BOE election candidates 2024

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

How has Evans used that perspective effectively in her 8 years on the board?

If you really need a list of ways the MCPS BOE has been progressive and leading the way to remedy the achievement gap for black and brown children, you haven’t been paying attention at all.

There has been no “remedying” of the achievement gap for black and brown children. There has been a lowering of the bar and coercion of teachers to inflate grades and socially promote to make the numbers for black and brown children look better. This is borne out by the fact that the classroom grades for black and brown children have improved while standardized test scores have fallen.

I say this as a black parent, so don’t try to accuse me of being a racist white person who doesn’t want to see black and brown children do better.

And folks like Laura Stewart accuse anyone who asks questions about this approach of being racist and/or not caring about kids who aren’t white or Asian and/or if hoarding opportunity and/or being from a W school etc etc. When really they may have the same objective of wanting to see all kids do better but question the steps that have been tried so far to achieve the objective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

The other place Laura Stewart gets her talking points is from developers. The developers have managed to use enough liberal buzzwords to convince progressives that the developer’s agenda is aligned with a progressive education agenda. So rather than demanding that the County make developers pay more to support education, advocates like Laura Stewart supported cutting taxes for developers while increasing taxes on residents.

It really shows how gullible she is when she spouts this stuff. The CO staff will absolutely eat her for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

Years of experience doing what? Sitting there at the table and not asking questions? Not challenging anything central office says? Signing off on McKnight's hiring of all her friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

So I actually prefer people who fight for social justice to people who fight against social justice. But different people have different preferences.

Me too. Which is why I’d much prefer Evans and her background in this area and experience as a black woman over the white empty nester

You prefer the person who was elected to the BoE based on a particular background to the person who wants to be elected to the BoE based on that same background.

DP. I’m not going to vote for Stewart based on snark but I am willing to vote for her if she is clear about what she thinks is wrong with the BOE and how her approach would be different. In other words, she needs to be clear about what’s wrong and differentiate herself. Right now, she just looks like a BOE groupie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

Years of experience doing what? Sitting there at the table and not asking questions? Not challenging anything central office says? Signing off on McKnight's hiring of all her friends?

All three options in this race are highly problematic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you know about Natalie Zimmerman, candidate from District 2?

Who is she?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

The other place Laura Stewart gets her talking points is from developers. The developers have managed to use enough liberal buzzwords to convince progressives that the developer’s agenda is aligned with a progressive education agenda. So rather than demanding that the County make developers pay more to support education, advocates like Laura Stewart supported cutting taxes for developers while increasing taxes on residents.

It really shows how gullible she is when she spouts this stuff. The CO staff will absolutely eat her for lunch.

Is this the moco real estate tax increase that Laura Stewart supported, or are there other increases in the past?

https://moco360.media/2023/05/11/recordation-tax-increase-okd-for-homes-sold-at-prices-over-600000/

[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:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

How has Evans used that perspective effectively in her 8 years on the board?

If you really need a list of ways the MCPS BOE has been progressive and leading the way to remedy the achievement gap for black and brown children, you haven’t been paying attention at all.

There has been no “remedying” of the achievement gap for black and brown children. There has been a lowering of the bar and coercion of teachers to inflate grades and socially promote to make the numbers for black and brown children look better. This is borne out by the fact that the classroom grades for black and brown children have improved while standardized test scores have fallen.

I say this as a black parent, so don’t try to accuse me of being a racist white person who doesn’t want to see black and brown children do better.

Completely agree their approach isn't helping anyone and is causing harm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

The other place Laura Stewart gets her talking points is from developers. The developers have managed to use enough liberal buzzwords to convince progressives that the developer’s agenda is aligned with a progressive education agenda. So rather than demanding that the County make developers pay more to support education, advocates like Laura Stewart supported cutting taxes for developers while increasing taxes on residents.

It really shows how gullible she is when she spouts this stuff. The CO staff will absolutely eat her for lunch.

Is this the moco real estate tax increase that Laura Stewart supported, or are there other increases in the past?

https://moco360.media/2023/05/11/recordation-tax-increase-okd-for-homes-sold-at-prices-over-600000/

Learn before you criticize. Developers and MoCo Planning spent years proving the overcrowded schools were not from developers building new dwelling units, but from neighborhood turnover. Meanwhile, developers had been paying tens of thousands of dollars in impact taxes for schools. So, County Council got rid of the impact taxes for developers, and switched it to those buying the housing and overcrowding the schools. If you are to believe the developers and the Planning Board, then this is the right thing to do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

The other place Laura Stewart gets her talking points is from developers. The developers have managed to use enough liberal buzzwords to convince progressives that the developer’s agenda is aligned with a progressive education agenda. So rather than demanding that the County make developers pay more to support education, advocates like Laura Stewart supported cutting taxes for developers while increasing taxes on residents.

It really shows how gullible she is when she spouts this stuff. The CO staff will absolutely eat her for lunch.

Is this the moco real estate tax increase that Laura Stewart supported, or are there other increases in the past?

https://moco360.media/2023/05/11/recordation-tax-increase-okd-for-homes-sold-at-prices-over-600000/

Learn before you criticize. Developers and MoCo Planning spent years proving the overcrowded schools were not from developers building new dwelling units, but from neighborhood turnover. Meanwhile, developers had been paying tens of thousands of dollars in impact taxes for schools. So, County Council got rid of the impact taxes for developers, and switched it to those buying the housing and overcrowding the schools. If you are to believe the developers and the Planning Board, then this is the right thing to do

Analyze before you run your mouth. The turnover study was rhetoric, not analysis. It cherry picked its sample and only accounted for gross turnover, so if a family with three kids moved out and a family with one kid moved in, it the sale as generating +1 student instead of -2 students. Worthless.

Stewart supported the recordation tax increase and also supported the impact fee reductions (twice, actually), which mean that the schools capital budget goes deeper in the hole whenever there’s new housing construction because the new impact fees are less per seat than it costs to deliver a seat. She also supported the property tax increase, which will be necessary to pay debt service on the extra money the county has to borrow to build schools for new housing construction.

If these policies actually resulted in more housing construction, it would be a fair trade off. But they don’t result in more construction because developers prefer a shortage to a surplus, so they just pocket the tax savings as profit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

Years of experience doing what? Sitting there at the table and not asking questions? Not challenging anything central office says? Signing off on McKnight's hiring of all her friends?

This in a nutshell is why I’m not voting for Laura Stewart.

[Anonymous]

No one knows anything about Natalie Zimmerman who filed on Friday?! Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

Years of experience doing what? Sitting there at the table and not asking questions? Not challenging anything central office says? Signing off on McKnight's hiring of all her friends?

This in a nutshell is why I’m not voting for Laura Stewart.

I hate to break it to you, but Laura Stewart has not been sitting at the table and not asking questions. That is the incumbent Shebra Evans who has been sitting at the table doing nothing for the last eight years, except for signing off on McKnight's hiring of all her middle school principal friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

Years of experience doing what? Sitting there at the table and not asking questions? Not challenging anything central office says? Signing off on McKnight's hiring of all her friends?

This in a nutshell is why I’m not voting for Laura Stewart.

Despite your strange attempts to suggest otherwise, Laura Stewart is not the incumbent. Shebra Evans is.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:Stewart has worked tirelessly to secure funding for MCPS schools, particularly for renovations, rebuilds, and new buildings. It is absolute drudgery and “grunt” work. If you think someone who has volunteered for years to learn the ins and outs of school funding, and to lobby for adequate funding, is an “insider” so be it. But as I look at the list of individuals challenging the incumbents I see nobody else who knows the system as well as Stewart. Given the state of affairs, I’d like to have somebody on the board who isn’t a complete novice.

I see someone who knows the system very well, didn’t speak up for any of the victims, and continues to be mild in her criticism of the BOE. Funny how much that sounds like the current members.

What has Shebra Evans done?

Or do you prefer the candidate who wants to dismantle the public school system altogether?

Shebra Evans does a lot, and she’s the only BOE member who’s ever followed up on a note that I sent. I’m open to someone different but Laura Stewart isn’t different enough to make it worth it to get rid of an experienced member.

That’s where my head is at. Laura Stewart is just another Lynn Harris and Jill Ortman Fouse and on and on goes the MCCPTA pipeline.

Shebra Evans is also part of the MCCPTA pipeline, not that she did a lot in MCCPTA at the time. She is a very pleasant person, but is not a dynamic leader. Who was it that said 95% of life is showing up? That's what Shebra does, she just shows up, with her rubber stamp handy. For D4, you have a choice to make. You can choose a pleasant incumbent who shows up at meetings. Laura Stewart I find to be a more active advocate - whether you agree with everything she advocates is up to you, but she is working hard on understanding issues and proposing solutions. She has a handle of how the $3.2 billion budget is organized and what the problems are. Bethany Mandel seems to be a one-note candidate for D4 - interested in banning books. She homeschools her children so doesn't have a sense of how schools are organized.

Not sure why Laura Stewart gets all this credit for "experience" with MCPS or "deep knowledge" of things like the budget. in her capacity as an MCCPTA lifer, she basically assembles talking points from the various schools/clusters and regurgitates those to the BOE in testimony. I don't see a lot of original thought or cutting edge ideas coming from her. I'm thankful that she volunteers her time with MCCPTA, but I don't see how this role somehow qualifies her to be on the Board. I really wish an outsider ran for District 4. But as between Laura Stewart and Evans, I'd rather have Evans because she seems less focused on the social issues and distractions that bog down the BOE. Stewart is more of a middle-aged white progressive busy-body. With Lynn Harris already on the board to assume that mantle I think Evans' perspective is more valuable as one of only 2 black members of the BOE.

You'll never guess what Shebra Evans did before she was elected.

I think you just proved my point. Evan’s is largely invisible and shows that MCCPTA experience doesn’t necessarily make one a good BOE member. But she actually has years of experience on the board now. And a perspective that I think is needed more than middle aged white social justice warrior.

So I actually prefer people who fight for social justice to people who fight against social justice. But different people have different preferences.

Me too. Which is why I’d much prefer Evans and her background in this area and experience as a black woman over the white empty nester

You prefer the person who was elected to the BoE based on a particular background to the person who wants to be elected to the BoE based on that same background.

DP. I’m not going to vote for Stewart based on snark but I am willing to vote for her if she is clear about what she thinks is wrong with the BOE and how her approach would be different. In other words, she needs to be clear about what’s wrong and differentiate herself. Right now, she just looks like a BOE groupie.

To be fair, it's not clear to me what the priorities of any candidates are. I think there is a debate/forum before the election that helps understand their priorities, but it's not like these are people who are mailing out campaign literature right away to the entire county.