Washington Post article about Former Farquhar Administrator

[Anonymous]

“[MCPS] said they were going to do an investigation—which is great—except they made a promotion decision despite [Beidleman] having six complaints this year. So, were there investigations or weren’t there investigations? Were they adequate?” he said.

Elrich added, “If it looks like what it does look like, there’s some people who need to be held accountable. Because how you went through a promotion process and didn’t discuss this is kind of amazing.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this guy married?

Got divorced in April.

Wonder if his wife knew.

She showed up to the school yelling at him in the parking lot one day in March, so, yeah, probably.

This is so untrue and so soap opera. Leave these people alone and focus on the issue at hand. GET A LIFE!
What kind of people bring a loud personal argument to a public space where children are? Disgusting lack of class all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with the PPs that call for higher pay for BOE members. It's a $3 billion budget.l, and that's just the operating side. The fact that school board members get paid so little across the country is frankly shameful and reflects how lite we care about children. No wonder MCPS lacks accountability. There is nobody with sufficient resources and power to put a check on the superintendent.

They literally are the power.

School board members get paid $25,000 a year, except for the school board president, who gets paid $29,000 a year.

No wonder we have such a poor board who can't do anything.

Yup. We need a full-time board, with quality candidates that have the knowledge and backbone to seriously hold MCPS accountable.

Is there a model for this anywhere else in the US? Or are all boards part-time and impotent like MCPS's?

I don't know about all situations, but a school system with 3B plus budget needs full time otherwise we are always going to attract incompetent part timers.

Easy. I'm sure they can find 8 useless and high paid roles in Central Office that should be eliminated. Move that budget to fund the salaries for full time BOE members who are actually competent.

"They" who? As I understand it, the BoE could decide to make the BoE full time with commensurate salaries and staffing. It doesn't seem likely that the current part-time BoE would actually do that, though.

I believe this would need to go through the Maryland General Assembly.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/hb0150?ys=2018rs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with the PPs that call for higher pay for BOE members. It's a $3 billion budget.l, and that's just the operating side. The fact that school board members get paid so little across the country is frankly shameful and reflects how lite we care about children. No wonder MCPS lacks accountability. There is nobody with sufficient resources and power to put a check on the superintendent.

They literally are the power.

School board members get paid $25,000 a year, except for the school board president, who gets paid $29,000 a year.

No wonder we have such a poor board who can't do anything.

Yup. We need a full-time board, with quality candidates that have the knowledge and backbone to seriously hold MCPS accountable.

Is there a model for this anywhere else in the US? Or are all boards part-time and impotent like MCPS's?

I don't know about all situations, but a school system with 3B plus budget needs full time otherwise we are always going to attract incompetent part timers.

Easy. I'm sure they can find 8 useless and high paid roles in Central Office that should be eliminated. Move that budget to fund the salaries for full time BOE members who are actually competent.

"They" who? As I understand it, the BoE could decide to make the BoE full time with commensurate salaries and staffing. It doesn't seem likely that the current part-time BoE would actually do that, though.

I believe this would need to go through the Maryland General Assembly.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/hb0150?ys=2018rs

Then they can also have another reason to further increase property taxes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any messages to the community from MCPS? It's been 3 days. Long time to be silent.

The board released a statement, FWIW:

"The Board of Education is appalled by the allegations published in the Washington Post about sexual harassment. We are taking immediate action, directing an independent investigation into these allegations and the implementation of Board policy. We, the Board, are resolute in our commitment to a safe and equitable workplace where sexual harassment and bullying is not tolerated. We will work with the findings of the independent investigation to move forward, strengthening our process and procedures so that our culture reflects our values."

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=13313&type=current&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode=

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

“[MCPS] said they were going to do an investigation—which is great—except they made a promotion decision despite [Beidleman] having six complaints this year. So, were there investigations or weren’t there investigations? Were they adequate?” he said.

Elrich added, “If it looks like what it does look like, there’s some people who need to be held accountable. Because how you went through a promotion process and didn’t discuss this is kind of amazing.”

"We have very, very little latitude in terms of dealing with the schools." Huh?? But yet, the County Council was able to remove SROs from the schools despite all HS principals telling them it would be a very bad idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with the PPs that call for higher pay for BOE members. It's a $3 billion budget.l, and that's just the operating side. The fact that school board members get paid so little across the country is frankly shameful and reflects how lite we care about children. No wonder MCPS lacks accountability. There is nobody with sufficient resources and power to put a check on the superintendent.

They literally are the power.

School board members get paid $25,000 a year, except for the school board president, who gets paid $29,000 a year.

No wonder we have such a poor board who can't do anything.

Yup. We need a full-time board, with quality candidates that have the knowledge and backbone to seriously hold MCPS accountable.

Is there a model for this anywhere else in the US? Or are all boards part-time and impotent like MCPS's?

I don't know about all situations, but a school system with 3B plus budget needs full time otherwise we are always going to attract incompetent part timers.

Easy. I'm sure they can find 8 useless and high paid roles in Central Office that should be eliminated. Move that budget to fund the salaries for full time BOE members who are actually competent.

"They" who? As I understand it, the BoE could decide to make the BoE full time with commensurate salaries and staffing. It doesn't seem likely that the current part-time BoE would actually do that, though.

I believe this would need to go through the Maryland General Assembly.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/hb0150?ys=2018rs

Then they can also have another reason to further increase property taxes!

It would also change who runs, which could be a bad thing. I’ve lived places where the school board is all retirees and SAH fundy moms. They don’t want to pay for anything schools need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with the PPs that call for higher pay for BOE members. It's a $3 billion budget.l, and that's just the operating side. The fact that school board members get paid so little across the country is frankly shameful and reflects how lite we care about children. No wonder MCPS lacks accountability. There is nobody with sufficient resources and power to put a check on the superintendent.

They literally are the power.

School board members get paid $25,000 a year, except for the school board president, who gets paid $29,000 a year.

No wonder we have such a poor board who can't do anything.

Yup. We need a full-time board, with quality candidates that have the knowledge and backbone to seriously hold MCPS accountable.

Is there a model for this anywhere else in the US? Or are all boards part-time and impotent like MCPS's?

I don't know about all situations, but a school system with 3B plus budget needs full time otherwise we are always going to attract incompetent part timers.

Easy. I'm sure they can find 8 useless and high paid roles in Central Office that should be eliminated. Move that budget to fund the salaries for full time BOE members who are actually competent.

Or we could also not opt to pay for AP/IB exams for all students and only cover those who qualify for FARMs. There’s lots of loose change in MCPS to fund a quality BOE.

Do you mean the SAT? I paid for my kids’ AP exams this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this guy married?

Got divorced in April.

Wonder if his wife knew.

She showed up to the school yelling at him in the parking lot one day in March, so, yeah, probably.

Tell us more.

This is so untrue and unfair. Leave her out of it. I know her personally and she deserves to be kept out of all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with the PPs that call for higher pay for BOE members. It's a $3 billion budget.l, and that's just the operating side. The fact that school board members get paid so little across the country is frankly shameful and reflects how lite we care about children. No wonder MCPS lacks accountability. There is nobody with sufficient resources and power to put a check on the superintendent.

They literally are the power.

School board members get paid $25,000 a year, except for the school board president, who gets paid $29,000 a year.

No wonder we have such a poor board who can't do anything.

Yup. We need a full-time board, with quality candidates that have the knowledge and backbone to seriously hold MCPS accountable.

Is there a model for this anywhere else in the US? Or are all boards part-time and impotent like MCPS's?

I don't know about all situations, but a school system with 3B plus budget needs full time otherwise we are always going to attract incompetent part timers.

Easy. I'm sure they can find 8 useless and high paid roles in Central Office that should be eliminated. Move that budget to fund the salaries for full time BOE members who are actually competent.

"They" who? As I understand it, the BoE could decide to make the BoE full time with commensurate salaries and staffing. It doesn't seem likely that the current part-time BoE would actually do that, though.

I believe this would need to go through the Maryland General Assembly.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/hb0150?ys=2018rs

Then they can also have another reason to further increase property taxes!

It would also change who runs, which could be a bad thing. I’ve lived places where the school board is all retirees and SAH fundy moms. They don’t want to pay for anything schools need.

That's who you get when the salary is $25,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with the PPs that call for higher pay for BOE members. It's a $3 billion budget.l, and that's just the operating side. The fact that school board members get paid so little across the country is frankly shameful and reflects how lite we care about children. No wonder MCPS lacks accountability. There is nobody with sufficient resources and power to put a check on the superintendent.

They literally are the power.

School board members get paid $25,000 a year, except for the school board president, who gets paid $29,000 a year.

No wonder we have such a poor board who can't do anything.

Yup. We need a full-time board, with quality candidates that have the knowledge and backbone to seriously hold MCPS accountable.

Is there a model for this anywhere else in the US? Or are all boards part-time and impotent like MCPS's?

I don't know about all situations, but a school system with 3B plus budget needs full time otherwise we are always going to attract incompetent part timers.

Easy. I'm sure they can find 8 useless and high paid roles in Central Office that should be eliminated. Move that budget to fund the salaries for full time BOE members who are actually competent.

Or we could also not opt to pay for AP/IB exams for all students and only cover those who qualify for FARMs. There’s lots of loose change in MCPS to fund a quality BOE.

Do you mean the SAT? I paid for my kids’ AP exams this year.

No, I mean AP/IB exam fees. Dr. McKnight's big idea was to make sure no MCPS has to pay out of pocket for them in the 2023-2024 school year as part of her proposed budget.

There was a thread about this on DCUM: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1148262.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with the PPs that call for higher pay for BOE members. It's a $3 billion budget.l, and that's just the operating side. The fact that school board members get paid so little across the country is frankly shameful and reflects how lite we care about children. No wonder MCPS lacks accountability. There is nobody with sufficient resources and power to put a check on the superintendent.

They literally are the power.

School board members get paid $25,000 a year, except for the school board president, who gets paid $29,000 a year.

No wonder we have such a poor board who can't do anything.

Yup. We need a full-time board, with quality candidates that have the knowledge and backbone to seriously hold MCPS accountable.

Is there a model for this anywhere else in the US? Or are all boards part-time and impotent like MCPS's?

I don't know about all situations, but a school system with 3B plus budget needs full time otherwise we are always going to attract incompetent part timers.

Easy. I'm sure they can find 8 useless and high paid roles in Central Office that should be eliminated. Move that budget to fund the salaries for full time BOE members who are actually competent.

"They" who? As I understand it, the BoE could decide to make the BoE full time with commensurate salaries and staffing. It doesn't seem likely that the current part-time BoE would actually do that, though.

I believe this would need to go through the Maryland General Assembly.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/hb0150?ys=2018rs

Then they can also have another reason to further increase property taxes!

Which is more important to you, low property taxes or a properly-administered and overseen school district?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"We have very, very little latitude in terms of dealing with the schools." Huh?? But yet, the County Council was able to remove SROs from the schools despite all HS principals telling them it would be a very bad idea?

The County Council was able to do this because SROs come out of the police budget, not the MCPS budget. And the high school principals' opinions are irrelevant to the County Council's legal authority. I'm certain you know both of these facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

“[MCPS] said they were going to do an investigation—which is great—except they made a promotion decision despite [Beidleman] having six complaints this year. So, were there investigations or weren’t there investigations? Were they adequate?” he said.

Elrich added, “If it looks like what it does look like, there’s some people who need to be held accountable. Because how you went through a promotion process and didn’t discuss this is kind of amazing.”

"We have very, very little latitude in terms of dealing with the schools." Huh?? But yet, the County Council was able to remove SROs from the schools despite all HS principals telling them it would be a very bad idea?

Yes, the council seems to be far wiser than these principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this guy married?

Got divorced in April.

Wonder if his wife knew.

She showed up to the school yelling at him in the parking lot one day in March, so, yeah, probably.

Tell us more.

This is so untrue and unfair. Leave her out of it. I know her personally and she deserves to be kept out of all of this.

Does he have a drinking problem? It sounds like yes.