MCPS is hiring a new agency for its crisis communications

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Israel, Palestine and Hamas is none of MCPS's business. Stop pushing all the world's problems onto a local school district. There ar plenty of private yeshivas and mdrassas to attemd, and other countries to live in to choose from if your want your child to be enmeshed in foreign geopolitics while at school.

If you want to shield your child from learning anything about what is going on in the world around them, you are free to homeschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Israel, Palestine and Hamas is none of MCPS's business. Stop pushing all the world's problems onto a local school district. There ar plenty of private yeshivas and mdrassas to attemd, and other countries to live in to choose from if your want your child to be enmeshed in foreign geopolitics while at school.

+1 Keep politics and progressive issues out of schools, focus on learning.

In the schools with higher Jewish populations, I think it was appropriate to address the recent troubling events, but it is inflammatory to use biased words like “terrorist.” So I don’t have a problem with the neutral tone of the MCPS’s messaging.

My DC’s school has a large Arabic population and didn’t get any message at all, on a side note. Just think that’s interesting.

I agree. The school really should be neutral at this junction. It's fine to acknowledge the conflict and the stress it might cause affected students and families, but the school district should not be in the business of putting out position statements on current events like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Israel, Palestine and Hamas is none of MCPS's business. Stop pushing all the world's problems onto a local school district. There ar plenty of private yeshivas and mdrassas to attemd, and other countries to live in to choose from if your want your child to be enmeshed in foreign geopolitics while at school.

If you want to shield your child from learning anything about what is going on in the world around them, you are free to homeschool.

Same goes to you. If you want a highly politicized learning environment for your child, homeschool. Public school is not meant to be that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Israel, Palestine and Hamas is none of MCPS's business. Stop pushing all the world's problems onto a local school district. There ar plenty of private yeshivas and mdrassas to attemd, and other countries to live in to choose from if your want your child to be enmeshed in foreign geopolitics while at school.

+1 Keep politics and progressive issues out of schools, focus on learning.

In the schools with higher Jewish populations, I think it was appropriate to address the recent troubling events, but it is inflammatory to use biased words like “terrorist.” So I don’t have a problem with the neutral tone of the MCPS’s messaging.

My DC’s school has a large Arabic population and didn’t get any message at all, on a side note. Just think that’s interesting.

I agree. The school really should be neutral at this junction. It's fine to acknowledge the conflict and the stress it might cause affected students and families, but the school district should not be in the business of putting out position statements on current events like this.

Ok. Should they have been “neutral” when innocent kids in Uvalde were attacked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM - MCPS is terrible at communicating during a crisis!!!!

MCPS - *hires communications firm*

DCUM - OMG MCPS is spending money to fix the communications problem!!!!!

LOL so true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM - MCPS is terrible at communicating during a crisis!!!!

MCPS - *hires communications firm*

DCUM - OMG MCPS is spending money to fix the communications problem!!!!!

LOL so true!

LOL then fire the communications staff they already have on the payroll!

[Anonymous]

Here's Monifa's latest communication on Palestine/Israel:

Dear Families, Students and Staff,

As superintendent of schools, my primary concern is for the physical and emotional well-being of students and staff. So today, I am reaching out and urging you to be vigilant regarding distressing social media content (including videos and images) emanating from the terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in Israel. We are all aware that such content is intended to amplify fear and can cause great emotional harm. I urge you to talk with your children and students about the content they may currently be viewing and sharing.

As we collectively continue to process these horrific and violent acts, I recognize that the situation in Israel and Gaza has affected many members of our community, including those who have family or friends in the region. Their loss, grief and apprehensions for their loved ones' safety are profound. It is impossible to ignore the fear and anxiety that many within our community are experiencing directly, and as they are exposed to stories of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives through television, news outlets and social media.

Our work to provide school communities with resources and assistance for those in need has already begun, including providing school leaders with tools and support to assist staff and students. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our school counselors, social workers, or administrators if your child requires any support.

Let us come together to support one another. This is a moment when we must remember our common values of empathy, compassion and respect for one another.

In partnership,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight
MCPS Superintendent of Schools

[Anonymous]

Dear Families, Students and Staff,

As superintendent of schools, my primary concern is for the physical and emotional well-being of students and staff. So today, I am reaching out and urging you to be vigilant regarding distressing social media content (including videos and images) emanating from the terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in Israel. We are all aware that such content is intended to amplify fear and can cause great emotional harm. I urge you to talk with your children and students about the content they may currently be viewing and sharing.

As we collectively continue to process these horrific and violent acts, I recognize that the situation in Israel and Gaza has affected many members of our community, including those who have family or friends in the region. Their loss, grief and apprehensions for their loved ones' safety are profound. It is impossible to ignore the fear and anxiety that many within our community are experiencing directly, and as they are exposed to stories of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives through television, news outlets and social media.

Our work to provide school communities with resources and assistance for those in need has already begun, including providing school leaders with tools and support to assist staff and students. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our school counselors, social workers, or administrators if your child requires any support.

Let us come together to support one another. This is a moment when we must remember our common values of empathy, compassion and respect for one another.

In partnership,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight
MCPS Superintendent of Schools

Well Said!

[Anonymous]

And this is what the ADL and JCRC said about Monifa's response.

The JCRC of Greater Washington and ADL DC released the following statement today:



"Over the last 72 hours, JCRC and ADL DC staff have worked tirelessly to communicate to local school systems the importance of acknowledging the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists and the profound trauma being experienced by Jewish students, parents, and employees. We thank the several school districts that have released some public statement. We wish to especially recognize Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school system in our region, for speaking with JCRC staff several times and for responding personally to parents as she can.

 

"We must nevertheless share our disappointment and hurt that many other statements have failed to acknowledge the devastating impact of the heinous terrorist attack by Hamas targeting Israeli civilians. The words that President Biden used yesterday - Jews, Israel, terrorists, massacre - seem to be off-limits for our school districts.  Instead, we received weak, carefully- worded statements that prioritized a perceived need for even-handedness over truth, authenticity, and compassion. Make no mistake, there are not two sides to this tragedy - there is no way to justify Hamas’ war crimes and unconscionable atrocities.

 

"We reserve our greatest anger and disappointment for Montgomery County Public Schools.  MCPS’ senior management has consistently ignored our agencies’ urgent appeals over the last three days to respond appropriately and sensitively to the large Jewish community in the district, insisting instead that principals alone shoulder the burden of a public response. Meanwhile, Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight remained silent until the release of an inadequate statement last night.

 

"Our school systems’ refusal to honestly name the largest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust is infuriating and disheartening to our entire community.  A large number of local Jews have deep personal connections to Israel: they have loved ones who were murdered or are missing, they have children serving in the Israel Defense Forces who have been deployed, and they are seeing harrowing images of more than one thousand innocent civilians murdered simply because they were Jewish. Our offices have been flooded with hundreds of complaints and pleas for Jewish students, parents and educators to be seen and heard in their time of immense pain.

 

"We demand more from Dr. McKnight and MCPS.  And we urge all local school districts to do a better job of listening to and understanding what their Jewish communities need right now.  The coming days will likely only prove more painful, and we grieve for the loss of all innocent life, regardless of religion or national identity.  But if our schools can’t call out the brutal murder of Jews right before our eyes, of what use is the Holocaust education and cultural competency that we have worked together to advance?  You must do more. You must do it now. "

[Anonymous]

WOOOOOOW! LOL They really ate Monifa up with that statement. And honestly, this habit of pushing difficult communications onto the shoulders of principals instead of the district is TEXTBOOK MCPS. So they are not wrong and they are not lying.

Monifa, how many fails can you take?

We've had the budget push flop, Magruder shooting, antiracism action plan flop, attendance plan flop, pandemic learning loss, the 2021-2022 bus driver shortage, the vote of no confidence from MCEA, Beidleman scandal and now getting called out for piss poor comms with the Jewish community, the L's are stacked higher than the W's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And this is what the ADL and JCRC said about Monifa's response.

The JCRC of Greater Washington and ADL DC released the following statement today:



"Over the last 72 hours, JCRC and ADL DC staff have worked tirelessly to communicate to local school systems the importance of acknowledging the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists and the profound trauma being experienced by Jewish students, parents, and employees. We thank the several school districts that have released some public statement. We wish to especially recognize Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school system in our region, for speaking with JCRC staff several times and for responding personally to parents as she can.

 

"We must nevertheless share our disappointment and hurt that many other statements have failed to acknowledge the devastating impact of the heinous terrorist attack by Hamas targeting Israeli civilians. The words that President Biden used yesterday - Jews, Israel, terrorists, massacre - seem to be off-limits for our school districts.  Instead, we received weak, carefully- worded statements that prioritized a perceived need for even-handedness over truth, authenticity, and compassion. Make no mistake, there are not two sides to this tragedy - there is no way to justify Hamas’ war crimes and unconscionable atrocities.

 

"We reserve our greatest anger and disappointment for Montgomery County Public Schools.  MCPS’ senior management has consistently ignored our agencies’ urgent appeals over the last three days to respond appropriately and sensitively to the large Jewish community in the district, insisting instead that principals alone shoulder the burden of a public response. Meanwhile, Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight remained silent until the release of an inadequate statement last night.

 

"Our school systems’ refusal to honestly name the largest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust is infuriating and disheartening to our entire community.  A large number of local Jews have deep personal connections to Israel: they have loved ones who were murdered or are missing, they have children serving in the Israel Defense Forces who have been deployed, and they are seeing harrowing images of more than one thousand innocent civilians murdered simply because they were Jewish. Our offices have been flooded with hundreds of complaints and pleas for Jewish students, parents and educators to be seen and heard in their time of immense pain.

 

"We demand more from Dr. McKnight and MCPS.  And we urge all local school districts to do a better job of listening to and understanding what their Jewish communities need right now.  The coming days will likely only prove more painful, and we grieve for the loss of all innocent life, regardless of religion or national identity.  But if our schools can’t call out the brutal murder of Jews right before our eyes, of what use is the Holocaust education and cultural competency that we have worked together to advance?  You must do more. You must do it now. "

This seems to have been released before her email this afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Dear Families, Students and Staff,

As superintendent of schools, my primary concern is for the physical and emotional well-being of students and staff. So today, I am reaching out and urging you to be vigilant regarding distressing social media content (including videos and images) emanating from the terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in Israel. We are all aware that such content is intended to amplify fear and can cause great emotional harm. I urge you to talk with your children and students about the content they may currently be viewing and sharing.

As we collectively continue to process these horrific and violent acts, I recognize that the situation in Israel and Gaza has affected many members of our community, including those who have family or friends in the region. Their loss, grief and apprehensions for their loved ones' safety are profound. It is impossible to ignore the fear and anxiety that many within our community are experiencing directly, and as they are exposed to stories of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives through television, news outlets and social media.

Our work to provide school communities with resources and assistance for those in need has already begun, including providing school leaders with tools and support to assist staff and students. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our school counselors, social workers, or administrators if your child requires any support.

Let us come together to support one another. This is a moment when we must remember our common values of empathy, compassion and respect for one another.

In partnership,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight
MCPS Superintendent of Schools

Well Said!

No. This message is once again painfully off key. I wish they would review the excellent message they sent out after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's murders, and channel some of the empathy and inclusion that you expressed in that message (pasting it below).

This message is so contorted and passive and--as the kids say--"othering."

Why does she talk of the people affected by this tragedy as members of another group? "Their loss, grief and apprehensions for their loved ones' safety are profound." NO. NO NO NO. Her message in 2020 was full of "we" and "our children." Why the difference now? All of us should be horrified about the whole situation, just as all of us should have been horrified in May 2020.

To that end, why on God's green earth is she leading with "keep your kids off social media" as opposed to a statement of condolence, empathy, and concern for the community she leads?

She writes: "It is impossible to ignore the fear and anxiety that many within our community are experiencing directly, and as they are exposed to stories of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives through television, news outlets and social media."

Again, no. Would she have written that the problem with Floyd and Taylor's murders was parents letting their kids on social media, as opposed to the actual events being chronicled on social media?

Given MCPS's unconscionable record on ignoring antisemitism, they need to do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Dear Families, Students and Staff,

As superintendent of schools, my primary concern is for the physical and emotional well-being of students and staff. So today, I am reaching out and urging you to be vigilant regarding distressing social media content (including videos and images) emanating from the terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in Israel. We are all aware that such content is intended to amplify fear and can cause great emotional harm. I urge you to talk with your children and students about the content they may currently be viewing and sharing.

As we collectively continue to process these horrific and violent acts, I recognize that the situation in Israel and Gaza has affected many members of our community, including those who have family or friends in the region. Their loss, grief and apprehensions for their loved ones' safety are profound. It is impossible to ignore the fear and anxiety that many within our community are experiencing directly, and as they are exposed to stories of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives through television, news outlets and social media.

Our work to provide school communities with resources and assistance for those in need has already begun, including providing school leaders with tools and support to assist staff and students. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our school counselors, social workers, or administrators if your child requires any support.

Let us come together to support one another. This is a moment when we must remember our common values of empathy, compassion and respect for one another.

In partnership,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight
MCPS Superintendent of Schools

Well Said!

No. This message is once again painfully off key. I wish they would review the excellent message they sent out after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's murders, and channel some of the empathy and inclusion that you expressed in that message (pasting it below).

This message is so contorted and passive and--as the kids say--"othering."

Why does she talk of the people affected by this tragedy as members of another group? "Their loss, grief and apprehensions for their loved ones' safety are profound." NO. NO NO NO. Her message in 2020 was full of "we" and "our children." Why the difference now? All of us should be horrified about the whole situation, just as all of us should have been horrified in May 2020.

To that end, why on God's green earth is she leading with "keep your kids off social media" as opposed to a statement of condolence, empathy, and concern for the community she leads?

She writes: "It is impossible to ignore the fear and anxiety that many within our community are experiencing directly, and as they are exposed to stories of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives through television, news outlets and social media."

Again, no. Would she have written that the problem with Floyd and Taylor's murders was parents letting their kids on social media, as opposed to the actual events being chronicled on social media?

Given MCPS's unconscionable record on ignoring antisemitism, they need to do better.

May 30, 2020
As the children and community read, hear and watch in horror about the recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, it is our moral imperative to speak out. The Montgomery County Board of Education condemns the senseless killing of Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis and Ms. Taylor in Louisville. That their killings are committed by a law enforcement officer is beyond the pale. These acts have focused our nation on the longstanding historical injustices that have plagued our nation since its founding. As the leaders of the largest school system in the state, and as those charged with supporting and guiding the development of our children's future, we cannot be silent. Together, with one voice, we must speak out and let all of our children know that we will not tolerate our students feeling unsafe in their skin.

All of our children deserve a future untainted by the despair and rage that are inherent byproducts of racial injustice. Our work is essential for securing that future. These tragedies are a stark reminder of the importance of our work building safe, welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environments where all children can reach their full potential. We are also reminded how important our work is in supporting our black and brown boys who see this savage act through a lens of fear and sadness. We must let them know that we see them, we accept them for who they are as individuals, we will support them and we will protect them.

We will continue and intensify our commitment to equity and excellence, ensuring we are building a school system where all truly means all is paramount. This means we will continue to build a culturally proficient staff who are able to provide the support, guidance and protection our students deserve. We will continue our work with the Black and Brown Coalition and other allies to ensure that our policies, practices and procedures are equitable. We will continue our restorative justice work, ensuring that schools are healthy learning communities where members understand and embrace mutual responsibility and fairness.

Our classrooms serve as gathering places for students from all races, ethnicities, religions, nationalities and identities. Their very diversity is the power of our community. How they learn together will determine the future of our county, country, and world. Knowing each other matters, seeing each other matters, working together matters.

None of the sorrow, despair or rage will bring Mr. Floyd or Ms. Taylor back, but in their deaths let us renew our purpose, our mission, to provide every student with what they need to thrive. We urge those as unsettled as we are by these events to join with us in advocating for supporting, loving and protecting all of our students every day.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry but that statement makes me disappointed in/embarrassed by the ADL and JCRC. And I say that as a Jewish person with many family members in Israel. I have not been a big fan of Dr. McKnight overall, but I appreciated her recent email and thought it struck the right tone today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WOOOOOOW! LOL They really ate Monifa up with that statement. And honestly, this habit of pushing difficult communications onto the shoulders of principals instead of the district is TEXTBOOK MCPS. So they are not wrong and they are not lying.

Monifa, how many fails can you take?

We've had the budget push flop, Magruder shooting, antiracism action plan flop, attendance plan flop, pandemic learning loss, the 2021-2022 bus driver shortage, the vote of no confidence from MCEA, Beidleman scandal and now getting called out for piss poor comms with the Jewish community, the L's are stacked higher than the W's.

It sure seems like anything she does good or bad will be seen by some as a failure.