BOE/MCPS is a mess

[Anonymous]

I'm not an MCPS malconent, and if we had usernames around here, you could see that I'm generally someone who tries to see the best in the system. I supported the covid closures, and the reforms to the criteria-based magnets, and other items that folks are upset about.

What happened at the last BOE meeting was EGREGIOUS. If you have an elected represenetative body who votes on an agenda item and it fails, then it fails. You don't just keep voting until you get the answer you want.

Leaving alone the merits of the days off (weak), several board members did not feel that Dr. McKnight had made a strong case and they voted accordingly, as is their right as elected representatives.

I normally vote Apple Ballot, but I'll break to vote against Wolff the next time I have the chance. Process matters. Oversight matters. Division of labor between MCPS and the BOE matters.

[Anonymous]

This, not to mention her reorganization that hired tons more permanent staff in central office should prevent our temporary Sup from getting the FT job (despite being a minority female). She needs to go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
MCPS sock puppets are so easy to spot. No parent wants half days, not one. Why? Because it’s the worst of both worlds. Have to take time off work anyway but still get the kids to school in the morning.

Parents of middle-school and high-school students do not have to take time off work. Or, depending on the kid, get the kid to school in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not an MCPS malconent, and if we had usernames around here, you could see that I'm generally someone who tries to see the best in the system. I supported the covid closures, and the reforms to the criteria-based magnets, and other items that folks are upset about.

What happened at the last BOE meeting was EGREGIOUS. If you have an elected represenetative body who votes on an agenda item and it fails, then it fails. You don't just keep voting until you get the answer you want.

Leaving alone the merits of the days off (weak), several board members did not feel that Dr. McKnight had made a strong case and they voted accordingly, as is their right as elected representatives.

I normally vote Apple Ballot, but I'll break to vote against Wolff the next time I have the chance. Process matters. Oversight matters. Division of labor between MCPS and the BOE matters.

OK, but you'd better hope someone else from District 5 runs against her. Last time she ran unopposed.

https://ballotpedia.org/Brenda_Wolff

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it will backfire that she gave the principals all those extra paid vacation days. Yes, I'm sure that pleased the principals, but their teachers are incredibly resentful now and it's going to hurt their relationships with the people THEY supervise. It's like using cotton balls to plug a broken water pipe.

They did not get extra paid vacation days.

DP

Of course it’s extra paid vacation days. What else do you want to call it?

There were days that admin was required to work previously. Now, they are no longer required to work them, with this new schedule. Pay remains the same.

It’s extra paid vacation days.

+1,000,000 The MCPS public relations peeps are working overtime this weekend trying to cover for the idiot BOE.

Really? I wouldn't get worked up over something like this, and seems like a smart move by the BoE. The posts here mostly seem like the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything.

Yep, really.

It’s fine if you wouldn’t ‘get worked up’ about it. But it’s also fine for some taxpayers to be concerned about where their tax money is going. Also fair to point out that admin is getting a bunch of extra paid vacation days.

I mean, if the BOE is going to make adjustments, they should be able to defend those decisions.

MCPS sock puppets are so easy to spot. No parent wants half days, not one. Why? Because it’s the worst of both worlds. Have to take time off work anyway but still get the kids to school in the morning.

I am a parent and I love half days. Extra time with my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it will backfire that she gave the principals all those extra paid vacation days. Yes, I'm sure that pleased the principals, but their teachers are incredibly resentful now and it's going to hurt their relationships with the people THEY supervise. It's like using cotton balls to plug a broken water pipe.

They did not get extra paid vacation days.

DP

Of course it’s extra paid vacation days. What else do you want to call it?

There were days that admin was required to work previously. Now, they are no longer required to work them, with this new schedule. Pay remains the same.

It’s extra paid vacation days.

+1,000,000 The MCPS public relations peeps are working overtime this weekend trying to cover for the idiot BOE.

Really? I wouldn't get worked up over something like this, and seems like a smart move by the BoE. The posts here mostly seem like the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything.

Yep, really.

It’s fine if you wouldn’t ‘get worked up’ about it. But it’s also fine for some taxpayers to be concerned about where their tax money is going. Also fair to point out that admin is getting a bunch of extra paid vacation days.

I mean, if the BOE is going to make adjustments, they should be able to defend those decisions.

MCPS sock puppets are so easy to spot. No parent wants half days, not one. Why? Because it’s the worst of both worlds. Have to take time off work anyway but still get the kids to school in the morning.

I am a parent and I love half days. Extra time with my kids.

So all those working parents must not love their kids as much as you love yours!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it will backfire that she gave the principals all those extra paid vacation days. Yes, I'm sure that pleased the principals, but their teachers are incredibly resentful now and it's going to hurt their relationships with the people THEY supervise. It's like using cotton balls to plug a broken water pipe.

They did not get extra paid vacation days.

DP

Of course it’s extra paid vacation days. What else do you want to call it?

There were days that admin was required to work previously. Now, they are no longer required to work them, with this new schedule. Pay remains the same.

It’s extra paid vacation days.

+1,000,000 The MCPS public relations peeps are working overtime this weekend trying to cover for the idiot BOE.

Really? I wouldn't get worked up over something like this, and seems like a smart move by the BoE. The posts here mostly seem like the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything.

Yep, really.

It’s fine if you wouldn’t ‘get worked up’ about it. But it’s also fine for some taxpayers to be concerned about where their tax money is going. Also fair to point out that admin is getting a bunch of extra paid vacation days.

I mean, if the BOE is going to make adjustments, they should be able to defend those decisions.

MCPS sock puppets are so easy to spot. No parent wants half days, not one. Why? Because it’s the worst of both worlds. Have to take time off work anyway but still get the kids to school in the morning.

I am a parent and I love half days. Extra time with my kids.

So all those working parents must not love their kids as much as you love yours!

Guess they need to figure it out. Most schools have after care programs that are open that they'd be using anyway.

[Anonymous]

Why is MCPS and the Board considering changing the calendar mid-year? Why the need for extra half days that reduce instruction during a time that many students are trying to catch up from the regression caused by last year? Why do they feel school administrators need extra days off?

Less teaching, less work, same pay. A terrible way to run a school system. A terrible way to make up for last year’s nonsense and lost instructional days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:That meeting was an utter embarrassment. The BOE has no idea what it is doing. And it is so clearly rubber-stamping whatever MCPS wants.

When does the Board ever question MCPS? At least some on the Board questioned why MCPS didn’t provide the normal notice for the request. But rubber stamping is what the Board always tends to do and it seems like some on the Board were surprised by the challenge and need to discuss an agenda item.

No more extra half days and full days off. MCPS is an embarrassment.

Pretty clear from the transcript of the exchange that the president of the BOE is working in cahoots with the interim Supt. This is very bad for the future of MCPS.

Have to disagree. This made perfect sense. You nutjobs just hate public education.

Let's be real. The BoE says yes to what MCPS wants and MCPS says yes to what the teachers union wants. And the teachers union and MoCo politicians are in bed together. It's a huge system that works to protect adults with their own political agenda. No one here is really working for the kids.

This.

You know what’s really bad for public education? A corrupt, mess of a school system that doesn’t put kids first.

That was brought to light last year due to Covid and continues to be an issue.

Its always been a hot mess. You just weren't paying attention as kids were in person and you couldn't see what was going on nor cared.

I’m the PP. Oh, I agree! I have been saying that MCPS is a mess for years. I think that other parents are just now becoming more aware of how poorly run the school system actually is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it will backfire that she gave the principals all those extra paid vacation days. Yes, I'm sure that pleased the principals, but their teachers are incredibly resentful now and it's going to hurt their relationships with the people THEY supervise. It's like using cotton balls to plug a broken water pipe.

They did not get extra paid vacation days.

DP

Of course it’s extra paid vacation days. What else do you want to call it?

There were days that admin was required to work previously. Now, they are no longer required to work them, with this new schedule. Pay remains the same.

It’s extra paid vacation days.

+1,000,000 The MCPS public relations peeps are working overtime this weekend trying to cover for the idiot BOE.

Really? I wouldn't get worked up over something like this, and seems like a smart move by the BoE. The posts here mostly seem like the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything.

Smart move to waste your money. Don’t need any subs at your school,eh?

It's not going to cost them more money to declare those days systemwide closure days. It should even save money because all the 12-month staff won't be in the buildings.

Wow. Twisting yourself into all sorts of crazy pretzel logic knots to defend a stupid move.

Of course it costs money. These employees were supposed to work on this days. They get paid to work on this days. Now, they will NOT be working on those days, but taxpayers are still paying the employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is MCPS and the Board considering changing the calendar mid-year? Why the need for extra half days that reduce instruction during a time that many students are trying to catch up from the regression caused by last year? Why do they feel school administrators need extra days off?

Less teaching, less work, same pay. A terrible way to run a school system. A terrible way to make up for last year’s nonsense and lost instructional days.

Teachers have lost tons of time covering for absent colleagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it will backfire that she gave the principals all those extra paid vacation days. Yes, I'm sure that pleased the principals, but their teachers are incredibly resentful now and it's going to hurt their relationships with the people THEY supervise. It's like using cotton balls to plug a broken water pipe.

They did not get extra paid vacation days.

DP

Of course it’s extra paid vacation days. What else do you want to call it?

There were days that admin was required to work previously. Now, they are no longer required to work them, with this new schedule. Pay remains the same.

It’s extra paid vacation days.

+1,000,000 The MCPS public relations peeps are working overtime this weekend trying to cover for the idiot BOE.

Really? I wouldn't get worked up over something like this, and seems like a smart move by the BoE. The posts here mostly seem like the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything.

Smart move to waste your money. Don’t need any subs at your school,eh?

It's not going to cost them more money to declare those days systemwide closure days. It should even save money because all the 12-month staff won't be in the buildings.

But they are paying staff to not work.

They're salaried employees.

OK, so either they don't have enough work for a full time salary and missing few days is meaningless. Or stuff will not get done.

I thought subs / temps and a few others are all hourly, so yes, you are paying for those people.

Love it! Using the phrase "the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything" tells me that you really have no clue. I really didn't look into the board's activities until recently and if Kid Museum is any indication, these are not just "trivial matters" to sweep under the rug. Now I'm wondering what a full budget audit would reveal? How many millions in crumbs from the billion dollar budget fell off the table? That would be interesting.

There is plenty! Anyone who has been paying attention over the last 5-10 years could see how MCPS mismanaged funds. Dig around on threads here, and look up articles on local sources like Bethesda Beat.

MCPS is simply too large and corrupt. And has had a terrible lack of solid leadership recently. Kids suffer because of it, unfortunately. And parents (and taxpayers) foot the bill.

[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:I wonder if it will backfire that she gave the principals all those extra paid vacation days. Yes, I'm sure that pleased the principals, but their teachers are incredibly resentful now and it's going to hurt their relationships with the people THEY supervise. It's like using cotton balls to plug a broken water pipe.

They did not get extra paid vacation days.

DP

Of course it’s extra paid vacation days. What else do you want to call it?

There were days that admin was required to work previously. Now, they are no longer required to work them, with this new schedule. Pay remains the same.

It’s extra paid vacation days.

+1,000,000 The MCPS public relations peeps are working overtime this weekend trying to cover for the idiot BOE.

Really? I wouldn't get worked up over something like this, and seems like a smart move by the BoE. The posts here mostly seem like the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything.

Smart move to waste your money. Don’t need any subs at your school,eh?

It's not going to cost them more money to declare those days systemwide closure days. It should even save money because all the 12-month staff won't be in the buildings.

But they are paying staff to not work.

They're salaried employees.

OK, so either they don't have enough work for a full time salary and missing few days is meaningless. Or stuff will not get done.

I thought subs / temps and a few others are all hourly, so yes, you are paying for those people.

Love it! Using the phrase "the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything" tells me that you really have no clue. I really didn't look into the board's activities until recently and if Kid Museum is any indication, these are not just "trivial matters" to sweep under the rug. Now I'm wondering what a full budget audit would reveal? How many millions in crumbs from the billion dollar budget fell off the table? That would be interesting.

There is plenty! Anyone who has been paying attention over the last 5-10 years could see how MCPS mismanaged funds. Dig around on threads here, and look up articles on local sources like Bethesda Beat.

MCPS is simply too large and corrupt. And has had a terrible lack of solid leadership recently. Kids suffer because of it, unfortunately. And parents (and taxpayers) foot the bill.

So we spend a few million auditing to find a few million in crumbs. Or just accept that in any sufficient large organization there will be some loss.

The way retail outfits accept some level of shoplifting and internal theft as part of doing business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This, not to mention her reorganization that hired tons more permanent staff in central office should prevent our temporary Sup from getting the FT job (despite being a minority female). She needs to go!

Define "tons more."

[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:I wonder if it will backfire that she gave the principals all those extra paid vacation days. Yes, I'm sure that pleased the principals, but their teachers are incredibly resentful now and it's going to hurt their relationships with the people THEY supervise. It's like using cotton balls to plug a broken water pipe.

They did not get extra paid vacation days.

DP

Of course it’s extra paid vacation days. What else do you want to call it?

There were days that admin was required to work previously. Now, they are no longer required to work them, with this new schedule. Pay remains the same.

It’s extra paid vacation days.

+1,000,000 The MCPS public relations peeps are working overtime this weekend trying to cover for the idiot BOE.

Really? I wouldn't get worked up over something like this, and seems like a smart move by the BoE. The posts here mostly seem like the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything.

Smart move to waste your money. Don’t need any subs at your school,eh?

It's not going to cost them more money to declare those days systemwide closure days. It should even save money because all the 12-month staff won't be in the buildings.

But they are paying staff to not work.

They're salaried employees.

OK, so either they don't have enough work for a full time salary and missing few days is meaningless. Or stuff will not get done.

I thought subs / temps and a few others are all hourly, so yes, you are paying for those people.

Love it! Using the phrase "the same set of angry malcontents that like to complain about everything" tells me that you really have no clue. I really didn't look into the board's activities until recently and if Kid Museum is any indication, these are not just "trivial matters" to sweep under the rug. Now I'm wondering what a full budget audit would reveal? How many millions in crumbs from the billion dollar budget fell off the table? That would be interesting.

There is plenty! Anyone who has been paying attention over the last 5-10 years could see how MCPS mismanaged funds. Dig around on threads here, and look up articles on local sources like Bethesda Beat.

MCPS is simply too large and corrupt. And has had a terrible lack of solid leadership recently. Kids suffer because of it, unfortunately. And parents (and taxpayers) foot the bill.

So we spend a few million auditing to find a few million in crumbs. Or just accept that in any sufficient large organization there will be some loss.

The way retail outfits accept some level of shoplifting and internal theft as part of doing business.

Why would you spend a few millions on an audit???? What an idiot. That’s wasteful right there. Audits aren’t that expensive in the real world.