$2M no bid contract to Joftus wife? BOE to approve on 9/8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You didn't answer the question. Is it true? If it is, then why are you so defensive?

Why is MCPS (a Government public entity) even getting involved in Kid Museum (a commercial enterprise)?

Corruption is corruption and it should never be tolerated - especially in our school system.

Our schools have so many needs, including building repairs that should have been used with covid money or better funding for Virtual Schooling, and yet, we are paying expensive rent in Bethesda to a non-profit that then turns around and charges MCPS schools for their services - double dipping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

Your "MCPS PR" bit is getting really old. Believe it or not, everyone doesn't share your opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

Your "MCPS PR" bit is getting really old. Believe it or not, everyone doesn't share your opinions.

Well then tell the pr dept to cool it. We’re all sick of it.

[Anonymous]

Can one person name a school that visited with fee waivers or name specific tangible benefits to a school so it can be verified that KM actually does something to benefit the county?

I am a teacher and I'm very confused. Every other community partnership has an easily identifiable benefit to the students of moco. For example, imagination stage provides every third grade title I student with a play in their theater, a related study guide for teachers, and buses are provided and arranged for the school. Strathmore provides all second and fifth graders music concerts in their concert hall with provided, pre arranged buses. Both venues also provide classes and camps focused on the arts for children in our community and offer scholarships and financial aid for families who qualify.

So ... What are we paying kid museum to do??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can one person name a school that visited with fee waivers or name specific tangible benefits to a school so it can be verified that KM actually does something to benefit the county?

I am a teacher and I'm very confused. Every other community partnership has an easily identifiable benefit to the students of moco. For example, imagination stage provides every third grade title I student with a play in their theater, a related study guide for teachers, and buses are provided and arranged for the school. Strathmore provides all second and fifth graders music concerts in their concert hall with provided, pre arranged buses. Both venues also provide classes and camps focused on the arts for children in our community and offer scholarships and financial aid for families who qualify.

So ... What are we paying kid museum to do??

I contacted them for some virtual programing for a fee waiver and was told no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can one person name a school that visited with fee waivers or name specific tangible benefits to a school so it can be verified that KM actually does something to benefit the county?

I am a teacher and I'm very confused. Every other community partnership has an easily identifiable benefit to the students of moco. For example, imagination stage provides every third grade title I student with a play in their theater, a related study guide for teachers, and buses are provided and arranged for the school. Strathmore provides all second and fifth graders music concerts in their concert hall with provided, pre arranged buses. Both venues also provide classes and camps focused on the arts for children in our community and offer scholarships and financial aid for families who qualify.

So ... What are we paying kid museum to do??

A lot of Strathmore activities and camps are run by non-profits and very expensive - Levine Music and MCYO but they do offer financial help to some families at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent and total outsider to all of this except for living in Scott Joftus’s district, regardless whether this is all above board, legal and ethical, the appearance looks like banana republic type stuff. And this is the kind of stuff that eroded public confidence in institutions.

Im sure he and his wife are great people, but this situation should never have been allowed and it reflects poorly on the Board chair.

It really doesn't. The guy disclosed his conflicts of interest before starting this job and recused himself from any decision involving the kids museum. It was completely above board. This is just the usual drummed-up faux outrage to push some far-right agenda by a few unhinged uber Karens.

Disclosure doesn’t make it okay. Why don’t you get that?

The appearance of conflicts and back dealing is the problem. Doesn’t matter if he followed proper procedures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent and total outsider to all of this except for living in Scott Joftus’s district, regardless whether this is all above board, legal and ethical, the appearance looks like banana republic type stuff. And this is the kind of stuff that eroded public confidence in institutions.

Im sure he and his wife are great people, but this situation should never have been allowed and it reflects poorly on the Board chair.

It really doesn't. The guy disclosed his conflicts of interest before starting this job and recused himself from any decision involving the kids museum. It was completely above board. This is just the usual drummed-up faux outrage to push some far-right agenda by a few unhinged uber Karens.

Disclosure doesn’t make it okay. Why don’t you get that?

The appearance of conflicts and back dealing is the problem. Doesn’t matter if he followed proper procedures.

Well, of course it matters that he followed proper procedures. But I think Rebecca Smondrowski agrees with you about the appearance of conflicts and that's why she voted against the contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

Your "MCPS PR" bit is getting really old. Believe it or not, everyone doesn't share your opinions.

Well then tell the pr dept to cool it. We’re all sick of it.

Not really. More sick of the unhinged poster who tries to invent all these conspiracies that don't exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent and total outsider to all of this except for living in Scott Joftus’s district, regardless whether this is all above board, legal and ethical, the appearance looks like banana republic type stuff. And this is the kind of stuff that eroded public confidence in institutions.

Im sure he and his wife are great people, but this situation should never have been allowed and it reflects poorly on the Board chair.

It really doesn't. The guy disclosed his conflicts of interest before starting this job and recused himself from any decision involving the kids museum. It was completely above board. This is just the usual drummed-up faux outrage to push some far-right agenda by a few unhinged uber Karens.

That's all I needed to know. Thx!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

Your "MCPS PR" bit is getting really old. Believe it or not, everyone doesn't share your opinions.

Well then tell the pr dept to cool it. We’re all sick of it.

Not really. More sick of the unhinged poster who tries to invent all these conspiracies that don't exist.

For people who approve of the money being spent, can you please explain to the non believers where the millions of dollars go? I think we would all feel better if we knew what is being done with the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can one person name a school that visited with fee waivers or name specific tangible benefits to a school so it can be verified that KM actually does something to benefit the county?

I am a teacher and I'm very confused. Every other community partnership has an easily identifiable benefit to the students of moco. For example, imagination stage provides every third grade title I student with a play in their theater, a related study guide for teachers, and buses are provided and arranged for the school. Strathmore provides all second and fifth graders music concerts in their concert hall with provided, pre arranged buses. Both venues also provide classes and camps focused on the arts for children in our community and offer scholarships and financial aid for families who qualify.

So ... What are we paying kid museum to do??

We are at a MCPS Focus school and can’t afford the Kid Museum. Neither of my kids have gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

Your "MCPS PR" bit is getting really old. Believe it or not, everyone doesn't share your opinions.

Well then tell the pr dept to cool it. We’re all sick of it.

Not really. More sick of the unhinged poster who tries to invent all these conspiracies that don't exist.

For people who approve of the money being spent, can you please explain to the non believers where the millions of dollars go? I think we would all feel better if we knew what is being done with the money.

How about for people who have an issue with this explain what exactly was unethical? We elected the board to make these decisions on our behalf. This was done by the book. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See article- apparently the superintendent claimed in the memo to the BOE there had been a bidding process for this contract, but that wasn’t the case.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/09/08/mcps-says-clerical-error-led-to-concern-about-stem-program-contract/

Can the county council come in and review this given they fund MCPS? If so, how can that be requested?

This just seems way off….

If you watch the youtube link from the meeting above, they explain it. It seems like much ado about nothing.

Thanks MCPS PR. Nice try. That $2.37M could have given every teacher in MCPS (over 11,600) an extra $200 this year. Teachers know they are being short changed. That’s why they’re turning to Facebook/Nextdoor/etc and asking the community to help them out.

Your "MCPS PR" bit is getting really old. Believe it or not, everyone doesn't share your opinions.

Well then tell the pr dept to cool it. We’re all sick of it.

Not really. More sick of the unhinged poster who tries to invent all these conspiracies that don't exist.

For people who approve of the money being spent, can you please explain to the non believers where the millions of dollars go? I think we would all feel better if we knew what is being done with the money.

I'm sure someone will accuse me of being MCPS PR, but here is what I understand from what Niki Hazel said in the meeting yesterday. The new contract is to expand the existing MS programs to elementary schools. Kid Museum staff have been working together with MCPS central office staff for 5-ish years to connect Kid Museum activities with the specific grade-level units of MCPS science curriculum. There are in person and virtual "field trips" and also supposed to be activities done at the schools in science units with materials and training of teachers provided by Kid Museum. They also mentioned some after-school programs. It sounded good, but I think (and board members did too) that they should provide a more detailed summary of the different components of their partnership and an accounting of the annual and overall costs.