MCPS Hires Nancy Navarro to Clean Up Its Messes and Fix Its Relationship Problems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

Not a chance. The County Council likes Navarro and will happily support any additional money that gets funneled into Central Office.

The Council has no authority over how MCPS spends the money the Council appropriates. The Council can only approve the total amount, the Superintendent and the BOE decide how to spend it. They cannot block the creation of a position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5 unfilled positions at my school that have a direct impact on student well-being and achievement. No subs, ever. Yet mcps continues to funnel money into central positions that I repeat, DO NOT support or impact students. It’s such a disgrace and beyond disappointing.

THIS

MCPS is a mess and Central Office is a disaster.

Even if they filled those positions, they'd be completely focused on equity, so little teaching would get done anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is already an employee that was hired last year whose role is Senior Community Advisor, whose job description sounds essentially the same as this one. Is this person still in this position? Do we need two highly paid central office folks to do this job, which essentially sounds like highly-paid schmoozing in the community?

I think this position is specifically about helping to repair MCPS's broken relationships with the County Council and the County Executive. Given that she's a former councilmember and insider of MoCo govt, I believe Monifa and MCPS believe Nancy is uniquely positioned to help smooth things over with those entities specifically, who have not been shy about saying they have unproductive, uncommunicative relationships with MCPS.

Okay, but part of the reason that they have unproductive relationships is that Dr. McKnight plays "hide the ball" with the Council and with the school board. When asked direct questions about what she knew and when she knew it, she elides the question, refuses to answer bluntly, or to take responsibility for things that happened on her watch.

The correct answer to this is not "better PR." It is actually doing better to serve the community and act like someone who believes in a balance of powers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

He did wait until he was investigated. Why do you want to lie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

No speculation about McQuire knowing about Biedleman. She was in closed BOE meetings discussing HR and and she was in charge of HR. Citing the wrong job description doesn’t change reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

He did wait until he was investigated. Why do you want to lie?

I'm not lying. Why are you lying?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-school-officials-made-additional-reimbursements-for-spending/2014/07/03/be6f35aa-02d2-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

He did wait until he was investigated. Why do you want to lie?

I'm not lying. Why are you lying?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-school-officials-made-additional-reimbursements-for-spending/2014/07/03/be6f35aa-02d2-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html

Oh you are lying.The credit card documents were obtained months before. But no worries. MCPS administrators are reading challenged. It isn’t your fault you can’t read a calendar, it’s the way you were trained.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

He did wait until he was investigated. Why do you want to lie?

I'm not lying. Why are you lying?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-school-officials-made-additional-reimbursements-for-spending/2014/07/03/be6f35aa-02d2-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html

Oh you are lying.The credit card documents were obtained months before. But no worries. MCPS administrators are reading challenged. It isn’t your fault you can’t read a calendar, it’s the way you were trained.

I have never worked for MCPS. I just don't see any basis for what you are saying. It looks like the tire charge was in May 2013 and was reimbursed a few months later. The Parents Coalition public records request regarding the Barclay expenses was in 2014.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

He did wait until he was investigated. Why do you want to lie?

I'm not lying. Why are you lying?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-school-officials-made-additional-reimbursements-for-spending/2014/07/03/be6f35aa-02d2-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html

Oh you are lying.The credit card documents were obtained months before. But no worries. MCPS administrators are reading challenged. It isn’t your fault you can’t read a calendar, it’s the way you were trained.

The not-Parents Not-Coalition of Montgomery County, y'all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

He waited months. Free money from MCPS.

And he signed off on Christopher Barclay’s expenses.
Easy money for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

No speculation about McQuire knowing about Biedleman. She was in closed BOE meetings discussing HR and and she was in charge of HR. Citing the wrong job description doesn’t change reality.

McGuire was not in charge of HR, McKnight was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

Oh yes, he is good at what he does. He expertly used his MCPS credit card for personal expenses including new tires for his car.

Not really expertly. If he was a true expert he would have waited until he was being investigated to reimburse the expenses. Instead he realized he used the wrong card and then reimbursed the school system which is a terrible strategy for stealing money.

He waited months. Free money from MCPS.

And he signed off on Christopher Barclay’s expenses.
Easy money for all.

Your story keeps changing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

No speculation about McQuire knowing about Biedleman. She was in closed BOE meetings discussing HR and and she was in charge of HR. Citing the wrong job description doesn’t change reality.

McGuire was not in charge of HR, McKnight was.

Wrong