MCPS not receiving millions in State Aid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:https://mocoshow.com/2024/10/23/mcps-statement-regarding-recommended-fy26-capital-budget-and-amendments-to-the-fy-2025-30-capital-improvements-program/

So this was not a one-time error:

Dating back to 2021, MCPS miscalculated prevailing wage and bid awards across the multiple phases of the project. This error was entirely MCPS’s.

I appreciate that there was a lot more detail here than what was in the board docs, and that Taylor is "supremely disappointed," but I need to know what actions will be taken to remediate this pretty gross failing on the part of multiple individuals and departments. I also think the BOE failed here too. But since they don't have independent staff, relying on the elected board members to be sharp on this stuff is unrealistic.

The Board of Education hires the superintendent.

It is up to them to hire someone who obeys the laws. They seem incapable of doing that.

These "errors" happened during Smith and/or McKnight's tenures, not Taylor's.

Taylor's job is to clean up this mess. He and his central office staff should be reviewing everything finding these errors and fixing it.

Which is just what he's doing.

No, he’s not. He’s been there since July and these big things keep happening.

This happened before July. He and his new staff uncovered it, and reported it. Big difference.

Most of the staff aren't new and who ever messed this up should be fired.

Adrienne Karamihas, Seth Adams, Brian Hull, Monifa McKnight. All no longer with MCPS.

They were supervisors, who actually did the work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gotta love the Monifa super fan desperately trying to spin this as a failure by Taylor

I'm not a fan of either one but he's been at the job since July.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mocoshow.com/2024/10/23/mcps-statement-regarding-recommended-fy26-capital-budget-and-amendments-to-the-fy-2025-30-capital-improvements-program/

So this was not a one-time error:

Dating back to 2021, MCPS miscalculated prevailing wage and bid awards across the multiple phases of the project. This error was entirely MCPS’s.

I appreciate that there was a lot more detail here than what was in the board docs, and that Taylor is "supremely disappointed," but I need to know what actions will be taken to remediate this pretty gross failing on the part of multiple individuals and departments. I also think the BOE failed here too. But since they don't have independent staff, relying on the elected board members to be sharp on this stuff is unrealistic.

The Board of Education hires the superintendent.

It is up to them to hire someone who obeys the laws. They seem incapable of doing that.

These "errors" happened during Smith and/or McKnight's tenures, not Taylor's.

Taylor's job is to clean up this mess. He and his central office staff should be reviewing everything finding these errors and fixing it.

Which is just what he's doing.

No, he’s not. He’s been there since July and these big things keep happening.

This happened before July. He and his new staff uncovered it, and reported it. Big difference.

Most of the staff aren't new and who ever messed this up should be fired.

Adrienne Karamihas, Seth Adams, Brian Hull, Monifa McKnight. All no longer with MCPS.

They were supervisors, who actually did the work?

Supervisors are supposed to supervise.

[Anonymous]

How does this impact the Woodward or crown construction project?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gotta love the Monifa super fan desperately trying to spin this as a failure by Taylor

I'm not a fan of either one but he's been at the job since July.

How’s that relevant to an act that occurred in 2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciated hearing Taylor's comments at the beginning of this morning's CIP meeting, and also his response to Julie Yang's question on how he will ensure these errors are not happening in the future (which occurs around minute 56:30):

His answer to Yang’s question was nonsensical. He said he didn’t want to assign blame but admitted that people missed deadlines and were moving too fast. So clearly there are people to blame if both of those things he claimed are true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciated hearing Taylor's comments at the beginning of this morning's CIP meeting, and also his response to Julie Yang's question on how he will ensure these errors are not happening in the future (which occurs around minute 56:30):

His answer to Yang’s question was nonsensical. He said he didn’t want to assign blame but admitted that people missed deadlines and were moving too fast. So clearly there are people to blame if both of those things he claimed are true.

I took that to mean he didn't want to name specific people who are no longer at MCPS, but clearly acknowledged that the staff at the time had made these errors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does this impact the Woodward or crown construction project?

No direct impact on Crown. For Woodward, it means they are asking for additional funding from county council to remain on schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The McKnight years: the gift that keeps on giving.

She's been gone a while. This is on the acting superintendent, Taylor and BOE.

Take the L, dear. You are wrong on this. Why do you defend her so fiercely?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mocoshow.com/2024/10/23/mcps-statement-regarding-recommended-fy26-capital-budget-and-amendments-to-the-fy-2025-30-capital-improvements-program/

So this was not a one-time error:

Dating back to 2021, MCPS miscalculated prevailing wage and bid awards across the multiple phases of the project. This error was entirely MCPS’s.

I appreciate that there was a lot more detail here than what was in the board docs, and that Taylor is "supremely disappointed," but I need to know what actions will be taken to remediate this pretty gross failing on the part of multiple individuals and departments. I also think the BOE failed here too. But since they don't have independent staff, relying on the elected board members to be sharp on this stuff is unrealistic.

The Board of Education hires the superintendent.

It is up to them to hire someone who obeys the laws. They seem incapable of doing that.

These "errors" happened during Smith and/or McKnight's tenures, not Taylor's.

Taylor's job is to clean up this mess. He and his central office staff should be reviewing everything finding these errors and fixing it.

Which is just what he's doing.

No, he’s not. He’s been there since July and these big things keep happening.

This happened before July. He and his new staff uncovered it, and reported it. Big difference.

Most of the staff aren't new and who ever messed this up should be fired.

Adrienne Karamihas, Seth Adams, Brian Hull, Monifa McKnight. All no longer with MCPS.

Essie McGuire approved contract and back with Taylor.

Nope. She left in 2021.

And she is back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mocoshow.com/2024/10/23/mcps-statement-regarding-recommended-fy26-capital-budget-and-amendments-to-the-fy-2025-30-capital-improvements-program/

So this was not a one-time error:

Dating back to 2021, MCPS miscalculated prevailing wage and bid awards across the multiple phases of the project. This error was entirely MCPS’s.

I appreciate that there was a lot more detail here than what was in the board docs, and that Taylor is "supremely disappointed," but I need to know what actions will be taken to remediate this pretty gross failing on the part of multiple individuals and departments. I also think the BOE failed here too. But since they don't have independent staff, relying on the elected board members to be sharp on this stuff is unrealistic.

The Board of Education hires the superintendent.

It is up to them to hire someone who obeys the laws. They seem incapable of doing that.

These "errors" happened during Smith and/or McKnight's tenures, not Taylor's.

Taylor's job is to clean up this mess. He and his central office staff should be reviewing everything finding these errors and fixing it.

Which is just what he's doing.

No, he’s not. He’s been there since July and these big things keep happening.

This happened before July. He and his new staff uncovered it, and reported it. Big difference.

Most of the staff aren't new and who ever messed this up should be fired.

Adrienne Karamihas, Seth Adams, Brian Hull, Monifa McKnight. All no longer with MCPS.

Essie McGuire approved contract and back with Taylor.

What are you even talking about? This wasn't a contract, it was a state aid application.

What are you talking about? The contract didn’t comply with state funding requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mocoshow.com/2024/10/23/mcps-statement-regarding-recommended-fy26-capital-budget-and-amendments-to-the-fy-2025-30-capital-improvements-program/

So this was not a one-time error:

Dating back to 2021, MCPS miscalculated prevailing wage and bid awards across the multiple phases of the project. This error was entirely MCPS’s.

I appreciate that there was a lot more detail here than what was in the board docs, and that Taylor is "supremely disappointed," but I need to know what actions will be taken to remediate this pretty gross failing on the part of multiple individuals and departments. I also think the BOE failed here too. But since they don't have independent staff, relying on the elected board members to be sharp on this stuff is unrealistic.

The Board of Education hires the superintendent.

It is up to them to hire someone who obeys the laws. They seem incapable of doing that.

These "errors" happened during Smith and/or McKnight's tenures, not Taylor's.

Taylor's job is to clean up this mess. He and his central office staff should be reviewing everything finding these errors and fixing it.

Which is just what he's doing.

No, he’s not. He’s been there since July and these big things keep happening.

This happened before July. He and his new staff uncovered it, and reported it. Big difference.

Most of the staff aren't new and who ever messed this up should be fired.

Adrienne Karamihas, Seth Adams, Brian Hull, Monifa McKnight. All no longer with MCPS.

Essie McGuire approved contract and back with Taylor.

What are you even talking about? This wasn't a contract, it was a state aid application.

What are you talking about? The contract didn’t comply with state funding requirements.

Were the labor rates higher or lower than the established prevailing wages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mocoshow.com/2024/10/23/mcps-statement-regarding-recommended-fy26-capital-budget-and-amendments-to-the-fy-2025-30-capital-improvements-program/

So this was not a one-time error:

Dating back to 2021, MCPS miscalculated prevailing wage and bid awards across the multiple phases of the project. This error was entirely MCPS’s.

I appreciate that there was a lot more detail here than what was in the board docs, and that Taylor is "supremely disappointed," but I need to know what actions will be taken to remediate this pretty gross failing on the part of multiple individuals and departments. I also think the BOE failed here too. But since they don't have independent staff, relying on the elected board members to be sharp on this stuff is unrealistic.

The Board of Education hires the superintendent.

It is up to them to hire someone who obeys the laws. They seem incapable of doing that.

These "errors" happened during Smith and/or McKnight's tenures, not Taylor's.

Taylor's job is to clean up this mess. He and his central office staff should be reviewing everything finding these errors and fixing it.

Which is just what he's doing.

No, he’s not. He’s been there since July and these big things keep happening.

This happened before July. He and his new staff uncovered it, and reported it. Big difference.

Most of the staff aren't new and who ever messed this up should be fired.

Adrienne Karamihas, Seth Adams, Brian Hull, Monifa McKnight. All no longer with MCPS.

Essie McGuire approved contract and back with Taylor.

What are you even talking about? This wasn't a contract, it was a state aid application.

What are you talking about? The contract didn’t comply with state funding requirements.

Were the labor rates higher or lower than the established prevailing wages?

Lower

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciated hearing Taylor's comments at the beginning of this morning's CIP meeting, and also his response to Julie Yang's question on how he will ensure these errors are not happening in the future (which occurs around minute 56:30):

His answer to Yang’s question was nonsensical. He said he didn’t want to assign blame but admitted that people missed deadlines and were moving too fast. So clearly there are people to blame if both of those things he claimed are true.

I took that to mean he didn't want to name specific people who are no longer at MCPS, but clearly acknowledged that the staff at the time had made these errors.

Basically those folks are still there and he's going to let it pass.

[Anonymous]

Oddly no one is talking about how the state is just discovering this.