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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I like that he is willing to acknowledge the many entrenched problems MCPS faces, and isn't pretending everything's been going just fine. He doesn't speak in incomprehensible word salads like the previous two superintendents. Yes, it will take some time for him to truly have major accomplishments, but I'm feeling better about his chances to do so.[/quote]

See, I felt that way initially. And I think if you only pay attention to him and MCPS at a surface level, you'll walk away with this POV.

But in my observation of him, Taylor SAYS the right things but does none of them.

For example: He TALKED about stabilizing and getting things on track with special ed, but nothing has changed for special ed in the most meaningful ways that parents and teachers have been asking for. He TALKS about the additional staff added but most of those special ed staff being added are just part-time staff conversions. There is no PLAN for putting special ed on a better path a YEAR later, despite him listening and acknowledging how bad the situation is in MCPS. Again, at this point, we should have seen a plan for improvement.

He talked about safety and security being his "number one priority." What has he done to drastically improve on this number one priority? Nothing. Chief Jones is absent.

He talked about increasing transparency and accountability, but MCPS has been caught and called out time and time again during his first year for ducking journalists, parents and advocates, and obscuring its processes, decision making and planning.[/quote]

I’m not advocating for or against Taylor but I think there is some expectation setting needed with MCPS stakeholders. Using the examples listed above:
Converting a bunch of part time Paras to Fulltime is actually something because it makes the job more attractive which can improve hiring and retention. It also potentially creates more time for one resource to be working in one place. He requested additional Spec Ed teachers. Now yes there needs to be a whole salary and recruitment plan to go with that, but even setting the position up and getting funding for them is a process.

Security. Evaluations of schools have happened, new security teams members are in the budget, processs/procedures/training is being aligned, etc. Contrary to popular belief you can just purchase hundreds of millions of dollars of metal detectors, install them in schools and then viola everything will be better.  What that is in window dressing to make people feel better while not actually doing much. Also, part of the issues that people complain about as security problems are actually issues are special education and discipline which the chief of security can’t solve alone or with the snap of his fingers.  That’s why the score of Conduct has to be updated and people trained on it and trained in enforcing appropriately.

Transparency and Accountability.  Yes absolutely.  But there’s a difference between being transparent and accountability vs subjecting themselves to every thought and whim of parents of students and having to respond in kind.  There is also a big difference to what pie in the sky law say and what the organization can actually deliver while maintaining normal operations.

Again not saying the Taylor is perfect or amazing.  What I’m saying is that some of the vitriol that has been launched at MCPS Supers would be much better placed with the County Council, MSDE and Congress.[/quote]

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