Jan. 9 BOE Business Meeting Discussion Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

If you are poking for things to make sense, Yu have come to the wrong school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part about student IDs for added safety and security. What is the plan to enforce this? I work at an MCPS HS and maybe 10% of students wear theirs. There are no consequences and they just say it’s lost or at home.

Also, speaking of consequences, the part about attendance. When will MCPS enforce some kind of attendance policy? I don’t except much progress with attendance until this goes back into effect.

There is no plan to enforce the ID policy systemically. They want individual principals and schools to figure it out.

Luckily for principals, there are no tangible criteria or measures of success, so you can do pretty much whatever you feel like doing and claim it as a win.

I guess, but doesn't everyone understand there's no way to actually enforce an ID requirement? It's such a waste of time, money, and effort.

Of course there is. Have kids scan in and out and more security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part about student IDs for added safety and security. What is the plan to enforce this? I work at an MCPS HS and maybe 10% of students wear theirs. There are no consequences and they just say it’s lost or at home.

Also, speaking of consequences, the part about attendance. When will MCPS enforce some kind of attendance policy? I don’t except much progress with attendance until this goes back into effect.

There is no plan to enforce the ID policy systemically. They want individual principals and schools to figure it out.

Luckily for principals, there are no tangible criteria or measures of success, so you can do pretty much whatever you feel like doing and claim it as a win.

I guess, but doesn't everyone understand there's no way to actually enforce an ID requirement? It's such a waste of time, money, and effort.

Of course there is. Have kids scan in and out and more security.

And what do you do with all the kids that forget or lose them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

And 1/29 exists. Why not use it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

This approach is so flawed. There are 12 central office instructional specialists which is a 1.8 million dollar line item. Having central office come in and tell staff how to plan is not the answer. Put the resources back in the schools! Also, why didn't they pull the MCAP data just for the schools they have been supporting. I'll tell you... because the "needle" is not moving. The BOE members asked good questions this time around. The head of the elementary math couldn't even answer what the barrier was for students. Her answer was advocating for more coaches. Self preservation. Also, no acknowledgment of the teachers, admin, or staff dev teachers who are in the buildings every day trying to meet the needs of the students. Just shows you how disconnected these departments are from what is needed in schools.
The Literacy part was equally a mess. The head of literacy said that "we don't teach to standards in reading." Really?? Also, she tried to ignore the MCAP data bc/ it's not a response to instruction? Thankfully, a BOE member called her on it. Considering it is how the state measures school success, you might want the head of literacy for MCPS to know that!
I'm tired of central office not using a standardized measure when presenting at these meetings. They selectively highlight data that seems like it shows progress. The choose schools that have a bump in growth for a moment in time, however, they never talk about long term progress or growth of a school using consistent measures. Also, if 75% of students are proficient on our own measures at these meetings end of second grade, however, now only 45% of those students are proficient on MCAP in third grade, then something is wrong.
Hopefully, Dr. Taylor was embarrassed by that performance and puts the resources back in schools.

Here’s hoping Dr. Taylor was embarrassed by the whole dog and pony show by the curriculum and school support and improvement folks. It was spectacularly lackluster, but there was a whole lot of ‘splaining going on! 🙄

The math team definitely needs more explaining and planning for what they are going to do system wide. The ELA team however has a multi year plan that they can show implementation progress as well as improvement in overall reading progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part about student IDs for added safety and security. What is the plan to enforce this? I work at an MCPS HS and maybe 10% of students wear theirs. There are no consequences and they just say it’s lost or at home.

Also, speaking of consequences, the part about attendance. When will MCPS enforce some kind of attendance policy? I don’t except much progress with attendance until this goes back into effect.

There is no plan to enforce the ID policy systemically. They want individual principals and schools to figure it out.

Luckily for principals, there are no tangible criteria or measures of success, so you can do pretty much whatever you feel like doing and claim it as a win.

I guess, but doesn't everyone understand there's no way to actually enforce an ID requirement? It's such a waste of time, money, and effort.

Of course there is. Have kids scan in and out and more security.

You must not work in an MCPS HS. Most HS have 2000+ students. Who monitors to make sure all students scan? What’s the plan for the hundreds of students who forgot or lost their ID every day? Much easier said than done. Not a practical solution at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

And 1/29 exists. Why not use it?

They won't decide until after that.

[Anonymous]

The math team definitely needs more explaining and planning for what they are going to do system wide. The ELA team however has a multi year plan that they can show implementation progress as well as improvement in overall reading progress.

Does that include the ELA team using standards and MCAP testing to determine reading progress? Since this is the first year of CKLA, how can they determine improvement in overall reading progress(winter assessments haven't even been given yet). Since you know, what measures are being used to determine overall reading progress?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part about student IDs for added safety and security. What is the plan to enforce this? I work at an MCPS HS and maybe 10% of students wear theirs. There are no consequences and they just say it’s lost or at home.

Also, speaking of consequences, the part about attendance. When will MCPS enforce some kind of attendance policy? I don’t except much progress with attendance until this goes back into effect.

There is no plan to enforce the ID policy systemically. They want individual principals and schools to figure it out.

Luckily for principals, there are no tangible criteria or measures of success, so you can do pretty much whatever you feel like doing and claim it as a win.

I guess, but doesn't everyone understand there's no way to actually enforce an ID requirement? It's such a waste of time, money, and effort.

Of course there is. Have kids scan in and out and more security.

You must not work in an MCPS HS. Most HS have 2000+ students. Who monitors to make sure all students scan? What’s the plan for the hundreds of students who forgot or lost their ID every day? Much easier said than done. Not a practical solution at all.

MCPS expects each HS principal to come up with the answers to those questions.