Will the Board of Education say no to the regional programs initiative as currently conceived?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone seen the actual statement? The article says "The group said the district should move forward with implementing its proposed regional plan and prioritize traditionally disadvantaged areas before adding programs elsewhere" but that is not at all what this proposal is doing so I'm really confused...

I 100% support the idea of prioritizing traditionally disadvantaged areas before adding programs elsewhere, and the fact that this plan doesn't currently do that is a huge reason why I think they need to slow it down and rework it to do so. Is this a misquote by the reporter or something?

That's not going to happen. You keep pushing it as if it will happen. They can slow it down but they aren't going to make any changes to the schools. They are putting programs at the schools where they mostly have the classes already so nothing really changes. All show, no substance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boom: "Black and Brown Coalition declares support for proposed MCPS regional program model"

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/11/black-brown-coaliiton-proposed-regional-programs/

I'm not familiar with this group. Are they known to be Central Office-aligned, or have they historically been willing to criticize them and hence this is likely a genuine expression of their community's perspectives?

Yes, they are. Byron protested Dr. McKnight's ouster and he has been a fan boy for Dr. Taylor since his arrival.

And no, Byron has not been willing to criticize Taylor and MCPS in public.

Byron used to be very different and very supportive of concerns. So, something changed with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boom: "Black and Brown Coalition declares support for proposed MCPS regional program model"

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/11/black-brown-coaliiton-proposed-regional-programs/

I'm not familiar with this group. Are they known to be Central Office-aligned, or have they historically been willing to criticize them and hence this is likely a genuine expression of their community's perspectives?

Yes, they are. Byron protested Dr. McKnight's ouster and he has been a fan boy for Dr. Taylor since his arrival.

And no, Byron has not been willing to criticize Taylor and MCPS in public.

Byron used to be very different and very supportive of concerns. So, something changed with him.

He no longer cares about accountability or transparency and is happy to sign all the NDAs MCPS can send his way.
Does he represent parents or administrators? Ask that question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Did they all discuss and vote on this? Presumably, since they're putting their name on the statement? Does anyone know the backstory?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boom: "Black and Brown Coalition declares support for proposed MCPS regional program model"

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/11/black-brown-coaliiton-proposed-regional-programs/

I'm not familiar with this group. Are they known to be Central Office-aligned, or have they historically been willing to criticize them and hence this is likely a genuine expression of their community's perspectives?[/quote

Look up how much $$$$ Byron Johns gets from the County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Ok well do we have feedback from all of the various coalitions? Or just this one? And did he poll his membership or just speak his opinion on their behalf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Did they all discuss and vote on this? Presumably, since they're putting their name on the statement? Does anyone know the backstory?

To be clear, the NAACP PC did not put out this statement. The Black and Brown Coalition did. Byron happens to lead both, but this statement is from the Black and Brown Coalition which is led by Byron and Diego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Did they all discuss and vote on this? Presumably, since they're putting their name on the statement? Does anyone know the backstory?

To be clear, the NAACP PC did not put out this statement. The Black and Brown Coalition did. Byron happens to lead both, but this statement is from the Black and Brown Coalition which is led by Byron and Diego.

Byron Johns is a vendor for Montgomery College IT on an annual contract that has been about $500,000 for a decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Did they all discuss and vote on this? Presumably, since they're putting their name on the statement? Does anyone know the backstory?

To be clear, the NAACP PC did not put out this statement. The Black and Brown Coalition did. Byron happens to lead both, but this statement is from the Black and Brown Coalition which is led by Byron and Diego.

Byron Johns is a vendor for Montgomery College IT on an annual contract that has been about $500,000 for a decade.

Always gotta follow the money...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Did they all discuss and vote on this? Presumably, since they're putting their name on the statement? Does anyone know the backstory?

Adding to this list of questions, does anyone have a link to the actual statement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE has been hearing from families for weeks. They have already shown their lack of willingness to ask basic questions like:
- How specifically will this advance equity and specifically racial equity? Where is the analysis showing that this will advance racial equity?
- The current transportation model proposed is highly inequitable. Why are you proposing this? Do you not care about equity at all?
- Why are academic criteria based magnet programs bring proposed at high income schools? Will this not increase segregation?
- Without increased resources, what happens when programs fail? This will be most likely in the high poverty schools, so will we be left with a system that has some nice programs at high income schools and low income schools losing high achieving students and staff?

I didn't expect much from MCPS but to have the Superintendent propose this and the BOE fall in line like it is doing falls well below my very low expectations.

Right. Laura saying they need to hear directly from families is insane given how much they have already heard from families already.

It's her deflection response. What I want to know from Laura is this: how will you vote on the regional programs? What are you advising your colleagues with regard to the regional programs?

I think it's her way of saying "most of my colleagues don't agree, maybe if you email more they'll change their mind."

Yes, because minds have been changed and shifted based on emails. BOE members tune out email. Based on the voluminous public testimonies at the BOE already, and two community organizations (MCCPTA and MCEA), they know there's intense and real dissatisfaction with the program proposal and how it has been developed.

At least last week Julie Yang still said she would vote yes although she personally dislike the regional model. She hinted there was some negotiation deal made behind the curtain. - secondhand information.

That's depressing to hear that Yang, who knows better, is voting yes. Not the kind of leader I want on the county council.

She has always voted yes. When it comes election time, I will vote no.

Silvestre is also a yes vote for Taylor on regional programs. Vote no on her for the county council.

Will certainly be voting against Silvestre and Yang if they vote to support this plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Did they all discuss and vote on this? Presumably, since they're putting their name on the statement? Does anyone know the backstory?

To be clear, the NAACP PC did not put out this statement. The Black and Brown Coalition did. Byron happens to lead both, but this statement is from the Black and Brown Coalition which is led by Byron and Diego.

Byron Johns is a vendor for Montgomery College IT on an annual contract that has been about $500,000 for a decade.

Ahhh, now what Julie said makes more sense to me. She hinted someone in BOE is the one pushing the program analysis that she cannot oppose to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boom: "Black and Brown Coalition declares support for proposed MCPS regional program model"

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/11/black-brown-coaliiton-proposed-regional-programs/

I'm not familiar with this group. Are they known to be Central Office-aligned, or have they historically been willing to criticize them and hence this is likely a genuine expression of their community's perspectives?

Yes, they are. Byron protested Dr. McKnight's ouster and he has been a fan boy for Dr. Taylor since his arrival.

And no, Byron has not been willing to criticize Taylor and MCPS in public.

Byron used to be very different and very supportive of concerns. So, something changed with him.

It's called having county funding for his job.