Board wants Monifa to step down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ “The Board has never written, documented, or communicated any concern about my performance, and through the evaluation process has consistently affirmed that I have met expectations,” McKnight said in the statement. “For these reasons, I’m concerned that its actions are based on something other than my performance, which would constitute a violation of my contract.””

Is she alleging racism? Sexism? Other bias?

She could just allege that they aren't transparent with their feedback.

Right, but if the OIG report is about to drop information suggesting that she was in the loop on the cover up and fraudulent back dating of the report, that should be sufficient.

[Anonymous]

What an amazing coincidence that she decided to release this Action Plan Update today:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=13367&type=current&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode=

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t imply discrimination but it does imply a PR move on the BOEs part, and frankly if it’s that she is correct. If they have supported all her plans and have not given her an evaluation that reflects low performance then she doesn’t have to step aside without cause or her own desire to do so.

If they want her gone then either go through the correct process to fire her or don’t renew her contract when it comes up.

+1
Totally a PR move on BOE part. Someone wants to look like they are doing something, so let’s just be reactionary and force Dr. McKnight out.

It’s also very shortsighted- who’s going to finish dealing with the Beidelman fallout? Too many other top leaders implicated and gone. At least let her finish this first round of adjustments.

Honestly, the timing makes me wonder if someone on the BOE is protecting someone else? What’s the next OIG report going to say? Is some of the adjustments getting too close to something BOE doesn’t want exposed?

If BOE doesn’t want Dr. McKnight anymore, just say they aren’t renewing her contract now, and start the search for the next superintendent now. That process takes a long time anyway, and we’ve already had the case of forcing out Starr and then having an interim superintendent for a year because no one decently qualified wanted the job. I can’t imagine this being any easier now.

It will be even harder to find a superintendent if they railroad McKnight out of here. I agree with you. Announce they aren't renewing her contract and let the search begin. It's going to take a while. We've basically found out from the last two searches that MCPS is a losing proposition for most professionals that might want the job. High cost of living vs. salary / have and have not system with too many poor kids draining the system, tons of IEPS for both poor and wealthy kids and then having to deal with the high expectations of a wealthier cohort wanting enrichment and advanced / specialized curricula. It is a tall order for anybody to serve all these masters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t imply discrimination but it does imply a PR move on the BOEs part, and frankly if it’s that she is correct. If they have supported all her plans and have not given her an evaluation that reflects low performance then she doesn’t have to step aside without cause or her own desire to do so.

If they want her gone then either go through the correct process to fire her or don’t renew her contract when it comes up.

+1
Totally a PR move on BOE part. Someone wants to look like they are doing something, so let’s just be reactionary and force Dr. McKnight out.

It’s also very shortsighted- who’s going to finish dealing with the Beidelman fallout? Too many other top leaders implicated and gone. At least let her finish this first round of adjustments.

Honestly, the timing makes me wonder if someone on the BOE is protecting someone else? What’s the next OIG report going to say? Is some of the adjustments getting too close to something BOE doesn’t want exposed?

If BOE doesn’t want Dr. McKnight anymore, just say they aren’t renewing her contract now, and start the search for the next superintendent now. That process takes a long time anyway, and we’ve already had the case of forcing out Starr and then having an interim superintendent for a year because no one decently qualified wanted the job. I can’t imagine this being any easier now.

It will be even harder to find a superintendent if they railroad McKnight out of here. I agree with you. Announce they aren't renewing her contract and let the search begin. It's going to take a while. We've basically found out from the last two searches that MCPS is a losing proposition for most professionals that might want the job. High cost of living vs. salary / have and have not system with too many poor kids draining the system, tons of IEPS for both poor and wealthy kids and then having to deal with the high expectations of a wealthier cohort wanting enrichment and advanced / specialized curricula. It is a tall order for anybody to serve all these masters.

MCPS doesn't pay badly, especially compared to other county positions that also require a masters degree. Complaining about poor people is appalling. Sorry not everyone is as rich as you are. Maybe you could share your wealth and privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BOE made this bed and now they should lie in it. When McKnight first came on the scene we said where in the heck did she come from? It seemed she came back to the county out of thin air. Then she got a vote of no confidence and the board still hired her. So now you want her to step down? Why pass on this mess to someone else? Let her stay and attempt to clean up this mess while looking for a new super. If you force it she will fight, go on leave, and clear more than a million bucks while sitting on leave for the remainder of her term. Not to mention the legal fees. Nope, let her stay for the clean up, then do the non renewal. It will take us that long to sucker someone into taking this job. We are a hot mess.

The problem is if she does clean up the mess and has any other success then what reason would they be shopping for a new super unless she then wanted to leave.

[Anonymous]

So tired of every male staff member being referred to by their last name and McKnight not getting the same respect. She's not your friend, and it says a lot about your underlying bias.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year the reputation of MCPS declines a little bit. No final exams, 50% rule, attendance means nothing, Beidleman scandal, etc.

We need a complete reset

All but JB was before her time in the big chair. The destruction of the system is all on Fat Jack Smith.

[Anonymous]

Superintendent hiring/firing is the one real lever the BOE has, since all that gets presented to them for other action originates, essentially, under that office, no? They basically appoint a leader, and then have no direct control over anything else, right? If so, then they never should allow for a contract that fails to give them an out whenever they, as the oversight body, decide it's in the best interest of the community -- similar to high-ranking political appointees serving at the pleasure of the President.

If they were foolish enough to fail, there (and I'm assuming that's the case for the moment), then the BOE should let her finish out her term, whether on the bench with an interim appointee of some sort in charge or not. If, in the meantime, she blatantly screws up in a way that would provide a clear avenue to fire her under whatever sweetheart contract they accepted, then they can short-circuit the issue. Minimize the golden parachute, not punitively, but because it's the right thing to do as stewards of the community's resources.

They also should press the County Council/State BOE for proper funding for their function. In a system this big, BOE member has got to be a full-time job to be done effectively, and it needs to come with a professional-level salary to attract those with capability (and not just those who might dedicate such time because they have access to enough wealth not to need a salary). They need some semblance of a staff to facilitate -- not just MCPS staff who have to answer to the Superintendent first.

As far as a succeeding Superintendent needing to come from a long career as a Principal, I reject that. It narrows the pool immensely, and a great lead administrator of such a large, politically charged enterprise might come from another walk of life, entirely, relying on those appointed under them to advise and execute with greater domain knowledge on their behalf. Not that it doesn't help to have a great lead with domain knowledge, and any new leader would need to absorb quite a bit of that to serve the community and MCPS employees appropriately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year the reputation of MCPS declines a little bit. No final exams, 50% rule, attendance means nothing, Beidleman scandal, etc.

We need a complete reset

All but JB was before her time in the big chair. The destruction of the system is all on Fat Jack Smith.

Jack Smith really was the worst one. He’s working as a consultant somewhere having the last laugh.

[Anonymous]

If she had stepped up, she wouldn’t need to step down

[Anonymous]

Teachers union gave her a vote of no confidence two years ago. (You can say what you want about unions bc we all know everyone here has opinions)…but she should have resigned then if she wanted to keep her dignity. Its continued to go downhill ever since then.

[Anonymous]

If she never did move to MoCo, she's in breach of contract herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So tired of every male staff member being referred to by their last name and McKnight not getting the same respect. She's not your friend, and it says a lot about your underlying bias.

Gender isn’t the only bias going on with this first name crap. I’m not a fan of her professionally but I think some people are being deliberately racist with it on this board. It should stop. It also undermines everything the poster writes as they lose credibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BOE made this bed and now they should lie in it. When McKnight first came on the scene we said where in the heck did she come from? It seemed she came back to the county out of thin air. Then she got a vote of no confidence and the board still hired her. So now you want her to step down? Why pass on this mess to someone else? Let her stay and attempt to clean up this mess while looking for a new super. If you force it she will fight, go on leave, and clear more than a million bucks while sitting on leave for the remainder of her term. Not to mention the legal fees. Nope, let her stay for the clean up, then do the non renewal. It will take us that long to sucker someone into taking this job. We are a hot mess.

Because she is not capable of cleaning up the mess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't really care about McKnight. We need to cut bloat in the Central Office and focus on classroom and actual education instead of all the nonsense.

But she is all about bloat.