June 11 BOE meeting in progress

[Anonymous]

A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evans: does not support any of the cuts

Yes she does because she approved and voted for them. She is up for election and likely to lose in November so she was just trying to get votes by pretending like she is against all of this.

Stewart has been mimicking the board every step of the way on the budget. Why do you think she would have done anything differently?

[Anonymous]

And the MVA has a PTA??? VA is the future of "public education." Online classes/school has been around for decades, obviously gained more popularity during pandemic. Why do they want to remove the MVA program/school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are they talking out now? Can't watch until 5pm.

They're recessed until 3:50

Has it resumed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smondrowski is asking about requesting a supplemental budget increase in July from the County Council to fund the MVA once the budget process closed. Good news but bad news is that I’m not sure MCPS or the MVA would benefit from the scrutiny that the Council would bring on such a one-off, specific request.

Mva scores are good. They would no share them because then they could not justify the shut down.

What a strange conspiracy theory. Why do you think MCPS and the BoE are out to get you?

What is strange about wanting a public school system funded with public tax dollars to be transparent in their actions?

Would you prefer a King who makes pronouncements from a throne?

I certainly agree with the call for transparency, but you're accusing MCPS of suppressing data on MVA for the express purpose of terminating MVA under false pretenses. Why would you think that? What do you think their motives are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smondrowski is asking about requesting a supplemental budget increase in July from the County Council to fund the MVA once the budget process closed. Good news but bad news is that I’m not sure MCPS or the MVA would benefit from the scrutiny that the Council would bring on such a one-off, specific request.

They were pretty clear that's a dead end.

Should have known better. Guess the BOE is just trying to pass the blame then by telling these families they’ll ask the Council in July when they know the answer will be “no”

+1 They are making the County Council the bad guys instead of asking hard questions of the Central Office. This is why we need a FT Board of Education - we need folks with the time to actually go through the budget, speak with educators and administrators, and ask questions about some of these trendy initiatives that will be gone in 3 years anyway.

Some board members put in this amount of work effort already. 60-hour weeks. Regardless of the hostility that many express on this forum for the BOE, you should know that many of them are working really hard for what amounts to $6-8 per hour.

We're getting our money's worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are they talking out now? Can't watch until 5pm.

They're recessed until 3:50

Has it resumed?

Yes

[Anonymous]

MCPS = Most Corrupt Public Schools

I cannot believe they are making teachers and students pay for the mismanaged budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

Virtual programs had been discussed as a possibility in the past, but it is an overstatement to say one was "in the works."

Different models have been attempted. Outside of MCPS, my high school tried doing classes over video conferencing between schools to provide additional courses, but it didn't work well and was abandoned after a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

Virtual programs had been discussed as a possibility in the past, but it is an overstatement to say one was "in the works."

Different models have been attempted. Outside of MCPS, my high school tried doing classes over video conferencing between schools to provide additional courses, but it didn't work well and was abandoned after a few years.

One already existed.

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/why-online-school-31145/

[Anonymous]

What did kids with all these medical issues and therefore couldn't attend school do before the pandemic/virtual academy? And why can't we go back to that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A virtual program was already in the works before the pandemic moved everyone to online learning four years ago. Not sure what the long range plan was for the pre-covid virtual program and if it would have lasted this long or would have been as large (approx 800 students in MVA now, with many on a wait list? - if I heard that last part correctly at the meeting today).

Virtual programs had been discussed as a possibility in the past, but it is an overstatement to say one was "in the works."

Different models have been attempted. Outside of MCPS, my high school tried doing classes over video conferencing between schools to provide additional courses, but it didn't work well and was abandoned after a few years.

One already existed.

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/why-online-school-31145/

MCPS still has IIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did kids with all these medical issues and therefore couldn't attend school do before the pandemic/virtual academy? And why can't we go back to that?

We can and we will. But IIS is intended to temporary because in-person school is more effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did kids with all these medical issues and therefore couldn't attend school do before the pandemic/virtual academy? And why can't we go back to that?

Move forward, not back. Read more, folks. Things are not "going back". Move all of society forward not pull back. Allow those who use MVA because of medical reasons to continue doing so (they will have medical docs to show you). For others, a hybrid program. Too many needs not "enough" money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did kids with all these medical issues and therefore couldn't attend school do before the pandemic/virtual academy? And why can't we go back to that?

Move forward, not back. Read more, folks. Things are not "going back". Move all of society forward not pull back. Allow those who use MVA because of medical reasons to continue doing so (they will have medical docs to show you). For others, a hybrid program. Too many needs not "enough" money.

They could have done that, but it would have required effort 2-3 years ago. There simply aren't enough kids with medical issues requiring virtual instruction to operate MVA at a county level. Supporters could have spent the last two years lobbying for a state-level program, but many were actively hostile to the idea. What happened today was the inevitable result.