What is the Board of Ed Doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the BoE 's non-action a surprise to anyone? You all voted for them time and time again. Why are you expecting a different response? Don't expect change if you're not changing who you vote for.

This. Most voters don't care. I understand sort of -- a lot of voters don't have kids so they really don't pay attention to the BOE elections.

I voted for non-incumbents but my vote is nothing against the powerful teacher's union.

We moved our kids to private and happy we did so. Even if there was a revolution in the BOE, due to staggered election cycles it would take 6+ years to get even a simple majority of BOE members replaced. My kids will be nearly out of school then.

Brenda Wolff, who is the president of the BOE, is up for re-election this year. If she were to get defeated it would probably scare enough of them to fall in line.

PP here. I had this same hope last election. We were in the middle of the pandemic, schools were closed, and many parents were furious about the BOE's actions. If there was a time to vote out the BOE, it was then. Yet, every incumbent on the ballot was re-elected.

The only "surprise" outcome was that the union-backed candidate (Dasgupta) lost in favor of the PTSA-backed candidate (Harris) for the open seat.

So we'll just continue to rework our finances so our kids can go to private. I'll continue to support challengers on the BOE, but I don't see that going anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the BoE 's non-action a surprise to anyone? You all voted for them time and time again. Why are you expecting a different response? Don't expect change if you're not changing who you vote for.

This. Most voters don't care. I understand sort of -- a lot of voters don't have kids so they really don't pay attention to the BOE elections.

I voted for non-incumbents but my vote is nothing against the powerful teacher's union.

We moved our kids to private and happy we did so. Even if there was a revolution in the BOE, due to staggered election cycles it would take 6+ years to get even a simple majority of BOE members replaced. My kids will be nearly out of school then.

Brenda Wolff, who is the president of the BOE, is up for re-election this year. If she were to get defeated it would probably scare enough of them to fall in line.

PP here. I had this same hope last election. We were in the middle of the pandemic, schools were closed, and many parents were furious about the BOE's actions. If there was a time to vote out the BOE, it was then. Yet, every incumbent on the ballot was re-elected.

The only "surprise" outcome was that the union-backed candidate (Dasgupta) lost in favor of the PTSA-backed candidate (Harris) for the open seat.

So we'll just continue to rework our finances so our kids can go to private. I'll continue to support challengers on the BOE, but I don't see that going anywhere.

The incumbents were re-elected because their opponents were bad candidates. People who want to see changes on the BOE need to recruit stronger candidates to run for the seats. And for the 2022 election, they need to do so right now. The deadline for filing is next month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the BoE 's non-action a surprise to anyone? You all voted for them time and time again. Why are you expecting a different response? Don't expect change if you're not changing who you vote for.

This. Most voters don't care. I understand sort of -- a lot of voters don't have kids so they really don't pay attention to the BOE elections.

I voted for non-incumbents but my vote is nothing against the powerful teacher's union.

We moved our kids to private and happy we did so. Even if there was a revolution in the BOE, due to staggered election cycles it would take 6+ years to get even a simple majority of BOE members replaced. My kids will be nearly out of school then.

Brenda Wolff, who is the president of the BOE, is up for re-election this year. If she were to get defeated it would probably scare enough of them to fall in line.

PP here. I had this same hope last election. We were in the middle of the pandemic, schools were closed, and many parents were furious about the BOE's actions. If there was a time to vote out the BOE, it was then. Yet, every incumbent on the ballot was re-elected.

The only "surprise" outcome was that the union-backed candidate (Dasgupta) lost in favor of the PTSA-backed candidate (Harris) for the open seat.

So we'll just continue to rework our finances so our kids can go to private. I'll continue to support challengers on the BOE, but I don't see that going anywhere.

The incumbents were re-elected because their opponents were bad candidates. People who want to see changes on the BOE need to recruit stronger candidates to run for the seats. And for the 2022 election, they need to do so right now. The deadline for filing is next month.

If they reformed the BOE and actually paid a living wage for a FT job I think it we would have better leadership. I imagined from a real politik perspective the council is happy with the way the BOE is because it ensure that competent people won’t use it as a springboard to challenge them.

If we cannot get competent people to do this job, the only recourse that we otherwise would have is to put pressure on councilmembers to tie funding to meeting specific requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the BoE 's non-action a surprise to anyone? You all voted for them time and time again. Why are you expecting a different response? Don't expect change if you're not changing who you vote for.

This. Most voters don't care. I understand sort of -- a lot of voters don't have kids so they really don't pay attention to the BOE elections.

I voted for non-incumbents but my vote is nothing against the powerful teacher's union.

We moved our kids to private and happy we did so. Even if there was a revolution in the BOE, due to staggered election cycles it would take 6+ years to get even a simple majority of BOE members replaced. My kids will be nearly out of school then.

Brenda Wolff, who is the president of the BOE, is up for re-election this year. If she were to get defeated it would probably scare enough of them to fall in line.

PP here. I had this same hope last election. We were in the middle of the pandemic, schools were closed, and many parents were furious about the BOE's actions. If there was a time to vote out the BOE, it was then. Yet, every incumbent on the ballot was re-elected.

The only "surprise" outcome was that the union-backed candidate (Dasgupta) lost in favor of the PTSA-backed candidate (Harris) for the open seat.

So we'll just continue to rework our finances so our kids can go to private. I'll continue to support challengers on the BOE, but I don't see that going anywhere.

The incumbents were re-elected because their opponents were bad candidates. People who want to see changes on the BOE need to recruit stronger candidates to run for the seats. And for the 2022 election, they need to do so right now. The deadline for filing is next month.

The problem is our county has so many people with sticks up their butts and are living in a bubble that anyone challenging the current incumbents and who even remotely suggests returning SROs or focusing on academic excellence and hard work is framed as a racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evidently we should send our kids to school and expect them to be murdered. Sorry, nothing anyone can do.

What do you want them to do? Treat schools like prisons with cavity searches?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidently we should send our kids to school and expect them to be murdered. Sorry, nothing anyone can do.

What do you want them to do? Treat schools like prisons with cavity searches?

This is incredible. Do you think the only two options available are school prison and just hope and prey our kids are not violent crime victims while in the care of MCPS?

When we send minor kids to school they are in MCPSs care. MCPS has an obligation to protect them. If MCPS says that they cannot protect our kids then they are failing in their legal duty. Point blank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidently we should send our kids to school and expect them to be murdered. Sorry, nothing anyone can do.

What do you want them to do? Treat schools like prisons with cavity searches?

This is incredible. Do you think the only two options available are school prison and just hope and prey our kids are not violent crime victims while in the care of MCPS?

When we send minor kids to school they are in MCPSs care. MCPS has an obligation to protect them. If MCPS says that they cannot protect our kids then they are failing in their legal duty. Point blank.

But you didn't answer the question--what do you want them to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidently we should send our kids to school and expect them to be murdered. Sorry, nothing anyone can do.

What do you want them to do? Treat schools like prisons with cavity searches?

This is incredible. Do you think the only two options available are school prison and just hope and prey our kids are not violent crime victims while in the care of MCPS?

When we send minor kids to school they are in MCPSs care. MCPS has an obligation to protect them. If MCPS says that they cannot protect our kids then they are failing in their legal duty. Point blank.

But you didn't answer the question--what do you want them to do?

DP - maybe start by reading the other post on how to fix mcps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the BoE 's non-action a surprise to anyone? You all voted for them time and time again. Why are you expecting a different response? Don't expect change if you're not changing who you vote for.

This. Most voters don't care. I understand sort of -- a lot of voters don't have kids so they really don't pay attention to the BOE elections.

I voted for non-incumbents but my vote is nothing against the powerful teacher's union.

We moved our kids to private and happy we did so. Even if there was a revolution in the BOE, due to staggered election cycles it would take 6+ years to get even a simple majority of BOE members replaced. My kids will be nearly out of school then.

Brenda Wolff, who is the president of the BOE, is up for re-election this year. If she were to get defeated it would probably scare enough of them to fall in line.

PP here. I had this same hope last election. We were in the middle of the pandemic, schools were closed, and many parents were furious about the BOE's actions. If there was a time to vote out the BOE, it was then. Yet, every incumbent on the ballot was re-elected.

The only "surprise" outcome was that the union-backed candidate (Dasgupta) lost in favor of the PTSA-backed candidate (Harris) for the open seat.

So we'll just continue to rework our finances so our kids can go to private. I'll continue to support challengers on the BOE, but I don't see that going anywhere.

The incumbents were re-elected because their opponents were bad candidates. People who want to see changes on the BOE need to recruit stronger candidates to run for the seats. And for the 2022 election, they need to do so right now. The deadline for filing is next month.

I know a really strong candidate who is running! Not announcing yet, but stay tuned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the BoE 's non-action a surprise to anyone? You all voted for them time and time again. Why are you expecting a different response? Don't expect change if you're not changing who you vote for.

This. Most voters don't care. I understand sort of -- a lot of voters don't have kids so they really don't pay attention to the BOE elections.

I voted for non-incumbents but my vote is nothing against the powerful teacher's union.

We moved our kids to private and happy we did so. Even if there was a revolution in the BOE, due to staggered election cycles it would take 6+ years to get even a simple majority of BOE members replaced. My kids will be nearly out of school then.

Brenda Wolff, who is the president of the BOE, is up for re-election this year. If she were to get defeated it would probably scare enough of them to fall in line.

PP here. I had this same hope last election. We were in the middle of the pandemic, schools were closed, and many parents were furious about the BOE's actions. If there was a time to vote out the BOE, it was then. Yet, every incumbent on the ballot was re-elected.

The only "surprise" outcome was that the union-backed candidate (Dasgupta) lost in favor of the PTSA-backed candidate (Harris) for the open seat.

So we'll just continue to rework our finances so our kids can go to private. I'll continue to support challengers on the BOE, but I don't see that going anywhere.

The incumbents were re-elected because their opponents were bad candidates. People who want to see changes on the BOE need to recruit stronger candidates to run for the seats. And for the 2022 election, they need to do so right now. The deadline for filing is next month.

I know a really strong candidate who is running! Not announcing yet, but stay tuned.

Steve Austin, candidate. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:January was a horrendous month for MCPS. Lack of Covid planning that led to staffing shortages that affected learning and transportation for learning. Lack of testing that fueled a surge in cases after winter break. Votes of no confidence against the interim superintendent by two major unions in MCPS. Now a gun in one high school and a shooting that critically injured a student at another high school all in the same day.

Shouldn’t the Board be having an emergency session? Shouldn’t they be concerned about the lack of leadership in MCPS?

I am stunned by their silence and lack of response.

What planning could have been done to anticipate staffing issues due to COVID? Lack of testing has been a national problem, not an MCPS problem. The super committed to in person learning, and MCPS has powered through it and things have turned the corner. The votes of no confidence are by teachers' unions who want to take advantage of the situation. And I fail to see how MCPS is responsible for a student brining a gun to school. Unless we want prison like schools with metal detectors and daily pat downs, there is the possibly. We all know your agenda, OP., you and the pro-virtual "chaos" crowd. Stop persecuting Dr. McKnight.

WOW! These kinds of ignorant posts scare me. I always thought Montgomery County had a very educated population but there are posts like this that make me wonder. This comment is based on voices in someone's head rather than reality.

McKnight is a disaster. She is responsible for the spread of Covid in schools and the effect is had on students, teachers and their families. I don't fault her for the shooting itself but her handling of it and that press conference was embarrassing. She looks completely confused and yet over confident at the same time (a very dangerous combination). She's certainly in over her head and the union knew it. The no confidence vote should be a signal to all of us that those who are in the trenches every day think she is incapable of doing this job.

I'm not sure how teachers are taking advantage. I was never one to rush to the side of a teacher. They are paid well with summers off and the unions often get annoying with their petty complaints about benefits when the average worker is getting none of that. However, I think teachers have risked their lives to provide our kids with an education. That was not part of the job description and I now think they are way underpaid and underappreciated.

They are working with no breaks and they are now in charge of making sure kids have laptops and food and that they can get to school when buses don't show up and making sure they get some education when they get Covid or have to care for a parent dying from Covid.

Excusing McKnight for not just her failure to plan but her failure to act is horrific. MCPS deserves better. She is a true disaster and needs to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidently we should send our kids to school and expect them to be murdered. Sorry, nothing anyone can do.

What do you want them to do? Treat schools like prisons with cavity searches?

This is incredible. Do you think the only two options available are school prison and just hope and prey our kids are not violent crime victims while in the care of MCPS?

When we send minor kids to school they are in MCPSs care. MCPS has an obligation to protect them. If MCPS says that they cannot protect our kids then they are failing in their legal duty. Point blank.

But you didn't answer the question--what do you want them to do?

DP - maybe start by reading the other post on how to fix mcps?

Their argument is really dumb. What is MCPS to do? Anything. Everything.


We are legally obligated to put our kids in their care and in turn MCPS is legally obligated to protect them while they are in their care.

Imagine a scene of an MCPS attorney explaining to a court that while they have billions of dollars they have no idea how to keep kids safe while in their care?

[Anonymous]

Can someone run against Brenda Wolff please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:January was a horrendous month for MCPS. Lack of Covid planning that led to staffing shortages that affected learning and transportation for learning. Lack of testing that fueled a surge in cases after winter break. Votes of no confidence against the interim superintendent by two major unions in MCPS. Now a gun in one high school and a shooting that critically injured a student at another high school all in the same day.

Shouldn’t the Board be having an emergency session? Shouldn’t they be concerned about the lack of leadership in MCPS?

I am stunned by their silence and lack of response.

And a special needs student murdered because the moms pleas for appropriate placement were denied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:January was a horrendous month for MCPS. Lack of Covid planning that led to staffing shortages that affected learning and transportation for learning. Lack of testing that fueled a surge in cases after winter break. Votes of no confidence against the interim superintendent by two major unions in MCPS. Now a gun in one high school and a shooting that critically injured a student at another high school all in the same day.

Shouldn’t the Board be having an emergency session? Shouldn’t they be concerned about the lack of leadership in MCPS?

I am stunned by their silence and lack of response.

And a special needs student murdered because the moms pleas for appropriate placement were denied.

MCPS is in a crisis and the BOE prefers to keep its head in the sand.