Board wants Monifa to step down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OIG report is out
"Our review found numerous issues with the manner in which MCPS and DCI handle and
investigate complaints of employee misconduct. Of note, many of the same deficiencies we
found were previously identified by other entities and reported to MCPS. Although informed of
the concerns, MCPS failed to implement appropriate corrective actions."
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oig/igproduct.html

In a brief skim of the report, this basically condemns DCI as a chaotic, under-resourced, disorganized department and specifically calls out DCI Director Michaele Simmons as an abysmal failure who lacked qualifications for the role she held.

It does indict Dr. McKnight since it spells out repeated recommendations to overhaul DCI in 2019, 2022 and 2023 that went ignored.

I find it ironic that McKnight cites the purchase of GoGuardian and it being rolled out in February of this year as an achievement toward stronger compliance when her own staff just recommended removing GoGuardian from the budget since it was under-utilized. Yet another example of how siloed and contradictory MCPS is as a system. The left hand has no idea what the right is doing.

[Anonymous]

McKnight was a questionable hire who perpetuated favoritism towards an inner circle of minority "educators" who turned out to be sycophants at best and predators at worst. Absolutely zero compassion for this woman who never should have been put in a position of authority, and is now Exhibit A when it comes to MCPS's descent into the abyss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKnight is leaving. Whether today, a year from now or when her contract is up, is to be seen. All the BOE can do is try to save some face or claw back the narrative. That way they’ll still be able to get some quality candidates for the next search. Something that is already going to be hard given the past history of dealing with Supers, the size of the district, and what folks in industry have heard about it.

It sounds like McKnight's main beef with the board, according to the Fox 5 exclusive she sat down for, is that she's being asked to resign before her term is over, which she says is unlike what has happened to her male predecessors.

SOURCE: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/mcps-superintendent-dr-monifa-mcknight-breaks-silence-amidst-boards-request-for-her-resignation

She is the first woman to be the superintendent of MCPS and feels she is being treated differently than the men who have come before her because they were able to finish their term despite any high-profile incidents that came to light.

So it sounds like she's fine with not having her contract renewed, but not ok with being pushed out prematurely. This aligns with some of the chatter that was going around that she only viewed the MCPS superintendent role as a stepping stone in a larger political career ambition. She never cared to do a good job. She just cares about how it looks.

That last part is conjecture. And even if it’s not she has every right to be concerned about how it looks and what is done. It’s a job. She doesn’t have to martyr herself for the benefit of MCPS. If they have justification to fire her that’s one thing, if they don’t or are trying to figure out how to sell it then she’s right, follow the contract or the same process used in the past where folks finish out their contract.

And it’s starting to seem they don’t actually have good legal fitting upon which to fire her.

Their "legal fitting" is fine. They can fire her without cause, and pay the one-year severance.

The reality is, superintendents in this area commonly end as martyrs. That's part of executive jobs, and why they pay so well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKnight is leaving. Whether today, a year from now or when her contract is up, is to be seen. All the BOE can do is try to save some face or claw back the narrative. That way they’ll still be able to get some quality candidates for the next search. Something that is already going to be hard given the past history of dealing with Supers, the size of the district, and what folks in industry have heard about it.

It sounds like McKnight's main beef with the board, according to the Fox 5 exclusive she sat down for, is that she's being asked to resign before her term is over, which she says is unlike what has happened to her male predecessors.

SOURCE: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/mcps-superintendent-dr-monifa-mcknight-breaks-silence-amidst-boards-request-for-her-resignation

She is the first woman to be the superintendent of MCPS and feels she is being treated differently than the men who have come before her because they were able to finish their term despite any high-profile incidents that came to light.

So it sounds like she's fine with not having her contract renewed, but not ok with being pushed out prematurely. This aligns with some of the chatter that was going around that she only viewed the MCPS superintendent role as a stepping stone in a larger political career ambition. She never cared to do a good job. She just cares about how it looks.

That last part is conjecture. And even if it’s not she has every right to be concerned about how it looks and what is done. It’s a job. She doesn’t have to martyr herself for the benefit of MCPS. If they have justification to fire her that’s one thing, if they don’t or are trying to figure out how to sell it then she’s right, follow the contract or the same process used in the past where folks finish out their contract.

And it’s starting to seem they don’t actually have good legal fitting upon which to fire her.

Their "legal fitting" is fine. They can fire her without cause, and pay the one-year severance.

The reality is, superintendents in this area commonly end as martyrs. That's part of executive jobs, and why they pay so well.

Even though this whole debacle began under the previous administration they need to scapegoat someone and she's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also have a situation here where people are seemingly ignoring the fact that McKnight was actively protecting a predator, and that, right there, is enough to ask for her to leave. It doesn’t matter if you’re left or right, bottom line, her being loyal to Beidleman and not to the staff and students of this district is straight-up disgusting. (Never mind making an argument that this is a racial witch hunt, when that has nothing to do with what Beidleman actually did. Or what McKnight did. It’s just smoke.)

Isn't the argument that she was letting the personnel investigationand action process play out, rather than publicly condemning someone before due process was completed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKnight is leaving. Whether today, a year from now or when her contract is up, is to be seen. All the BOE can do is try to save some face or claw back the narrative. That way they’ll still be able to get some quality candidates for the next search. Something that is already going to be hard given the past history of dealing with Supers, the size of the district, and what folks in industry have heard about it.

It sounds like McKnight's main beef with the board, according to the Fox 5 exclusive she sat down for, is that she's being asked to resign before her term is over, which she says is unlike what has happened to her male predecessors.

SOURCE: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/mcps-superintendent-dr-monifa-mcknight-breaks-silence-amidst-boards-request-for-her-resignation

She is the first woman to be the superintendent of MCPS and feels she is being treated differently than the men who have come before her because they were able to finish their term despite any high-profile incidents that came to light.

So it sounds like she's fine with not having her contract renewed, but not ok with being pushed out prematurely. This aligns with some of the chatter that was going around that she only viewed the MCPS superintendent role as a stepping stone in a larger political career ambition. She never cared to do a good job. She just cares about how it looks.

That last part is conjecture. And even if it’s not she has every right to be concerned about how it looks and what is done. It’s a job. She doesn’t have to martyr herself for the benefit of MCPS. If they have justification to fire her that’s one thing, if they don’t or are trying to figure out how to sell it then she’s right, follow the contract or the same process used in the past where folks finish out their contract.

And it’s starting to seem they don’t actually have good legal fitting upon which to fire her.

Their "legal fitting" is fine. They can fire her without cause, and pay the one-year severance.

The reality is, superintendents in this area commonly end as martyrs. That's part of executive jobs, and why they pay so well.

Even though this whole debacle began under the previous administration they need to scapegoat someone and she's it.

You're going to be judged... harshly... for how you respond to ongoing scandals under your watch, even if they started before your tenure. You've got to clean house quickly.

[Anonymous]

Where is due process for teachers whose careers are blemished because they worked in a district known for bullying and rape/violence culture

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is due process for teachers whose careers are blemished because they worked in a district known for bullying and rape/violence culture

I'm not sure you know what due process means...

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure you know what conflict of interest means but teachers should not stick around when bullying culture comes from top brass.

[Anonymous]

The thing that bugs me is that, right now, the district is suffering staff shortages all over, and this toxic culture, embedded within central office and less so throughout the system, essentially ensures that we will continue to hurt, with people transferring, quitting, retiring early. Hell, how many people did we lose just over the Beidleman situation? Why was he treated with kid gloves and yet everyone else who got harassed was basically ignored? Why is a predator principal more important than losing a dozen or more certified teachers? That's just seriously messed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the ETA of the IG next report? Before the BOE meeting in early Feb?

It is out

See post above for link

So they did a new report because the old report didn't support their preferred narrative?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is due process for teachers whose careers are blemished because they worked in a district known for bullying and rape/violence culture

or one that assumes guilt until proven innocent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McKnight was a questionable hire who perpetuated favoritism towards an inner circle of minority "educators" who turned out to be sycophants at best and predators at worst. Absolutely zero compassion for this woman who never should have been put in a position of authority, and is now Exhibit A when it comes to MCPS's descent into the abyss.

Some people definitely felt that way and were out for head from day one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also have a situation here where people are seemingly ignoring the fact that McKnight was actively protecting a predator, and that, right there, is enough to ask for her to leave. It doesn’t matter if you’re left or right, bottom line, her being loyal to Beidleman and not to the staff and students of this district is straight-up disgusting. (Never mind making an argument that this is a racial witch hunt, when that has nothing to do with what Beidleman actually did. Or what McKnight did. It’s just smoke.)

Isn't the argument that she was letting the personnel investigationand action process play out, rather than publicly condemning someone before due process was completed?

Not exactly. If we assume Khalid Walker can back up his allegations with receipts, the investigation did play out and JB was found to be in wild violation of the MCPS Code of Conduct but also basic human professional norms. That investigation was suppressed and fraudulently rewritten, at the direct instruction of two folks who report to McKnight.

She also appears to have baldly lied to the Board of Education about when she learned of the allegations and what she knew of JB's behavior.

Any of these are grounds for dismissal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also have a situation here where people are seemingly ignoring the fact that McKnight was actively protecting a predator, and that, right there, is enough to ask for her to leave. It doesn’t matter if you’re left or right, bottom line, her being loyal to Beidleman and not to the staff and students of this district is straight-up disgusting. (Never mind making an argument that this is a racial witch hunt, when that has nothing to do with what Beidleman actually did. Or what McKnight did. It’s just smoke.)

Isn't the argument that she was letting the personnel investigationand action process play out, rather than publicly condemning someone before due process was completed?

Not exactly. If we assume Khalid Walker can back up his allegations with receipts, the investigation did play out and JB was found to be in wild violation of the MCPS Code of Conduct but also basic human professional norms. That investigation was suppressed and fraudulently rewritten, at the direct instruction of two folks who report to McKnight.

She also appears to have baldly lied to the Board of Education about when she learned of the allegations and what she knew of JB's behavior.

Any of these are grounds for dismissal.

Agreed

Why would anyone risk so much to protect him? It makes no sense