BOE - who are people voting for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ agree. Evan's backs the MCPS Central Office staff no matter what BS they feed her. Doesn't question a thing. She needs to go

I don't love Evans but I wish she had better challengers in this race. I don't think the two running against her are the right pick for what we need right now.

Mandel is way too far right for me. She has an extreme view of the world of education that is out of step with most of the county. It will be good if she loses the primary so she no longer has a platform to spew some of the stuff that she believes in.

Laura Stewart seems to be a nice person but I don't think she has the experience or chops to do much of anything other than to say nice things and be yet another middle aged white empty nest social justice warrior. Some of the stuff she's said in the past is also pretty extreme, just on the other end of the spectrum as Mandel.

I think it's telling that Stewart is afraid of her prior statements that she turned her twitter page to private the day she declared as a candidate. She used that for years to publicly advocate for change in the county but I think it says a lot that she now wants to hide from it. No backbone there to stand up for what she believes, which is too extreme for my taste anyway, but I'd at least like to give her credit for standing up for her ideals rather than running from them when it's politically expedient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

I don't think that's fair or remotely accurate. Stewart seems great and isn't an incumbent. Also,, it's not just me. She';s endorsed by the Apple ballot.

Yes - if you want another stay at home mom social justice warrior who is going to say nice things but then be a yes-man to MCPS, the union, etc. then you should indeed vote for status quo Stewart. The Apple Ballot has always picked the best BOE members. Just look at all the trail blazing work that their last picks in 2022 have done.

I think Julie Yang and Grace Rivera-Oven have both been doing a good job as members.

+1 I love the way they handled the Biedelman situation and negotiating for McKnight’s exit. We need more of that which is why I’m voting straight apple ballot

You like the $1mln+ payout that McKnight received? That money could have been spent on students instead. If they had the guts to fire her for cause instead of negotiating a golden parachute deal.

No it could not have been spent on students. It was paid out from insurance. It could have been spent on nothing else except legal payouts - which I agree MCPS has way too many of, but it did not take away money from students or buildings.

Insurance - really? For a voluntary act on the part of the BOE in firing the superintendent. Could you share the type of insurance this is?

Montgomery County self insurance fund which MCPS pays into and is part of.

The premiums for which now go up due to the increased experience rate, taking money from general funds that otherwise could be used for students/buildings.

How much do you think the rates would have gone up if instead double that amount of money was spent on legal litigation fees?

[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:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

I don't think that's fair or remotely accurate. Stewart seems great and isn't an incumbent. Also,, it's not just me. She';s endorsed by the Apple ballot.

Yes - if you want another stay at home mom social justice warrior who is going to say nice things but then be a yes-man to MCPS, the union, etc. then you should indeed vote for status quo Stewart. The Apple Ballot has always picked the best BOE members. Just look at all the trail blazing work that their last picks in 2022 have done.

I think Julie Yang and Grace Rivera-Oven have both been doing a good job as members.

+1 I love the way they handled the Biedelman situation and negotiating for McKnight’s exit. We need more of that which is why I’m voting straight apple ballot

You like the $1mln+ payout that McKnight received? That money could have been spent on students instead. If they had the guts to fire her for cause instead of negotiating a golden parachute deal.

No it could not have been spent on students. It was paid out from insurance. It could have been spent on nothing else except legal payouts - which I agree MCPS has way too many of, but it did not take away money from students or buildings.

Insurance - really? For a voluntary act on the part of the BOE in firing the superintendent. Could you share the type of insurance this is?

Montgomery County self insurance fund which MCPS pays into and is part of.

The premiums for which now go up due to the increased experience rate, taking money from general funds that otherwise could be used for students/buildings.

How much do you think the rates would have gone up if instead double that amount of money was spent on legal litigation fees?

Not as much had they been spent on illegal litigation fees. Badum dah. I’ll be here all night. Don’t forget to tip your waitress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

Shebra has a lot of experience, but little to show for it. I'm voting for Stewart.

That is my thinking as well.

Stewart seems too inexperienced for the job in my mind. I don't love voting for any incumbent for BOE right now, but I'm leaning toward voting for Shebra Evans over Laura Stewart. Laura has done good work for her kids' PTA in the past, but I think she will be in over her head and get steam-rolled by mcps admins. She also reminds me too much of Lynne Harris - someone who says a lot of stuff that resonates with me as a progressive minded liberal, but very lacking in action and substance when it counts.

Laura Stewart could not even shift the culture of the MCCPTA, where she was very active. Like many others, she got comfortable with her proximity and access to power and started to tow the party line rather than holding the school system and the board accountable for its failures.

Ugoddabekiddinme.

And there's noone who toed the MCPS upper admin line more than Evans, who actually has had oversight responsibility during her eight-year incumbency.

Exactly. Happily casting my vote for Stewart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ agree. Evan's backs the MCPS Central Office staff no matter what BS they feed her. Doesn't question a thing. She needs to go

I don't love Evans but I wish she had better challengers in this race. I don't think the two running against her are the right pick for what we need right now.

Mandel is way too far right for me. She has an extreme view of the world of education that is out of step with most of the county. It will be good if she loses the primary so she no longer has a platform to spew some of the stuff that she believes in.

Laura Stewart seems to be a nice person but I don't think she has the experience or chops to do much of anything other than to say nice things and be yet another middle aged white empty nest social justice warrior. Some of the stuff she's said in the past is also pretty extreme, just on the other end of the spectrum as Mandel.

I think it's telling that Stewart is afraid of her prior statements that she turned her twitter page to private the day she declared as a candidate. She used that for years to publicly advocate for change in the county but I think it says a lot that she now wants to hide from it. No backbone there to stand up for what she believes, which is too extreme for my taste anyway, but I'd at least like to give her credit for standing up for her ideals rather than running from them when it's politically expedient.

This seems a bit misinformed. There's so much partisan drivel here. People should do their own research and failing that just use the Apple ballot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

Shebra has a lot of experience, but little to show for it. I'm voting for Stewart.

That is my thinking as well.

Stewart seems too inexperienced for the job in my mind. I don't love voting for any incumbent for BOE right now, but I'm leaning toward voting for Shebra Evans over Laura Stewart. Laura has done good work for her kids' PTA in the past, but I think she will be in over her head and get steam-rolled by mcps admins. She also reminds me too much of Lynne Harris - someone who says a lot of stuff that resonates with me as a progressive minded liberal, but very lacking in action and substance when it counts.

Laura Stewart could not even shift the culture of the MCCPTA, where she was very active. Like many others, she got comfortable with her proximity and access to power and started to tow the party line rather than holding the school system and the board accountable for its failures.

Ugoddabekiddinme.

And there's noone who toed the MCPS upper admin line more than Evans, who actually has had oversight responsibility during her eight-year incumbency.

Exactly. Happily casting my vote for Stewart.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

Shebra has a lot of experience, but little to show for it. I'm voting for Stewart.

That is my thinking as well.

Stewart seems too inexperienced for the job in my mind. I don't love voting for any incumbent for BOE right now, but I'm leaning toward voting for Shebra Evans over Laura Stewart. Laura has done good work for her kids' PTA in the past, but I think she will be in over her head and get steam-rolled by mcps admins. She also reminds me too much of Lynne Harris - someone who says a lot of stuff that resonates with me as a progressive minded liberal, but very lacking in action and substance when it counts.

Laura Stewart could not even shift the culture of the MCCPTA, where she was very active. Like many others, she got comfortable with her proximity and access to power and started to tow the party line rather than holding the school system and the board accountable for its failures.

Ugoddabekiddinme.

And there's noone who toed the MCPS upper admin line more than Evans, who actually has had oversight responsibility during her eight-year incumbency.

Exactly. Happily casting my vote for Stewart.

Yes - Apple Ballot all the way. They’ve done a great job picking this current BOE so we need to keep it going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ agree. Evan's backs the MCPS Central Office staff no matter what BS they feed her. Doesn't question a thing. She needs to go

I don't love Evans but I wish she had better challengers in this race. I don't think the two running against her are the right pick for what we need right now.

Mandel is way too far right for me. She has an extreme view of the world of education that is out of step with most of the county. It will be good if she loses the primary so she no longer has a platform to spew some of the stuff that she believes in.

Laura Stewart seems to be a nice person but I don't think she has the experience or chops to do much of anything other than to say nice things and be yet another middle aged white empty nest social justice warrior. Some of the stuff she's said in the past is also pretty extreme, just on the other end of the spectrum as Mandel.

I think it's telling that Stewart is afraid of her prior statements that she turned her twitter page to private the day she declared as a candidate. She used that for years to publicly advocate for change in the county but I think it says a lot that she now wants to hide from it. No backbone there to stand up for what she believes, which is too extreme for my taste anyway, but I'd at least like to give her credit for standing up for her ideals rather than running from them when it's politically expedient.

This seems a bit misinformed. There's so much partisan drivel here. People should do their own research and failing that just use the Apple ballot.

+1 for the apple ballot. I remember when they endorsed Shebra Evans and that was a great pick!

[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:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

I don't think that's fair or remotely accurate. Stewart seems great and isn't an incumbent. Also,, it's not just me. She';s endorsed by the Apple ballot.

Yes - if you want another stay at home mom social justice warrior who is going to say nice things but then be a yes-man to MCPS, the union, etc. then you should indeed vote for status quo Stewart. The Apple Ballot has always picked the best BOE members. Just look at all the trail blazing work that their last picks in 2022 have done.

I think Julie Yang and Grace Rivera-Oven have both been doing a good job as members.

+1 I love the way they handled the Biedelman situation and negotiating for McKnight’s exit. We need more of that which is why I’m voting straight apple ballot

You like the $1mln+ payout that McKnight received? That money could have been spent on students instead. If they had the guts to fire her for cause instead of negotiating a golden parachute deal.

No it could not have been spent on students. It was paid out from insurance. It could have been spent on nothing else except legal payouts - which I agree MCPS has way too many of, but it did not take away money from students or buildings.

Insurance - really? For a voluntary act on the part of the BOE in firing the superintendent. Could you share the type of insurance this is?

Montgomery County self insurance fund which MCPS pays into and is part of.

The premiums for which now go up due to the increased experience rate, taking money from general funds that otherwise could be used for students/buildings.

How much do you think the rates would have gone up if instead double that amount of money was spent on legal litigation fees?

It shouldn't have costed $1million+. McKnight messed up and she could have been fired for cause. The independent auditor report on the Beidelman fiasco confirmed her mismanagement.

MCPS BOE just didn't have the backbone to fire for cause, even though it was justified and would have saved money. They took the easy way out. That's not leadership.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

I don't think that's fair or remotely accurate. Stewart seems great and isn't an incumbent. Also,, it's not just me. She';s endorsed by the Apple ballot.

Yes - if you want another stay at home mom social justice warrior who is going to say nice things but then be a yes-man to MCPS, the union, etc. then you should indeed vote for status quo Stewart. The Apple Ballot has always picked the best BOE members. Just look at all the trail blazing work that their last picks in 2022 have done.

I think Julie Yang and Grace Rivera-Oven have both been doing a good job as members.

+1 I love the way they handled the Biedelman situation and negotiating for McKnight’s exit. We need more of that which is why I’m voting straight apple ballot

You like the $1mln+ payout that McKnight received? That money could have been spent on students instead. If they had the guts to fire her for cause instead of negotiating a golden parachute deal.

No it could not have been spent on students. It was paid out from insurance. It could have been spent on nothing else except legal payouts - which I agree MCPS has way too many of, but it did not take away money from students or buildings.

Insurance - really? For a voluntary act on the part of the BOE in firing the superintendent. Could you share the type of insurance this is?

Montgomery County self insurance fund which MCPS pays into and is part of.

The premiums for which now go up due to the increased experience rate, taking money from general funds that otherwise could be used for students/buildings.

How much do you think the rates would have gone up if instead double that amount of money was spent on legal litigation fees?

It shouldn't have costed $1million+. McKnight messed up and she could have been fired for cause. The independent auditor report on the Beidelman fiasco confirmed her mismanagement.

MCPS BOE just didn't have the backbone to fire for cause, even though it was justified and would have saved money. They took the easy way out. That's not leadership.

Laura Stewart has the backbone to fight these types of fights. Just like the BOE members who the apple ballot endorsed in 2022, she would have gone public with her reasons for not settling and seeking real accountability. Just like them, she would have voted no on the settlement package and stood up for what’s right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ agree. Evan's backs the MCPS Central Office staff no matter what BS they feed her. Doesn't question a thing. She needs to go

I don't love Evans but I wish she had better challengers in this race. I don't think the two running against her are the right pick for what we need right now.

Mandel is way too far right for me. She has an extreme view of the world of education that is out of step with most of the county. It will be good if she loses the primary so she no longer has a platform to spew some of the stuff that she believes in.

Laura Stewart seems to be a nice person but I don't think she has the experience or chops to do much of anything other than to say nice things and be yet another middle aged white empty nest social justice warrior. Some of the stuff she's said in the past is also pretty extreme, just on the other end of the spectrum as Mandel.

I think it's telling that Stewart is afraid of her prior statements that she turned her twitter page to private the day she declared as a candidate. She used that for years to publicly advocate for change in the county but I think it says a lot that she now wants to hide from it. No backbone there to stand up for what she believes, which is too extreme for my taste anyway, but I'd at least like to give her credit for standing up for her ideals rather than running from them when it's politically expedient.

This seems a bit misinformed. There's so much partisan drivel here. People should do their own research and failing that just use the Apple ballot.

+1 for the apple ballot. I remember when they endorsed Shebra Evans and that was a great pick!

at least they've learned from their mistakes

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

I don't think that's fair or remotely accurate. Stewart seems great and isn't an incumbent. Also,, it's not just me. She';s endorsed by the Apple ballot.

Yes - if you want another stay at home mom social justice warrior who is going to say nice things but then be a yes-man to MCPS, the union, etc. then you should indeed vote for status quo Stewart. The Apple Ballot has always picked the best BOE members. Just look at all the trail blazing work that their last picks in 2022 have done.

I think Julie Yang and Grace Rivera-Oven have both been doing a good job as members.

+1 I love the way they handled the Biedelman situation and negotiating for McKnight’s exit. We need more of that which is why I’m voting straight apple ballot

You like the $1mln+ payout that McKnight received? That money could have been spent on students instead. If they had the guts to fire her for cause instead of negotiating a golden parachute deal.

No it could not have been spent on students. It was paid out from insurance. It could have been spent on nothing else except legal payouts - which I agree MCPS has way too many of, but it did not take away money from students or buildings.

Insurance - really? For a voluntary act on the part of the BOE in firing the superintendent. Could you share the type of insurance this is?

Montgomery County self insurance fund which MCPS pays into and is part of.

The premiums for which now go up due to the increased experience rate, taking money from general funds that otherwise could be used for students/buildings.

How much do you think the rates would have gone up if instead double that amount of money was spent on legal litigation fees?

It shouldn't have costed $1million+. McKnight messed up and she could have been fired for cause. The independent auditor report on the Beidelman fiasco confirmed her mismanagement.

MCPS BOE just didn't have the backbone to fire for cause, even though it was justified and would have saved money. They took the easy way out. That's not leadership.

Laura Stewart has the backbone to fight these types of fights. Just like the BOE members who the apple ballot endorsed in 2022, she would have gone public with her reasons for not settling and seeking real accountability. Just like them, she would have voted no on the settlement package and stood up for what’s right.

The settlement package seemed fine to me. I mean McK after all did take the fall for the board and its failings.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

I don't think that's fair or remotely accurate. Stewart seems great and isn't an incumbent. Also,, it's not just me. She';s endorsed by the Apple ballot.

Yes - if you want another stay at home mom social justice warrior who is going to say nice things but then be a yes-man to MCPS, the union, etc. then you should indeed vote for status quo Stewart. The Apple Ballot has always picked the best BOE members. Just look at all the trail blazing work that their last picks in 2022 have done.

I think Julie Yang and Grace Rivera-Oven have both been doing a good job as members.

+1 I love the way they handled the Biedelman situation and negotiating for McKnight’s exit. We need more of that which is why I’m voting straight apple ballot

You like the $1mln+ payout that McKnight received? That money could have been spent on students instead. If they had the guts to fire her for cause instead of negotiating a golden parachute deal.

No it could not have been spent on students. It was paid out from insurance. It could have been spent on nothing else except legal payouts - which I agree MCPS has way too many of, but it did not take away money from students or buildings.

Insurance - really? For a voluntary act on the part of the BOE in firing the superintendent. Could you share the type of insurance this is?

Montgomery County self insurance fund which MCPS pays into and is part of.

The premiums for which now go up due to the increased experience rate, taking money from general funds that otherwise could be used for students/buildings.

How much do you think the rates would have gone up if instead double that amount of money was spent on legal litigation fees?

It shouldn't have costed $1million+. McKnight messed up and she could have been fired for cause. The independent auditor report on the Beidelman fiasco confirmed her mismanagement.

MCPS BOE just didn't have the backbone to fire for cause, even though it was justified and would have saved money. They took the easy way out. That's not leadership.

Laura Stewart has the backbone to fight these types of fights. Just like the BOE members who the apple ballot endorsed in 2022, she would have gone public with her reasons for not settling and seeking real accountability. Just like them, she would have voted no on the settlement package and stood up for what’s right.

I voted for Stewart in 4 as well. I've watched Ms Evans during Board meetings over the years, and want someone who questions MCPS staff more vigorously.

[Anonymous]

I've seen Stewart testify before the Board before, and have seen her ask the tough questions. Will be interesting watching MCPS staff squirm when they are accountable to her and can't blow her off

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest MoCo? Decided on your votes?

Yes except for district 4. I don’t love Shebra but her challengers are really extreme and inexperienced.

I don't think that's fair or remotely accurate. Stewart seems great and isn't an incumbent. Also,, it's not just me. She';s endorsed by the Apple ballot.

Yes - if you want another stay at home mom social justice warrior who is going to say nice things but then be a yes-man to MCPS, the union, etc. then you should indeed vote for status quo Stewart. The Apple Ballot has always picked the best BOE members. Just look at all the trail blazing work that their last picks in 2022 have done.

I think Julie Yang and Grace Rivera-Oven have both been doing a good job as members.

+1 I love the way they handled the Biedelman situation and negotiating for McKnight’s exit. We need more of that which is why I’m voting straight apple ballot

You like the $1mln+ payout that McKnight received? That money could have been spent on students instead. If they had the guts to fire her for cause instead of negotiating a golden parachute deal.

No it could not have been spent on students. It was paid out from insurance. It could have been spent on nothing else except legal payouts - which I agree MCPS has way too many of, but it did not take away money from students or buildings.

Insurance - really? For a voluntary act on the part of the BOE in firing the superintendent. Could you share the type of insurance this is?

Montgomery County self insurance fund which MCPS pays into and is part of.

The premiums for which now go up due to the increased experience rate, taking money from general funds that otherwise could be used for students/buildings.

How much do you think the rates would have gone up if instead double that amount of money was spent on legal litigation fees?

It shouldn't have costed $1million+. McKnight messed up and she could have been fired for cause. The independent auditor report on the Beidelman fiasco confirmed her mismanagement.

MCPS BOE just didn't have the backbone to fire for cause, even though it was justified and would have saved money. They took the easy way out. That's not leadership.

Laura Stewart has the backbone to fight these types of fights. Just like the BOE members who the apple ballot endorsed in 2022, she would have gone public with her reasons for not settling and seeking real accountability. Just like them, she would have voted no on the settlement package and stood up for what’s right.

I voted for Stewart in 4 as well. I've watched Ms Evans during Board meetings over the years, and want someone who questions MCPS staff more vigorously.

+1 I saw Laura Stewart at work advocating the county council on behalf of real estate developers to push the burden of impact fees and taxes away from the developers themselves and onto ordinary moco residents. Very fierce advocate and very effective in getting the tax increase through.