Washington Post article about Former Farquhar Administrator

[Anonymous]

Just to be clear, there will be no investigation. MCPS has lawyered up. Shame on the councilmembers that don't call this what this is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unacceptable for them to have as their “outside independent investigator” a firm they have had a business relationship with and who has defended them against similar claims. If that’s true, that seems like order of business one!

I'm guessing that makes it faster. They don't have to go through procurement. Would you prefer to wait until they go through procurement?

No. Just hire a friend to sweep everything under the rug, pay them $750,000, go to their holiday party and move on.
Business as usual for the Board of Education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.laborlab.us/jackson_lewis_the_notorious_law_firm_at_the_forefront_of_union_busting

Jackson Lewis is a law firm with a notorious reputation for union-busting. The firm represents employers in labor disputes, lawsuits, and other matters related to unions, and its clients are often large corporations that seek to prevent or dismantle labor unions. Some of these clients include Google, Amazon, and the numerous universities and colleges.

Well, that won't go over well with the MCEA or with the County Council.

So basically, the Board of Education lied and told us they were hiring an independent investigative firm when that's clearly not the case. Let's call them out for it. Here's their contact information: nhttps://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/members/

It is an independent investigative firm - just an independent investigative firm that also gets hired, by others, for union-busting.

You can call the BoE out until the cows come home and it won't accomplish anything, because the only real power BoE has over MCPS is hiring the superintendent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.laborlab.us/jackson_lewis_the_notorious_law_firm_at_the_forefront_of_union_busting

Jackson Lewis is a law firm with a notorious reputation for union-busting. The firm represents employers in labor disputes, lawsuits, and other matters related to unions, and its clients are often large corporations that seek to prevent or dismantle labor unions. Some of these clients include Google, Amazon, and the numerous universities and colleges.

Well, that won't go over well with the MCEA or with the County Council.

So basically, the Board of Education lied and told us they were hiring an independent investigative firm when that's clearly not the case. Let's call them out for it. Here's their contact information: nhttps://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/members/

It is an independent investigative firm - just an independent investigative firm that also gets hired, by others, for union-busting.

You can call the BoE out until the cows come home and it won't accomplish anything, because the only real power BoE has over MCPS is hiring the superintendent.

The only way we get change is going to the media. The only thing MCPS is scared of is bad publicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.laborlab.us/jackson_lewis_the_notorious_law_firm_at_the_forefront_of_union_busting

Jackson Lewis is a law firm with a notorious reputation for union-busting. The firm represents employers in labor disputes, lawsuits, and other matters related to unions, and its clients are often large corporations that seek to prevent or dismantle labor unions. Some of these clients include Google, Amazon, and the numerous universities and colleges.

Well, that won't go over well with the MCEA or with the County Council.

So basically, the Board of Education lied and told us they were hiring an independent investigative firm when that's clearly not the case. Let's call them out for it. Here's their contact information: nhttps://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/members/

It is an independent investigative firm - just an independent investigative firm that also gets hired, by others, for union-busting.

You can call the BoE out until the cows come home and it won't accomplish anything, because the only real power BoE has over MCPS is hiring the superintendent.

It is not an independent firm. MCPS is already an ongoing client with payments to them this year.

[Anonymous]

Can county council hire their own firm to investigate? As victims we can’t even complain to the state BOE because the state superintendent is also a bully!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.laborlab.us/jackson_lewis_the_notorious_law_firm_at_the_forefront_of_union_busting

Jackson Lewis is a law firm with a notorious reputation for union-busting. The firm represents employers in labor disputes, lawsuits, and other matters related to unions, and its clients are often large corporations that seek to prevent or dismantle labor unions. Some of these clients include Google, Amazon, and the numerous universities and colleges.

Well, that won't go over well with the MCEA or with the County Council.

So basically, the Board of Education lied and told us they were hiring an independent investigative firm when that's clearly not the case. Let's call them out for it. Here's their contact information: nhttps://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/members/

It is an independent investigative firm - just an independent investigative firm that also gets hired, by others, for union-busting.

You can call the BoE out until the cows come home and it won't accomplish anything, because the only real power BoE has over MCPS is hiring the superintendent.

It is not an independent firm. MCPS is already an ongoing client with payments to them this year.

Then I guess it depends on how you define "independent firm." MCPS is not doing the investigation in house. They are paying an independent (not MCPS) firm to do it. Or at least to do something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can county council hire their own firm to investigate? As victims we can’t even complain to the state BOE because the state superintendent is also a bully!

Yes, the County Council could authorize its own investigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can county council hire their own firm to investigate? As victims we can’t even complain to the state BOE because the state superintendent is also a bully!

Yes, the County Council could authorize its own investigation.

What happened to the county inspector general?

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure I understand the logic of those on here who are saying that because MCPS is paying Jackson Lewis, they are not independent. Wouldn’t that be the same for any outside investigator retained by MCPS? And the County Council has made clear this is an MCPS investigation and it doesn’t look like they choose to use whatever investigatory authority/resources they have in the schools (if any) to pursue this. So it’s either MCPS does it themselves or they pay someone outside to do it. I suppose it is the issue of payment from MCPS that has some questioning “independence” but it seems the only alternative right now to MCPS self-investigating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These smiling administrators should be embarrassed- I would be if I were in their shoes. They are a bunch of sheep with no backbones. Anyone that stood and applauded supports what she stands for- harassment, bullying, and deceit; hopefully their staff retaliate and demand for these admin to sit back and remain in their offices all year.

She stands for a fair investigation. You people want to see this man suffer. This is AMERICA! Fair investigation is what is needed. These women should get ready!

Smearing the victims is not going to work this time. The paper trail is too long and too detailed; there are too many eyewitnesses, and his behavior was too egregious.

Assuming you know him personally, focus on convincing this man to get some treatment. He's going to be losing his job in addition to his marriage and it should be a moment of reflection for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.laborlab.us/jackson_lewis_the_notorious_law_firm_at_the_forefront_of_union_busting

Jackson Lewis is a law firm with a notorious reputation for union-busting. The firm represents employers in labor disputes, lawsuits, and other matters related to unions, and its clients are often large corporations that seek to prevent or dismantle labor unions. Some of these clients include Google, Amazon, and the numerous universities and colleges.

Well, that won't go over well with the MCEA or with the County Council.

So basically, the Board of Education lied and told us they were hiring an independent investigative firm when that's clearly not the case. Let's call them out for it. Here's their contact information: nhttps://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/members/

It is an independent investigative firm - just an independent investigative firm that also gets hired, by others, for union-busting.

You can call the BoE out until the cows come home and it won't accomplish anything, because the only real power BoE has over MCPS is hiring the superintendent.

It is not an independent firm. MCPS is already an ongoing client with payments to them this year.

That’s pathetic because they could hire a firm with whom they have no pre-existing relationship and still expect to get a largely whitewashed report that finds some mid-tier administrator to blame and absolves senior leadership of wrongdoing. That’s how these “independent” investigations work. But they aren’t even prepared to do that.

Hiring Jackson Lewis is basically code for McKnight and her minions to say “screw you, we run MCPS now” to county residents and taxpayers. It’s just one big cesspool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure I understand the logic of those on here who are saying that because MCPS is paying Jackson Lewis, they are not independent. Wouldn’t that be the same for any outside investigator retained by MCPS? And the County Council has made clear this is an MCPS investigation and it doesn’t look like they choose to use whatever investigatory authority/resources they have in the schools (if any) to pursue this. So it’s either MCPS does it themselves or they pay someone outside to do it. I suppose it is the issue of payment from MCPS that has some questioning “independence” but it seems the only alternative right now to MCPS self-investigating.

It's the existence of a prior contracting relationship with Jackson Lewis. There are dozens of reputable firms doing investigations like these and many of the employers that need them have some procedural things to do in order to hire them.

"Procurement" is not a reason to choose one that is widely known primarily for union-busting and that is already cozy with many of the people seeking to cover their behinds right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the Board represented by the same law firm that represents MCPS? It’s the same reason the Board receives recommendations from the same General Counsel Offices as MCPS. The Board are just sheep and there’s no independent oversight of MCPS.

That dynamic is why complaints are squashed no matter the number of complaints about the same individual. Victims face a huge organization that has an unlimited legal budget. Montgomery County tax payers will pay for the outside legal firm to fight victims but the funds come out of the county budget, not the school system.

What can be done about this? It is despicable that they can get away with this.

Will Jawando chairs the Education and Culture Committee. It will hold a hearing. He is running for the Senate. Let him know that you won't vote for him if he won't hold the BOE accountable.

Here's everyone on that Education and Culture Committee. Everyone, write to them and tell them that MCPS not having an independent oversight is extremely troubling and that the residents of Mongtgomery County deserve way better:

Wil Jawando (Chair): [e-mail]
Gabe Albornoz: [e-mail]
Kristin Mink: [e-mail]

Don’t forget to include President Evan glass

mailto:[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure I understand the logic of those on here who are saying that because MCPS is paying Jackson Lewis, they are not independent. Wouldn’t that be the same for any outside investigator retained by MCPS? And the County Council has made clear this is an MCPS investigation and it doesn’t look like they choose to use whatever investigatory authority/resources they have in the schools (if any) to pursue this. So it’s either MCPS does it themselves or they pay someone outside to do it. I suppose it is the issue of payment from MCPS that has some questioning “independence” but it seems the only alternative right now to MCPS self-investigating.

The issue people are taking with Jackson Lewis is not that MCPS is paying them, it's that Jackson Lewis REPRESENTS them, which means MCPS has an existing client relationship, and therefore, Jackson Lewis has loyalties to MCPS, which might influence investigators to diminish or sway things that might otherwise damage the reputation or standing of their client and/or their relationship and potential to be hired to represent MCPS for future cases.