What is going on with the Office of Special Education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately this has always been the culture of MCPS. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: 11 million spent in 2017 in outside counsel to fight families of children on IEPs. That is the school system you choose to support with your tax dollars? Well I don’t anymore. You shouldn’t either.

With the proliferation of 504s being up 300%, especially in UMC areas it kind of has to be.

You have to be kidding right? Where was that ‘proliferation’ of support during the pandemic. Yep - down 300%. The county did nothing. Let’s face it - you are likely an older Moco taxpayer with kids out of the schools. I get it. You have a low mortgage but high taxes. But these children are screwed every day by an institution that is supposed to educate them. Your tax money in the billions is going to pensions and central office.

How can McKnight even sleep at night with this hire is beyond me…an educator this is not. This is an administrator only - and a heartless one at that.

Heartless, really? You're way over the top. I don't know this person, and I bet you don't either, but there's nothing wrong with MCPS hiring someone with special education and law experience. It actually sounds beneficial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

The first mention of "bocce ball" is when MCPS threads jump the shark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

The first mention of "bocce ball" is when MCPS threads jump the shark.

My sped kid really likes Bocce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

LOL you think health insurance pays for education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately this has always been the culture of MCPS. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: 11 million spent in 2017 in outside counsel to fight families of children on IEPs. That is the school system you choose to support with your tax dollars? Well I don’t anymore. You shouldn’t either.

With the proliferation of 504s being up 300%, especially in UMC areas it kind of has to be.

I agree. I don't think we can give everyone everything that they want. We need to stick to what is required. What is the percentage spent on kids with IEPs versus the amount spent on everyone else?

And frankly, you can fault the families suing as much as MCPS for the 11 million in waste.

Frank, no you can't fault parents at all. The law is the law and if MCPS won't follow it then parents have to advocate for their chiildren. Frank, you really have to get your story straight. You want parents to be involved in their child's education or you don't? Which is it? You blame parents when kids are out of control and fault them for advocating for their children at the same time.

There are many parents who demand far more than the las entitles them to receive. And then they get lawyers and pursue action against the school. You certainly can assign fault to people who sue the school for things they are not entitled to receive. And based on the outcomes of the lawsuits, that would be the vast majority of those who sue the school system.

We were literally told by a consultant to sue the school system, that it was so egregiously bad, but I have zero desire to engage any further with such toxic folx. My guess is that the ppl who do sue are the tiny minority. It takes a lot. I'm grateful to those who are so courageous though.

[Anonymous]

Special Ed. paperwork is completely out of control.
Huge burden on regular teachers as well.
Something needs to change. The system is broken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

LOL you think health insurance pays for education.

You are so condescending. Health insurance pays for some services and then, as I said, you use your own money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

[Anonymous]

As a parent who filed and won state and federal complaints against MCPS, the current administrators have not steered the school system into greater compliance. It’s the exact opposite. MCPS blatantly discriminates against students with disabilities knowing only a small percentage will file complaints or sue. This approach has negatively impacted most students with disabilities throughout MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who filed and won state and federal complaints against MCPS, the current administrators have not steered the school system into greater compliance. It’s the exact opposite. MCPS blatantly discriminates against students with disabilities knowing only a small percentage will file complaints or sue. This approach has negatively impacted most students with disabilities throughout MCPS.

So, so true. Beyond blatant. I'd label it pathologically sadistic. Also allows some folx (employed/pensioned for life) who are sociopathic and/or sadistic to know they'll have zero accountability for what they do to bully their easy targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

+1

I’m not against spending money to help disabled students. If they need Bocce, I want them to have it. I’d be happy to allocate Bocce funding and additional funding on top of that. I just think it should come out of the MCPS budget and not use funds earmarked for COVID relief for expenses that are unrelated to COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

+1

I’m not against spending money to help disabled students. If they need Bocce, I want them to have it. I’d be happy to allocate Bocce funding and additional funding on top of that. I just think it should come out of the MCPS budget and not use funds earmarked for COVID relief for expenses that are unrelated to COVID.

Well since COVID didn't exist, there was nothing to spend it on.