Superintendent Taylor says he is responsible for what happens next

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

Nah. Once it's gone it's gone, and the recourse will be at the state level. As the new Big Boss, I can't imagine Taylor succumbing to this bullying behavior by MVA parents, it would cripple his ability to be seen as a strong decision maker moving forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

Political cover. He can say he’s transparent and seeking community input while knowing all too well that there’s nothing he can do to reverse the BOE’s decision. It was a way for him to make clear that the closure was the fault of others and that he should get a clean slate with this constituency and be judged on how well he listens from here on out. Not to say that he’s a bad person at all - he’s doing what any good leader would do in his position in seeking input on how he can help these families that were dealt a bad hand and got a raw deal from the prior admin.

I guess. Again, definitely would not be my first priority. And I’m not sure why the MVA families showed up knowing it wouldn’t change the outcome.

But it does solidify that Taylor’s top priority is PR and image, which is exactly what the community told the BOE we didn’t want to continue to prioritize.

Was a couple hours of his time. I’d hardly call that a first priority. But yes, he’s learning quickly that you can survive in the game if you put up a good show. Last month it was the Maryland state senator who expressed grave concern and vowed to look into it. And next month it will likely be someone else until the clock runs out completely.

I’m just surprised that MCPS lawyers let him meet with the group now that they’ve threatened lawsuits over unlawful school closure statutes.

It’s the first meet and greet he’s doing with MCPS families. I’d call that a first priority. He could’ve met with Jewish families who have blasted MCPS over antisemitism, black families who have been left behind with the antiracism action plan stalling, Ethiopian families who have felt alienated and ignored with the BOE’s abandonment of the ELA LGBT opt-out option, but no, he decided to meet first with the MVA families.

That says something about his priorities.

As a pragmatist grounded in reality, and not someone looking to complain about anything that the new Super does, I saw this merely as meeting with a group that has an imminent need for action, since their program was closed on short notice last month and they're scrambling to find alternatives or to get a final answer whether the MVA might actually be back next year.

Either way, I'm sure people would have found something to complain about if he met with one of the groups you mentioned "first". If he met with black families, he'd be labeled as a DEI stooge. If he met with those Ethiopian families you mentioned, he'd be bowing to the demands of the radical right who are looking to ban books and cancel trans kids. If he met with Jewish families, he'd be a privileged white male ignoring the plight of black and brown MCPS families.

And how do you know the new Super hasn't reached out to these groups "first"? Maybe they scheduled their meetings for later in the summer. Do you know for a fact that this was his first meeting with a coalition of MCPS families? I don't think you do know, nor could you know. This meeting just had a bunch of publicity around it because the MVA families invited the media to try to keep their fight relevant to the public. Who's to say the Super hasn't already had calls and meetings with representatives of other groups? Just because there were cameras and journalists present doesn't mean it was his first anything.

The MVA families are an organized group and a PTO that is heavily advocating. Any group can testify at the BOE, email him, call and protest. He's the BOE puppet. He will not help anyone not approved by the BOE and they are playing a blame game. BOE says Taylor has to approve the funding, Taylor says its out of his hands and with the BOE. So, which is correct.

All he cares about is PR. He hasn't made any changes or done anything. Nothing about the MVA, school safety, the curriculum, student behavior, holding staff accountable.

It was also intersting at how many new appointments to the central office there were. What exactly do all these people do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

MCPS has plenty of money for what they choose to do. Watch the BOE meetings with all their change orders and new initiatives they seem to find money for, some far more expensive than the MVA. They regularly have change orders that add up to more than the MVA. If they funded the MVA as a real school vs. a program, the money per pupil would go directly to the MVA and problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

Political cover. He can say he’s transparent and seeking community input while knowing all too well that there’s nothing he can do to reverse the BOE’s decision. It was a way for him to make clear that the closure was the fault of others and that he should get a clean slate with this constituency and be judged on how well he listens from here on out. Not to say that he’s a bad person at all - he’s doing what any good leader would do in his position in seeking input on how he can help these families that were dealt a bad hand and got a raw deal from the prior admin.

I guess. Again, definitely would not be my first priority. And I’m not sure why the MVA families showed up knowing it wouldn’t change the outcome.

But it does solidify that Taylor’s top priority is PR and image, which is exactly what the community told the BOE we didn’t want to continue to prioritize.

Was a couple hours of his time. I’d hardly call that a first priority. But yes, he’s learning quickly that you can survive in the game if you put up a good show. Last month it was the Maryland state senator who expressed grave concern and vowed to look into it. And next month it will likely be someone else until the clock runs out completely.

I’m just surprised that MCPS lawyers let him meet with the group now that they’ve threatened lawsuits over unlawful school closure statutes.

It’s the first meet and greet he’s doing with MCPS families. I’d call that a first priority. He could’ve met with Jewish families who have blasted MCPS over antisemitism, black families who have been left behind with the antiracism action plan stalling, Ethiopian families who have felt alienated and ignored with the BOE’s abandonment of the ELA LGBT opt-out option, but no, he decided to meet first with the MVA families.

That says something about his priorities.

As a pragmatist grounded in reality, and not someone looking to complain about anything that the new Super does, I saw this merely as meeting with a group that has an imminent need for action, since their program was closed on short notice last month and they're scrambling to find alternatives or to get a final answer whether the MVA might actually be back next year.

Either way, I'm sure people would have found something to complain about if he met with one of the groups you mentioned "first". If he met with black families, he'd be labeled as a DEI stooge. If he met with those Ethiopian families you mentioned, he'd be bowing to the demands of the radical right who are looking to ban books and cancel trans kids. If he met with Jewish families, he'd be a privileged white male ignoring the plight of black and brown MCPS families.

And how do you know the new Super hasn't reached out to these groups "first"? Maybe they scheduled their meetings for later in the summer. Do you know for a fact that this was his first meeting with a coalition of MCPS families? I don't think you do know, nor could you know. This meeting just had a bunch of publicity around it because the MVA families invited the media to try to keep their fight relevant to the public. Who's to say the Super hasn't already had calls and meetings with representatives of other groups? Just because there were cameras and journalists present doesn't mean it was his first anything.

The MVA families are an organized group and a PTO that is heavily advocating. Any group can testify at the BOE, email him, call and protest. He's the BOE puppet. He will not help anyone not approved by the BOE and they are playing a blame game. BOE says Taylor has to approve the funding, Taylor says its out of his hands and with the BOE. So, which is correct.

All he cares about is PR. He hasn't made any changes or done anything. Nothing about the MVA, school safety, the curriculum, student behavior, holding staff accountable.

It was also intersting at how many new appointments to the central office there were. What exactly do all these people do?

Give him a break. He has been on the job a couple of weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

Nah. Once it's gone it's gone, and the recourse will be at the state level. As the new Big Boss, I can't imagine Taylor succumbing to this bullying behavior by MVA parents, it would cripple his ability to be seen as a strong decision maker moving forward.

🙄 how convenient you all forget about the supreme leader of bullies: the Open MCPS lunatics. No one will ever beat their level of vitriol. No one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCEA contract states that 'Unit members who are involuntarily transferred will have the option to return to their same position if an appropriate vacancy occurs at a later date.' But, we know MCPS will just call it something else to get out of honoring the contract if it were ever to come back. I don't trust MCPS to do right by their teachers.

There you go. MCPS wouldn't be able to resurrect MVA without creating a mess in our schools.

How would it create a mess? A good number of teachers don't have jobs right now.

Most staff have been reassigned to schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

MCPS isn't going to bring back MVA when it is obvious the better long-term solution is a state program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

MCPS has plenty of money for what they choose to do. Watch the BOE meetings with all their change orders and new initiatives they seem to find money for, some far more expensive than the MVA. They regularly have change orders that add up to more than the MVA. If they funded the MVA as a real school vs. a program, the money per pupil would go directly to the MVA and problem solved.

And that would leave schools even worse off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

Nah. Once it's gone it's gone, and the recourse will be at the state level. As the new Big Boss, I can't imagine Taylor succumbing to this bullying behavior by MVA parents, it would cripple his ability to be seen as a strong decision maker moving forward.

🙄 how convenient you all forget about the supreme leader of bullies: the Open MCPS lunatics. No one will ever beat their level of vitriol. No one.

I mean, those folks also didn't get their way. Maybe the lesson learned is that it doesn't do any good to negotiate with terrorists.

I have to say that I started out somewhat sympathetic to the MVA folks. It's not a good fit for my family, but I can see how the tiny classes and individualized attention were going to be hard for people to give up. However, the budget crisis and then the absolutely obnoxious behavior by supporters have dulled that sympathy. Yes, they are well organized and loud, but there 's no message discipline and the absolute worst folks are active at the school board meetings and on this forum.

There's only so many times you can be told that you must not care about your child if you send them to in-person school before you lose a lot of sympathy for the folk saying those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

Nah. Once it's gone it's gone, and the recourse will be at the state level. As the new Big Boss, I can't imagine Taylor succumbing to this bullying behavior by MVA parents, it would cripple his ability to be seen as a strong decision maker moving forward.

🙄 how convenient you all forget about the supreme leader of bullies: the Open MCPS lunatics. No one will ever beat their level of vitriol. No one.

I mean, those folks also didn't get their way. Maybe the lesson learned is that it doesn't do any good to negotiate with terrorists.

I have to say that I started out somewhat sympathetic to the MVA folks. It's not a good fit for my family, but I can see how the tiny classes and individualized attention were going to be hard for people to give up. However, the budget crisis and then the absolutely obnoxious behavior by supporters have dulled that sympathy. Yes, they are well organized and loud, but there 's no message discipline and the absolute worst folks are active at the school board meetings and on this forum.

There's only so many times you can be told that you must not care about your child if you send them to in-person school before you lose a lot of sympathy for the folk saying those things.

What budget crisis??? $3.3 billion and they didn’t get a few dollars? Are you insane?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

Nah. Once it's gone it's gone, and the recourse will be at the state level. As the new Big Boss, I can't imagine Taylor succumbing to this bullying behavior by MVA parents, it would cripple his ability to be seen as a strong decision maker moving forward.

You call advocating for students needs bullying? If your child had a need, wouldn't you step up and advocate for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

Nah. Once it's gone it's gone, and the recourse will be at the state level. As the new Big Boss, I can't imagine Taylor succumbing to this bullying behavior by MVA parents, it would cripple his ability to be seen as a strong decision maker moving forward.

🙄 how convenient you all forget about the supreme leader of bullies: the Open MCPS lunatics. No one will ever beat their level of vitriol. No one.

I mean, those folks also didn't get their way. Maybe the lesson learned is that it doesn't do any good to negotiate with terrorists.

I have to say that I started out somewhat sympathetic to the MVA folks. It's not a good fit for my family, but I can see how the tiny classes and individualized attention were going to be hard for people to give up. However, the budget crisis and then the absolutely obnoxious behavior by supporters have dulled that sympathy. Yes, they are well organized and loud, but there 's no message discipline and the absolute worst folks are active at the school board meetings and on this forum.

There's only so many times you can be told that you must not care about your child if you send them to in-person school before you lose a lot of sympathy for the folk saying those things.

That is not the message they are saying. You are projecting as you couldn't handle your kids at home doing virtual school. No one cares what choice you make and you got the choice, and MVA families should get the same choice.

There is no budget crisis. They were well funded and are wasteful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

MCPS isn't going to bring back MVA when it is obvious the better long-term solution is a state program.

The state isn't offering a solution although most states don't provide their own program and they outsource it to K-12. Clearly you haven't looked into it. Its actually cheaper to do it inhouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

There's no money, and even more, there's no time to "undo" the closure. School assignments for teachers have been updated. Some teachers have resigned. Attempting to reopen MVA at this point would leave a large number of students in schools and MVA without teachers.

I don't understand what the MVA families expect at this point. They lost the battle to keep MVA in place. They'd be better off refocusing on lobbying the state to create a virtual program rather than complaining about a decision that can't be undone.

The battle will continue until its reopened. If they don't do it for this year, there is always next year.

Nah. Once it's gone it's gone, and the recourse will be at the state level. As the new Big Boss, I can't imagine Taylor succumbing to this bullying behavior by MVA parents, it would cripple his ability to be seen as a strong decision maker moving forward.

🙄 how convenient you all forget about the supreme leader of bullies: the Open MCPS lunatics. No one will ever beat their level of vitriol. No one.

I mean, those folks also didn't get their way. Maybe the lesson learned is that it doesn't do any good to negotiate with terrorists.

I have to say that I started out somewhat sympathetic to the MVA folks. It's not a good fit for my family, but I can see how the tiny classes and individualized attention were going to be hard for people to give up. However, the budget crisis and then the absolutely obnoxious behavior by supporters have dulled that sympathy. Yes, they are well organized and loud, but there 's no message discipline and the absolute worst folks are active at the school board meetings and on this forum.

There's only so many times you can be told that you must not care about your child if you send them to in-person school before you lose a lot of sympathy for the folk saying those things.

What budget crisis??? $3.3 billion and they didn’t get a few dollars? Are you insane?

.

What do you think the budget should be in a county with 160K students and 212 schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

Political cover. He can say he’s transparent and seeking community input while knowing all too well that there’s nothing he can do to reverse the BOE’s decision. It was a way for him to make clear that the closure was the fault of others and that he should get a clean slate with this constituency and be judged on how well he listens from here on out. Not to say that he’s a bad person at all - he’s doing what any good leader would do in his position in seeking input on how he can help these families that were dealt a bad hand and got a raw deal from the prior admin.

I guess. Again, definitely would not be my first priority. And I’m not sure why the MVA families showed up knowing it wouldn’t change the outcome.

But it does solidify that Taylor’s top priority is PR and image, which is exactly what the community told the BOE we didn’t want to continue to prioritize.

Was a couple hours of his time. I’d hardly call that a first priority. But yes, he’s learning quickly that you can survive in the game if you put up a good show. Last month it was the Maryland state senator who expressed grave concern and vowed to look into it. And next month it will likely be someone else until the clock runs out completely.

I’m just surprised that MCPS lawyers let him meet with the group now that they’ve threatened lawsuits over unlawful school closure statutes.

It’s the first meet and greet he’s doing with MCPS families. I’d call that a first priority. He could’ve met with Jewish families who have blasted MCPS over antisemitism, black families who have been left behind with the antiracism action plan stalling, Ethiopian families who have felt alienated and ignored with the BOE’s abandonment of the ELA LGBT opt-out option, but no, he decided to meet first with the MVA families.

That says something about his priorities.

As a pragmatist grounded in reality, and not someone looking to complain about anything that the new Super does, I saw this merely as meeting with a group that has an imminent need for action, since their program was closed on short notice last month and they're scrambling to find alternatives or to get a final answer whether the MVA might actually be back next year.

Either way, I'm sure people would have found something to complain about if he met with one of the groups you mentioned "first". If he met with black families, he'd be labeled as a DEI stooge. If he met with those Ethiopian families you mentioned, he'd be bowing to the demands of the radical right who are looking to ban books and cancel trans kids. If he met with Jewish families, he'd be a privileged white male ignoring the plight of black and brown MCPS families.

And how do you know the new Super hasn't reached out to these groups "first"? Maybe they scheduled their meetings for later in the summer. Do you know for a fact that this was his first meeting with a coalition of MCPS families? I don't think you do know, nor could you know. This meeting just had a bunch of publicity around it because the MVA families invited the media to try to keep their fight relevant to the public. Who's to say the Super hasn't already had calls and meetings with representatives of other groups? Just because there were cameras and journalists present doesn't mean it was his first anything.

The MVA families are an organized group and a PTO that is heavily advocating. Any group can testify at the BOE, email him, call and protest. He's the BOE puppet. He will not help anyone not approved by the BOE and they are playing a blame game. BOE says Taylor has to approve the funding, Taylor says its out of his hands and with the BOE. So, which is correct.

All he cares about is PR. He hasn't made any changes or done anything. Nothing about the MVA, school safety, the curriculum, student behavior, holding staff accountable.

It was also intersting at how many new appointments to the central office there were. What exactly do all these people do?

Give him a break. He has been on the job a couple of weeks.

A few weeks officially on the job, but he was hired at least weeks before that.