Montgomery County board of education fraud on students and parents

[Anonymous]

You are correct in your account of what has gone on over the past 3 months.

MCPS does not make its self-funded health insurance account balance public. It's buried in itsCategory 12 on its annual financial statement. It would much better if they followed the general governmental accounting practice of segregating the data, including how much it keeps in reserves. Self-funded plans always hold some money in reserve, but generally they follow a set policy (known to the public). Otherwise, it's very easy for such a fund to be used as a personal slush fund.

Plus, a 5% savings in one year sounds very suspicious to me. They have a large risk pool of covered lives, and the larger the risk pool, the easier it it to predict claims for any given year. There is rarely much variation in paid claims. A 5% reduction in any given year is extremely unusual. I don't buy the wellness program explanation either. They sound good on paper but generally do not achieve significant results.

More likely, the fund has built up significant reserves over the years and MCPS is using its "newly found" money to placate the union.

If the fund and its management were transparent, as government funds should be, then we'd know for certain if they were telling the truth. No guessing required.

Anonymous wrote:
So just because Legett knew, doesn't mean the CC knew. They say they didn't know. Is there some sort of public financial reporting available to confirm when this information was public or is this all part of private meetings between these parties.

Second, let's say the BOE revealed the savings in April. Then, there is a budget compromise that came out in May maybe. That seems like a last minute find, but it is disclosed in some private meetings with Leggett and CC nonetheless. Meanwhile, the CC took position all year that future cuts should not impact the classroom and that they wanted the MCPS employee benefits to be cut back to the same level of benefits as county employees instead. The budget then goes through with some benefit cuts and some classroom cuts (media specialists and reading teachers). After the budget is announced, the BOE then announces that they are going to not even split the difference with the new savings. Instead, all the savings will go to restore benefits rather than cutting the classroom resources. That is my current understanding. Is this understanding reasonable or am I missing some key information. I don't have all the details at my fingertips, so i am open to new information. If you accept this story, then I think the BOE does not seem to be acting in good faith. They should at least split the difference with the CC on this new found money.

As an aside, I can't believe BOE would cut reading specialists. If MCPS should put money anywhere, it should be reading, writing, and math. They should get rid of sports, music, drama, admin, TV shows on public access tv and anything else before touching one of the core subjects. This is another reason we need a new BOE. It just seems like a political ploy to get parents to support increased revenues to the school system.

[Anonymous]

How's this for politcs vs. leadership at the expense of students: the link to the Operating Budget the Board will approve has one column for cuts titled "Board Action" and one titled "Council Action": http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/meetings/agenda/2010-11/2011-0616/Final%20Adoption%20of%20the%20Fiscal%20Year%202012%20Operating%20Budget.pdf

The Board takes responsibility for $306K out of a total $118 million in cuts. The rest is attributed on the council. So if your unhappy about cuts to Staff Development, Athletics, Special Education staffing, etc. the Board wants to be sure you blame it on the council.

[AngryTeacher]

Why doesn't anyone realize that the CC is attempting to pit one union against another?

So by giving WSSC what it wants, that's fair?

PP, you said it yourself that standards are deteriorating. Do you honestly think that without public support, standards will improve? Do you think we'll continue to attract the best and the brightest when water is made a priority over children?

FWIW, the angry teachers make waves and create change. More importantly, we teach children how to think critically. But I suppose you prefer teachers to be docile and to give in to the public's "understanding" of what it takes to educate students . . . b/c everyone - having been through school - is an expert. right?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/water-and-sewer-rates-in-suburban-md-to-rise-85-percent/2011/05/12/AF4aPW1G_story.html

Water and sewer rates in suburban Md. to rise 8.5 percent
Water and sewer bills in suburban Maryland are going up by about $5 a month.

Montgomery and Prince George’s county councils unanimously approved the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s request for an 8.5 percent rate increase.
The yearly bill for a family using 210 gallons per day is about $760, officials said. Starting in July, that bill will increase by about $60. Those estimates are based on a family of three, though usage totals and bills can vary greatly.

The commission’s fiscal year 2012 budget, approved Thursday in a joint session, includes 2 percent cost-of-living increases and merit raises for unionized workers. The Montgomery council opposed those salary increases, but they remained in the budget because both bodies would have had to agree to remove them.

Anonymous wrote:I second that the BOE should be spending every bit of attention (especially the precious dollars) on stemming the deterioration of the standards in core subjects in MCPS - spend this money on improving core academics, highlighting the waste of money on TV tutoring. A lot of parents are spending a lot of money on tutors for core subjects like Math, Sciences and Reading and Writing, which goes to show you how our county is doing with our kids education.

BoE - get in line with us, the public or GET OUT!! We are more than happy to take back out tax dollars and spend it on private schools or hire a new BoE, non-Angry teachers and others who want to be here for our kids. Your days are numbered if you dont change your ways.

Anonymous wrote:
*******

So just because Legett knew, doesn't mean the CC knew. They say they didn't know. Is there some sort of public financial reporting available to confirm when this information was public or is this all part of private meetings between these parties.

Second, let's say the BOE revealed the savings in April. Then, there is a budget compromise that came out in May maybe. That seems like a last minute find, but it is disclosed in some private meetings with Leggett and CC nonetheless. Meanwhile, the CC took position all year that future cuts should not impact the classroom and that they wanted the MCPS employee benefits to be cut back to the same level of benefits as county employees instead. The budget then goes through with some benefit cuts and some classroom cuts (media specialists and reading teachers). After the budget is announced, the BOE then announces that they are going to not even split the difference with the new savings. Instead, all the savings will go to restore benefits rather than cutting the classroom resources. That is my current understanding. Is this understanding reasonable or am I missing some key information. I don't have all the details at my fingertips, so i am open to new information. If you accept this story, then I think the BOE does not seem to be acting in good faith. They should at least split the difference with the CC on this new found money.

As an aside, I can't believe BOE would cut reading specialists. If MCPS should put money anywhere, it should be reading, writing, and math. They should get rid of sports, music, drama, admin, TV shows on public access tv and anything else before touching one of the core subjects. This is another reason we need a new BOE. It just seems like a political ploy to get parents to support increased revenues to the school system.

[Anonymous]

AT, do you even read what you quote? I'm not sure if you are dumb, or trying to be deliberately deceitful, or both.

How can you say the Council is trying to pit one union against another, when the Council voted with 100% consistency against raises or COLAs for everyone, WSSC union employees included. The Council did not affirmatively give WSSC what it wanted. It requires Two votes against the proposed raises in order to deny them, because WSSC is. Bi-county commission. The Montgomery County Council has no authority over the P.G. County Council whatsoever. It can vote however it likes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AT, do you even read what you quote? I'm not sure if you are dumb, or trying to be deliberately deceitful, or both.

How can you say the Council is trying to pit one union against another, when the Council voted with 100% consistency against raises or COLAs for everyone, WSSC union employees included. The Council did not affirmatively give WSSC what it wanted. It requires Two votes against the proposed raises in order to deny them, because WSSC is. Bi-county commission. The Montgomery County Council has no authority over the P.G. County Council whatsoever. It can vote however it likes.

Good point. If AT is an example of the "best and the brightest" who "teach children how to think critically" in MCPS, we're in more trouble than we thought. Put a different way, AT, you are doing a significant amount of damage to the perception of MCPS teachers with your hysterical, irrational posts. If you're representative of MCPS teachers, they appear to be grossly overpaid.

[AngryTeacher]

I'm dumb? deceitful? odd word choice - more appropriate to use this word to describe the CC or WSSC

Given the limited information in The Post article, the CC caved. If it truly believed in denying ALL unions COLAs/raises, then it would have held tightly to a NO answer, forcing them to renegotiate. Why was it so easy for OUR CC to give in?

What message does this send to taxpayers and public employees in general who got nothing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AT, do you even read what you quote? I'm not sure if you are dumb, or trying to be deliberately deceitful, or both.

How can you say the Council is trying to pit one union against another, when the Council voted with 100% consistency against raises or COLAs for everyone, WSSC union employees included. The Council did not affirmatively give WSSC what it wanted. It requires Two votes against the proposed raises in order to deny them, because WSSC is. Bi-county commission. The Montgomery County Council has no authority over the P.G. County Council whatsoever. It can vote however it likes.

Good point. If AT is an example of the "best and the brightest" who "teach children how to think critically" in MCPS, we're in more trouble than we thought. Put a different way, AT, you are doing a significant amount of damage to the perception of MCPS teachers with your hysterical, irrational posts. If you're representative of MCPS teachers, they appear to be grossly overpaid.

[Anonymous]

No, you don't understand the collective bargaining process at all, even though you act as if you do.

Collective bargaining for WSSC employees is governed by state law, not county. Chapter 424 of 2003 if you want to read it. There is no such thing as one county "holding tightly" to a no vote to force a renegotiation. Montgomery County voted no. But P.G. did not. If, and only if, BOTH Councils voted no, THEN the union and WSSC reopen negotiations. But it requires two no votes to renegotiate.
And Montgomery County has no type of leverage to hod over P.G.

AngryTeacher wrote:I'm dumb? deceitful? odd word choice - more appropriate to use this word to describe the CC or WSSC

Given the limited information in The Post article, the CC caved. If it truly believed in denying ALL unions COLAs/raises, then it would have held tightly to a NO answer, forcing them to renegotiate. Why was it so easy for OUR CC to give in?

What message does this send to taxpayers and public employees in general who got nothing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AT, do you even read what you quote? I'm not sure if you are dumb, or trying to be deliberately deceitful, or both.

How can you say the Council is trying to pit one union against another, when the Council voted with 100% consistency against raises or COLAs for everyone, WSSC union employees included. The Council did not affirmatively give WSSC what it wanted. It requires Two votes against the proposed raises in order to deny them, because WSSC is. Bi-county commission. The Montgomery County Council has no authority over the P.G. County Council whatsoever. It can vote however it likes.

Good point. If AT is an example of the "best and the brightest" who "teach children how to think critically" in MCPS, we're in more trouble than we thought. Put a different way, AT, you are doing a significant amount of damage to the perception of MCPS teachers with your hysterical, irrational posts. If you're representative of MCPS teachers, they appear to be grossly overpaid.

[Anonymous]

No, you don't understand the collective bargaining process at all, even though you act as if you do.

Collective bargaining for WSSC employees is governed by state law, not county. Chapter 424 of 2003 if you want to read it. There is no such thing as one county "holding tightly" to a no vote to force a renegotiation. Montgomery County voted no. But P.G. did not. If, and only if, BOTH Councils voted no, THEN the union and WSSC reopen negotiations. But it requires two no votes to renegotiate.
And Montgomery County has no type of leverage to hod over P.G.

Don't post facts! You'll just confuse her.

[Anonymous]

It has been announced that Montgomery County Inspector General will investigate the budgeting process/finances in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Where? When? TIA.

Anonymous wrote:It has been announced that Montgomery County Inspector General will investigate the budgeting process/finances in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

The story is in the gazette.