Board wants Monifa to step down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

We need a dynamic, competent, transparent leader. We need a change agent, champion. Anything less will not allow the system to move on, improve or attract strong leaders for schools and high level central office jobs.

Agree 100% but were more likely to get more equity.

+1 There should be a national search for the best candidate. As one of the country’s largest school districts, it’s hard to believe that McKnight was the best and most qualified candidate to lead such a large and complex system, and it will be equally hard to believe that her replacement sits at MCPS CO right now. Enough of the contest between who “knows MCPS the best” or who’s bffs with BOE members. An outsider with a mandate to turn things around is what’s needed.

They will do a national search. MCPS will probably use Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates for that search. Jack Smith is a consultant with that firm now. I think it would be helpful, if this firm is chosen for the search, if Jack Smith not participate in the work. He elevated McKnight.

Jack Smith can’t be anywhere near this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

We need a dynamic, competent, transparent leader. We need a change agent, champion. Anything less will not allow the system to move on, improve or attract strong leaders for schools and high level central office jobs.

Agree 100% but were more likely to get more equity.

+1 There should be a national search for the best candidate. As one of the country’s largest school districts, it’s hard to believe that McKnight was the best and most qualified candidate to lead such a large and complex system, and it will be equally hard to believe that her replacement sits at MCPS CO right now. Enough of the contest between who “knows MCPS the best” or who’s bffs with BOE members. An outsider with a mandate to turn things around is what’s needed.

They will do a national search. MCPS will probably use Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates for that search. Jack Smith is a consultant with that firm now. I think it would be helpful, if this firm is chosen for the search, if Jack Smith not participate in the work. He elevated McKnight.

Jack Smith can’t be anywhere near this.

He will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

My memory is a lot different than yours. Joftus did in fact make a significant impression during his short time on the board. He regularly asked questions of staff, especially about inconsistencies and unclear language, trying to bring about more coherence to how central office worked. Most importantly, it seemed the rest of the board members liked and respected him, and valued his expertise. (Perhaps Julie Yang wouldn't be likely to vote for the person she defeated in the election, though.)

Welp, I think I’ll stick with my recollection and that of the county voters who thought he did such a great job that they voted him out of office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

My memory is a lot different than yours. Joftus did in fact make a significant impression during his short time on the board. He regularly asked questions of staff, especially about inconsistencies and unclear language, trying to bring about more coherence to how central office worked. Most importantly, it seemed the rest of the board members liked and respected him, and valued his expertise. (Perhaps Julie Yang wouldn't be likely to vote for the person she defeated in the election, though.)

Welp, I think I’ll stick with my recollection and that of the county voters who thought he did such a great job that they voted him out of office.

I didn’t vote for him because of the Kid Museum corruption. He did an OK job otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

My memory is a lot different than yours. Joftus did in fact make a significant impression during his short time on the board. He regularly asked questions of staff, especially about inconsistencies and unclear language, trying to bring about more coherence to how central office worked. Most importantly, it seemed the rest of the board members liked and respected him, and valued his expertise. (Perhaps Julie Yang wouldn't be likely to vote for the person she defeated in the election, though.)

A significant impression among whom exactly? Clearly not voters. And why is the fact that the rest of the BOE liked him the “most important”? I personally hold it against him that he was able to endear himself to this board.

He was hand-picked by the current BOE to fill a vacancy and then got trounced in the first election he faced with actual voters. He barely got more votes than the guy who was on the ballot but literally did so little campaigning that people had no idea who he was. I guess we differ on who he needed to make an impression on. Nothing says “the change maker we need” like the BOE again picking the same guy they picked before who barely cracked 30% of the vote as an incumbent.

[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:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

We need a dynamic, competent, transparent leader. We need a change agent, champion. Anything less will not allow the system to move on, improve or attract strong leaders for schools and high level central office jobs.

Agree 100% but were more likely to get more equity.

+1 There should be a national search for the best candidate. As one of the country’s largest school districts, it’s hard to believe that McKnight was the best and most qualified candidate to lead such a large and complex system, and it will be equally hard to believe that her replacement sits at MCPS CO right now. Enough of the contest between who “knows MCPS the best” or who’s bffs with BOE members. An outsider with a mandate to turn things around is what’s needed.

They will do a national search. MCPS will probably use Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates for that search. Jack Smith is a consultant with that firm now. I think it would be helpful, if this firm is chosen for the search, if Jack Smith not participate in the work. He elevated McKnight.

Jack Smith can’t be anywhere near this.

He will be.

No he will not, obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

We need a dynamic, competent, transparent leader. We need a change agent, champion. Anything less will not allow the system to move on, improve or attract strong leaders for schools and high level central office jobs.

Agree 100% but were more likely to get more equity.

+1 There should be a national search for the best candidate. As one of the country’s largest school districts, it’s hard to believe that McKnight was the best and most qualified candidate to lead such a large and complex system, and it will be equally hard to believe that her replacement sits at MCPS CO right now. Enough of the contest between who “knows MCPS the best” or who’s bffs with BOE members. An outsider with a mandate to turn things around is what’s needed.

How long have you had kids in this county? I don't think MCPS has had a truly successful "national" search since Josh Starr left in 2015. MCPS can not seem to close the deal with "national-level" candidates. Searches since Josh Starr have been hampered by delays, lots of candidates dropping out, etc. People do not want to move here for this job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

My memory is a lot different than yours. Joftus did in fact make a significant impression during his short time on the board. He regularly asked questions of staff, especially about inconsistencies and unclear language, trying to bring about more coherence to how central office worked. Most importantly, it seemed the rest of the board members liked and respected him, and valued his expertise. (Perhaps Julie Yang wouldn't be likely to vote for the person she defeated in the election, though.)

A significant impression among whom exactly? Clearly not voters. And why is the fact that the rest of the BOE liked him the “most important”? I personally hold it against him that he was able to endear himself to this board.

He was hand-picked by the current BOE to fill a vacancy and then got trounced in the first election he faced with actual voters. He barely got more votes than the guy who was on the ballot but literally did so little campaigning that people had no idea who he was. I guess we differ on who he needed to make an impression on. Nothing says “the change maker we need” like the BOE again picking the same guy they picked before who barely cracked 30% of the vote as an incumbent.

We're theoretically talking about an interim appointment that the board has to make quickly, before a national search is conducted. They will want someone they have a good sense of, who has experience working with public school systems, who has some connection to MCPS, but who isn't caught up in McKnight's network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

My memory is a lot different than yours. Joftus did in fact make a significant impression during his short time on the board. He regularly asked questions of staff, especially about inconsistencies and unclear language, trying to bring about more coherence to how central office worked. Most importantly, it seemed the rest of the board members liked and respected him, and valued his expertise. (Perhaps Julie Yang wouldn't be likely to vote for the person she defeated in the election, though.)

A significant impression among whom exactly? Clearly not voters. And why is the fact that the rest of the BOE liked him the “most important”? I personally hold it against him that he was able to endear himself to this board.

He was hand-picked by the current BOE to fill a vacancy and then got trounced in the first election he faced with actual voters. He barely got more votes than the guy who was on the ballot but literally did so little campaigning that people had no idea who he was. I guess we differ on who he needed to make an impression on. Nothing says “the change maker we need” like the BOE again picking the same guy they picked before who barely cracked 30% of the vote as an incumbent.

We're theoretically talking about an interim appointment that the board has to make quickly, before a national search is conducted. They will want someone they have a good sense of, who has experience working with public school systems, who has some connection to MCPS, but who isn't caught up in McKnight's network.

How about the former PGCPS Superintendent for the interim only?

[Anonymous]

McKnight has not even been fired yet. Why does anyone think the board is going to fire her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

My memory is a lot different than yours. Joftus did in fact make a significant impression during his short time on the board. He regularly asked questions of staff, especially about inconsistencies and unclear language, trying to bring about more coherence to how central office worked. Most importantly, it seemed the rest of the board members liked and respected him, and valued his expertise. (Perhaps Julie Yang wouldn't be likely to vote for the person she defeated in the election, though.)

A significant impression among whom exactly? Clearly not voters. And why is the fact that the rest of the BOE liked him the “most important”? I personally hold it against him that he was able to endear himself to this board.

He was hand-picked by the current BOE to fill a vacancy and then got trounced in the first election he faced with actual voters. He barely got more votes than the guy who was on the ballot but literally did so little campaigning that people had no idea who he was. I guess we differ on who he needed to make an impression on. Nothing says “the change maker we need” like the BOE again picking the same guy they picked before who barely cracked 30% of the vote as an incumbent.

We're theoretically talking about an interim appointment that the board has to make quickly, before a national search is conducted. They will want someone they have a good sense of, who has experience working with public school systems, who has some connection to MCPS, but who isn't caught up in McKnight's network.

How about the former PGCPS Superintendent for the interim only?

Monica Goldson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McKnight has not even been fired yet. Why does anyone think the board is going to fire her?

Watch the news tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Moco 360 article is alarming on a number of fronts. We have a school district that is at least $50 million in the red this fiscal year (maybe more, probably) and a superintendent focused on negotiating her separation agreement with the BOE. Many leaders appointed by the superintendent are problematic, per the article.

Who does the board appoint as interim superintendent when the time comes?

Honestly, this is the biggest conundrum we face. Brian Hull, who was named acting sup when Monifa was out on sick leave is not a good option, since he's at the heart of many of the scandals rocking MCPS including:

- Massive safety and security failures
- The Khalid Walker retaliation and meddling
- The budget deficits

And now, Stephanie Sheron has been implicated as being a McKnight acolyte so she's tainted too. I don't know who's up next. The bench is nonexistent.

You need new leadership to build up the bench. McKnight will just continue to hire her buddies.

What if the board brought back Scott Joftus for an interim super appointment? He actually has expertise in this field. (Yes, I know the Kid Museum-haters will not go for this idea.)

+1M; would love it if Joftus were appointed for this role & know he cares deeply about the district. Would be a great play.

I don’t think it would be wise for the BOE to remove a superintendent and install a person who lost an election. Doesn’t really scream “we hear the public sentiment”. also, while he was on the board he was largely ineffective. Rarely asked questions or seemed engaged during meetings, never remember him challenging MCPS staff at all. His credentials speak for themselves but he’s not the type we need right now.

My memory is a lot different than yours. Joftus did in fact make a significant impression during his short time on the board. He regularly asked questions of staff, especially about inconsistencies and unclear language, trying to bring about more coherence to how central office worked. Most importantly, it seemed the rest of the board members liked and respected him, and valued his expertise. (Perhaps Julie Yang wouldn't be likely to vote for the person she defeated in the election, though.)

A significant impression among whom exactly? Clearly not voters. And why is the fact that the rest of the BOE liked him the “most important”? I personally hold it against him that he was able to endear himself to this board.

He was hand-picked by the current BOE to fill a vacancy and then got trounced in the first election he faced with actual voters. He barely got more votes than the guy who was on the ballot but literally did so little campaigning that people had no idea who he was. I guess we differ on who he needed to make an impression on. Nothing says “the change maker we need” like the BOE again picking the same guy they picked before who barely cracked 30% of the vote as an incumbent.

We're theoretically talking about an interim appointment that the board has to make quickly, before a national search is conducted. They will want someone they have a good sense of, who has experience working with public school systems, who has some connection to MCPS, but who isn't caught up in McKnight's network.

How about the former PGCPS Superintendent for the interim only?

Monica Goldson?

Yes, a quick turn around is needed. It can't be anyone who needs to move here. And she was good for our PG neighbors.

If not her, who are some others who are local and available?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKnight has not even been fired yet. Why does anyone think the board is going to fire her?

Watch the news tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKnight has not even been fired yet. Why does anyone think the board is going to fire her?

Watch the news tomorrow.

What time will they announce that they’re firing her? That means she’ll get one year severance, am I correct?