How does MCPS get away with spending this much money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

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

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

How dare they expect healthcare and pensions!

I know and next will be asking for cost of living increases! It's so greedy that they want to be treated like everybody else and aren't willing to sacrifice everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

So why haven't they gotten rid of the old Promethean boards yet? It's so weird how they just put the new devices in front of the old disconnected ones.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is wastefully run.

MCPS is underfunded.

The two truths are not incompatible.

Conservatives use the first as a bludgeon to try to preserve wealth by lowering associated taxes. Doing so spirals the second into underperformance that can be used as a further bludgeon, especially when they see the opportunity to encourage vouchers, charters and the like. These further weaken the system while appealing to their special social interests.

Liberals use the second to call for greater funding, but over-focus the operational result on the special populations that form their political base to the detriment of gen pop or even true social equity. Meanwhile, they ignore the first, willing to accommodate sweetheart contracts with those who are connected.

The electorate has no real say, as the practices of staggered elections, at-large seats and whole-county voting for district seats make the likelihod of any BOE representation by critical viewpoints vanishingly small. The BOE, themselves, are only funded part time, reliant entirely on their one employee, the superintendent, who is set up to be an autocrat, for any information to support decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

MCPS never had a contract with Promethean.

[Anonymous]

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

Aside from the issue of the chosen few getting proper treatment in this regard (there are great special education services available, but not enough, and not equitably spread), the support for advanced student needs is not nearly on par with that you describe, and not only are there many more of them in the system, but the cost of addressing associated need would be quite a bit lower on a per-student basis, if not overall.

Today's letter from Dr. McKnight touts an operating budget with a "focus on strengthening Academic Excellence" (their bold, not mine). What a bold mischaracterization, there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is wastefully run.

MCPS is underfunded.

The two truths are not incompatible.

Conservatives use the first as a bludgeon to try to preserve wealth by lowering associated taxes. Doing so spirals the second into underperformance that can be used as a further bludgeon, especially when they see the opportunity to encourage vouchers, charters and the like. These further weaken the system while appealing to their special social interests.

Liberals use the second to call for greater funding, but over-focus the operational result on the special populations that form their political base to the detriment of gen pop or even true social equity. Meanwhile, they ignore the first, willing to accommodate sweetheart contracts with those who are connected.

The electorate has no real say, as the practices of staggered elections, at-large seats and whole-county voting for district seats make the likelihod of any BOE representation by critical viewpoints vanishingly small. The BOE, themselves, are only funded part time, reliant entirely on their one employee, the superintendent, who is set up to be an autocrat, for any information to support decisions.

I just read in another thread how some parents feel the county should be raising their kids providing for medical care, mental health, nutrition, etc
. I mean that's great. I'm not against it but MCPS is barely able to hire sufficient teachers and educate kids let alone do all these other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Aside from the issue of the chosen few getting proper treatment in this regard (there are great special education services available, but not enough, and not equitably spread), the support for advanced student needs is not nearly on par with that you describe, and not only are there many more of them in the system, but the cost of addressing associated need would be quite a bit lower on a per-student basis, if not overall.

Today's letter from Dr. McKnight touts an operating budget with a "focus on strengthening Academic Excellence" (their bold, not mine). What a bold mischaracterization, there!

students only get out of MCPS what they're willing to put into it and therein lies the problem. Nothing the county does will ever change that. People need to stop expecting mcknight to solve their problems and take some personal responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No accountability and the school system is TOO big. I grew up with a smaller town-based school system and you would actually see the superintendent and the BOE members out in the community often.

Yes, we know. You want your wealthy district separated from The Poors. It would benefit you. Gag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for letting us know you’re racist trash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

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

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

How dare they expect healthcare and pensions!

I know and next will be asking for cost of living increases! It's so greedy that they want to be treated like everybody else and aren't willing to sacrifice everything.

I know, right? Teachers should be willing to work for peanuts, contract, with no healthcare and no retirement benefits because thiiiiiink of the chiiiiiildreeeeen,

That will definitely help stop the bleeding of teachers fleeing the profession and not NEARLY enough newly minted teachers coming to replace them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cultural Warrior tosses grenade! (MCPS has a political arm? Who knew!?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

So why haven't they gotten rid of the old Promethean boards yet? It's so weird how they just put the new devices in front of the old disconnected ones.

And they put Promethean boards in front of chalk boards! The horror!

MCPS should spend even more money to remove the prometheans and chalk boards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Aside from the issue of the chosen few getting proper treatment in this regard (there are great special education services available, but not enough, and not equitably spread), the support for advanced student needs is not nearly on par with that you describe, and not only are there many more of them in the system, but the cost of addressing associated need would be quite a bit lower on a per-student basis, if not overall.

Today's letter from Dr. McKnight touts an operating budget with a "focus on strengthening Academic Excellence" (their bold, not mine). What a bold mischaracterization, there!

students only get out of MCPS what they're willing to put into it and therein lies the problem. Nothing the county does will ever change that. People need to stop expecting mcknight to solve their problems and take some personal responsibility.

Students can't get out of MCPS what MCPS won't offer. Whether they legally are bound to do so or not.

When it's both cheaper and more in alignment with management philosophy towards political aims, it's no surprise that MCPS pays mostly lip service to broadly available and regionally consistent enrichment. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't call out their hypocrisy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Aside from the issue of the chosen few getting proper treatment in this regard (there are great special education services available, but not enough, and not equitably spread), the support for advanced student needs is not nearly on par with that you describe, and not only are there many more of them in the system, but the cost of addressing associated need would be quite a bit lower on a per-student basis, if not overall.

Today's letter from Dr. McKnight touts an operating budget with a "focus on strengthening Academic Excellence" (their bold, not mine). What a bold mischaracterization, there!

students only get out of MCPS what they're willing to put into it and therein lies the problem. Nothing the county does will ever change that. People need to stop expecting mcknight to solve their problems and take some personal responsibility.

Students can't get out of MCPS what MCPS won't offer. Whether they legally are bound to do so or not.

When it's both cheaper and more in alignment with management philosophy towards political aims, it's no surprise that MCPS pays mostly lip service to broadly available and regionally consistent enrichment. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't call out their hypocrisy.

Sorry but that's BS and you know it.

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile, there's another thread where a parent feels the county needs to invest in expanding facilities at every school and hiring many more PE teachers so kids can have daily PE. It's not a bad thing, but it may not be a top priority. If I had one, it would be to hire more aids, so kids on grade level or higher get some instructional time in early ES instead of being ignored.