Washington Post article about Former Farquhar Administrator

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wrote to the BOE. Let's everyone write to BOE. They are responsible for oversight and direction over MCPS and have the authority to take action. Let's use the Beidleman case as the tip of the iceberg - we keep reading in this forum thread that teachers who filed complaints in other cases are blown off and faced retaliation - so he is a symptom of a more systemic problem. Demand independent investigation, not an employer-selected firm. Demand that the BOE carry out its oversight responsibilities including robust follow-up after the facts are known. Demand that the BOE be transparent about the scope and how it will carry out its oversight, as well as making public its findings and follow-up actions. These are reasonable and fundamental demands they can agree on. Do it today!

The BOE has reviewed and ignored similar cases of sexual harassment and bullying. Sometimes the victims were teachers. Sometimes the victims were students. They are complacent in ignoring serious complaints and the retaliation that occurs when a victim files a complaint.

Read the appeal process. Complaints are addressed in closed session by the Board. The victim doesn’t even have the right to be present. At most they can request an in person hearing but can be turned down by the board. The victim’s voice is silenced in their discussion while MCPS sends staff to speak behind victim’s backs in the closed session.

You are spot on. The board is a puppet, and the superintendent is the puppeteer.

When you appeal to the Board of Education, you can request a hearing, but the board will almost always deny it. They will then make an unfair decision which you cannot challenge in person. When you appeal to the State Board of Education, it's the same. You can request a hearing, but they will almost always deny it. The State Board will rubberstamp the County Board's decision.

If you persist and appeal to the Circuit Court, the judge has to have a hearing. But the judge is so reluctant to overturn the State Board's decision that they will always find a way to deny your appeal (they have all kinds of discretion).

The person who calls the shots in this whole process is the superintendent. That's how the administrative/judicial system works in Maryland.

If what you say is true, then how the hell did Joshua Starr get defanged and dethroned so easily by the board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is striking that there hasn't been any sort of protest. I can't organize or participate in one due to professional concerns (also sat out BLM protests for that reason) but damn. Where is all the #MeToo energy?

This is interesting.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/chair-of-county-council-education.html?m=1

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/21/jawando-takes-money-from-anti-union-law-firm/

"Jackson Lewis is one of the largest contributors to Jawando’s congressional campaign. Jawando should have disclosed that to the Post, and if he did not, they should have verified it for themselves."

Will Jawando praised Jackson Lewis as "a reputable law firm" but did not disclose that he received $3,900 from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is striking that there hasn't been any sort of protest. I can't organize or participate in one due to professional concerns (also sat out BLM protests for that reason) but damn. Where is all the #MeToo energy?

This is interesting.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/chair-of-county-council-education.html?m=1

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/21/jawando-takes-money-from-anti-union-law-firm/

"Jackson Lewis is one of the largest contributors to Jawando’s congressional campaign. Jawando should have disclosed that to the Post, and if he did not, they should have verified it for themselves."

Will Jawando praised Jackson Lewis as "a reputable law firm" but did not disclose that he received $3,900 from it.

Oooof! Clumsy.

[Anonymous]

MCEA's letter to teachers affected:
https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/18/mcea-blasts-mcps-hiring-of-anti-worker-law-firm/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is striking that there hasn't been any sort of protest. I can't organize or participate in one due to professional concerns (also sat out BLM protests for that reason) but damn. Where is all the #MeToo energy?

This is interesting.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/chair-of-county-council-education.html?m=1

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/21/jawando-takes-money-from-anti-union-law-firm/

"Jackson Lewis is one of the largest contributors to Jawando’s congressional campaign. Jawando should have disclosed that to the Post, and if he did not, they should have verified it for themselves."

Will Jawando praised Jackson Lewis as "a reputable law firm" but did not disclose that he received $3,900 from it.

No way- are you serious?! Oh my word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What steps have you taken to rectify this situation other than complaining here? Discuss

Are you suggesting that parents should be able to rectify the corrupt and ineffective public school system in Montgomery County?

Please do tell us how!

Actually, I think the PP is correct. People should take action beyond complaining on this board.

One thing would be to email/call your BoE representative and tell them you want to see a hearing on this topic. They have the ability to call McKnight in front of them and ask what she knew and when.

Another would be to lean on Jawando in particular and let him know that he should be calling for an impartial and independent investigation by a firm/organization unaffiliated with MCPS.

Jawando is running for Senate. This is a chance for him to grandstand if he thinks the political winds are blowing against MCPS

There should be a protest in front of the central office on 8/24 during the next BOE meeting. Invite the media and the public officials. Let advocates give speeches... Do this at every BOE meeting. This will put pressure on the BOE.

Where are the union and the PTA, who are supposed to represent the teachers?

If you think so, then get to work and start organizing.

No one in MoCo is going to protest over this. It’s not the character of people who live here. CO knows this well.

They protested against Trump, abortion, guns... but they won't protest against their own public school system protecting and promoting a serial sexual predator harassing many women over many years...

Wait. The superintendent is a big SJW, and all BOE members are SJWs.

No one in this county wants to stand up against SJWs because they're afraid of being cancelled even if what they're fighting for is legit.

LOL you need to get a life.

LOL am I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is striking that there hasn't been any sort of protest. I can't organize or participate in one due to professional concerns (also sat out BLM protests for that reason) but damn. Where is all the #MeToo energy?

This is interesting.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/chair-of-county-council-education.html?m=1

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/21/jawando-takes-money-from-anti-union-law-firm/

"Jackson Lewis is one of the largest contributors to Jawando’s congressional campaign. Jawando should have disclosed that to the Post, and if he did not, they should have verified it for themselves."

Will Jawando praised Jackson Lewis as "a reputable law firm" but did not disclose that he received $3,900 from it.

No way- are you serious?! Oh my word.

Why can't we get someone at the State level to come in and run this investigation? Even Mark Elrich suggested that.

[Anonymous]

The reality is that maybe 100 people care about this out of a million people. The CO knows this and also knows that they don’t have to do anything except get a report that exonerates them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that maybe 100 people care about this out of a million people. The CO knows this and also knows that they don’t have to do anything except get a report that exonerates them.

I think most people would have sympathy for the 18 victims that MCPS ignored. I think most people would find concern that efforts to email members of the Board of Education through their published email addresses were screened out by staff. I think most people would think something is incredibly broken in MCPS if this is the type of leadership that the top brass is promoting.

I think far more than 100 people care about what happened that caused 18 complaints to be completely ignored until the article was published in the Washington Post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that maybe 100 people care about this out of a million people. The CO knows this and also knows that they don’t have to do anything except get a report that exonerates them.

Sorry, Joel and Monica. I know that's what you like to think but not this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is striking that there hasn't been any sort of protest. I can't organize or participate in one due to professional concerns (also sat out BLM protests for that reason) but damn. Where is all the #MeToo energy?

This is interesting.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/chair-of-county-council-education.html?m=1

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/21/jawando-takes-money-from-anti-union-law-firm/

"Jackson Lewis is one of the largest contributors to Jawando’s congressional campaign. Jawando should have disclosed that to the Post, and if he did not, they should have verified it for themselves."

Will Jawando praised Jackson Lewis as "a reputable law firm" but did not disclose that he received $3,900 from it.

Oooof! Clumsy.

Clumsy? Borderline corrupt and unethical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that maybe 100 people care about this out of a million people. The CO knows this and also knows that they don’t have to do anything except get a report that exonerates them.

I think most people would have sympathy for the 18 victims that MCPS ignored. I think most people would find concern that efforts to email members of the Board of Education through their published email addresses were screened out by staff. I think most people would think something is incredibly broken in MCPS if this is the type of leadership that the top brass is promoting.

I think far more than 100 people care about what happened that caused 18 complaints to be completely ignored until the article was published in the Washington Post.

All of that is true as long as people keep caring about it. Most people have already moved on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCEA's letter to teachers affected:
https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/18/mcea-blasts-mcps-hiring-of-anti-worker-law-firm/

Nice of them to be concerned now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that maybe 100 people care about this out of a million people. The CO knows this and also knows that they don’t have to do anything except get a report that exonerates them.

Even if its one person that this impacted, it is one to many and not acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wrote to the BOE. Let's everyone write to BOE. They are responsible for oversight and direction over MCPS and have the authority to take action. Let's use the Beidleman case as the tip of the iceberg - we keep reading in this forum thread that teachers who filed complaints in other cases are blown off and faced retaliation - so he is a symptom of a more systemic problem. Demand independent investigation, not an employer-selected firm. Demand that the BOE carry out its oversight responsibilities including robust follow-up after the facts are known. Demand that the BOE be transparent about the scope and how it will carry out its oversight, as well as making public its findings and follow-up actions. These are reasonable and fundamental demands they can agree on. Do it today!

The BOE has reviewed and ignored similar cases of sexual harassment and bullying. Sometimes the victims were teachers. Sometimes the victims were students. They are complacent in ignoring serious complaints and the retaliation that occurs when a victim files a complaint.

Read the appeal process. Complaints are addressed in closed session by the Board. The victim doesn’t even have the right to be present. At most they can request an in person hearing but can be turned down by the board. The victim’s voice is silenced in their discussion while MCPS sends staff to speak behind victim’s backs in the closed session.

You are spot on. The board is a puppet, and the superintendent is the puppeteer.

When you appeal to the Board of Education, you can request a hearing, but the board will almost always deny it. They will then make an unfair decision which you cannot challenge in person. When you appeal to the State Board of Education, it's the same. You can request a hearing, but they will almost always deny it. The State Board will rubberstamp the County Board's decision.

If you persist and appeal to the Circuit Court, the judge has to have a hearing. But the judge is so reluctant to overturn the State Board's decision that they will always find a way to deny your appeal (they have all kinds of discretion).

The person who calls the shots in this whole process is the superintendent. That's how the administrative/judicial system works in Maryland.

If what you say is true, then how the hell did Joshua Starr get defanged and dethroned so easily by the board?

They didn't "defang" or "dethrone" him. What they did is they declined to renew his contract.