaced every year. Electric busses are better for the planet, and will save money in the long run. Not getting them would be short sighted.

Special Ed is a mess. Teacher shortages, and most kids NOT getting the education they are entitled to by law. This is only going to get worse as overburdened special ed teachers continue to burn out and quit. Also a nationwide problem.

Welcome Monifa! Electric school buses are double or triple the cost of diesel buses and 1/3 of the electric buses you got aren’t even usable.

Again, follow the joint. MCPS encouraged (well their political arms) the full scale mass immigration influx from largely three countries called the Northern Triangle. Then MCPS demographers repeatedly lied - and just said, ‘oh we are 10,000 over enrolled? My goodness we must have miscounted.’ Then when these children appeared largely on the East Side they threatened to redistrict for equity. They didn’t miscount - the schools have been taxed by rural, poverty stricken economic refugees (which is not recognized by the UN for refugee status). This is on you MCPS - you and your democratic cronies wanted the Hispanic vote - well in exchange you’ve severely taxed and degraded the quality of the schools for legal Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

We don't have more mental health support because a) there is a nationwide shortage and b) they can make significantly more money in the private sector. Why would they take an enormous caseload, deal with the mcps beurocracy, etc. for less money?

XX number of busses in the fleet are replaced every year. Electric busses are better for the planet, and will save money in the long run. Not getting them would be short sighted.

Special Ed is a mess. Teacher shortages, and most kids NOT getting the education they are entitled to by law. This is only going to get worse as overburdened special ed teachers continue to burn out and quit. Also a nationwide problem.

Schools are for education. Mental health is for parents to handle outside of school. Schools can provide basic support but it's not appropriate for them to provide weekly individual therapy except if a child is at a special school. Parents need to parent their kids.

We need more special education teachers, more SLP's, more reading teachers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps talking about needing more mental health support for students. So instead of more counselors, we get electric busses. Priorities.

We don't have more mental health support because a) there is a nationwide shortage and b) they can make significantly more money in the private sector. Why would they take an enormous caseload, deal with the mcps beurocracy, etc. for less money?

XX number of busses in the fleet are replaced every year. Electric busses are better for the planet, and will save money in the long run. Not getting them would be short sighted.

Special Ed is a mess. Teacher shortages, and most kids NOT getting the education they are entitled to by law. This is only going to get worse as overburdened special ed teachers continue to burn out and quit. Also a nationwide problem.

Welcome Monifa! Electric school buses are double or triple the cost of diesel buses and 1/3 of the electric buses you got aren’t even usable.

Try again Janice. And can you please get a life outside of pointing fingers at MCPS?