Reply to BOE candidate, Esther Wells

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My personal views are more conservative than most of DCUM, but whether a candidate is liberal of conservative is practically irrelevant to me for the BOE. I want the board of education to focus on education.

Curriculum 2.0 was a dismal failure, which was confirmed by the curriculum audit MCPS paid for. I think the rollout of the new curriculum was disrupted by COVID and I don’t know what the current status is. Moreover, I would assume any curriculum would be an improvement, but I’ve found very little info on the new curriculum, although I’ve started hearing things on DCUM, that there may be problems with the new one as well - especially in Reading. I’d like to know the candidates views on curriculum across all subjects and grades.

The grading system (often checking assignments for completion rather than grading for correctness, graded assignments having a minimum grade of 50% if attempted, retests, and the abolition of finals) only deprive the child and their parents of necessary feedback.

The heterogeneous grouping favored by MCPS only deprives students at all levels from getting instruction focused at their level. I am not advocating tracking. I don’t think children’s opportunities to learn should ever be restricted. However, flexible ability grouping means that each student is taught at their level, with the intention of moving them up when possible. Here’s a description of how it has been successfully implemented in MCPS in the past.  
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/03/AR2007110301167.html?sid=ST2007110301386

Where are our children academically after all the COVID disruptions?  I think most teachers do a fantastic job trying to get our kids where they need to be, but COVID is a lot to overcome. Do we need extra interventions, and if so, what should they be?  Free summer school? more teachers for certain subjects (reading, math) or populations (very young students, ESOL, special needs, etc.)?  expanded tutoring?

The primary function of the school is to give our students the academic background they require to thrive. I think academics should be our primary focus as voters when evaluating BOE candidates.

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Well then, Esther Wells is most definitely the candidate for you.  I’ll be voting for her and I agree with much of what you wrote.  [/quote]

But why? Do you really think she, or for that matter any of the other candidates, would be able to solve those issues?[/quote]

I'm hoping she takes office and demands accountability for MCPS funding.  For example, if MCPS can't account for why they spent $780K of covid money on bocce ball, or over 2M on Kids museum and how many kids actually attended the program; that she picks up the phone and has the Maryland IG to look into it?  I'm hoping the corruption will stop this year, and if the legacy board and McKnight are unapologetic and fail to resign, that they are held fully accountable.[/quote]

Link? Where does it say MCPS is spending $780k on bocce ball?

And what makes you think she’ll bring transparency when she can’t even be transparent about what organization she leads?[/quote]

It's posted on the other thread.  https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/75/1053950.page  Search "bocce" and you have to add them all up - it's scattered in multiple places.

The board member has to know when they're being hoodwinked (smart enough to read a document like this and know to add up the numbers).  Can any of the other candidates do that?  Certainly no one currently on the board (since they approved it).  The choice is either her or??   It's a lesser of evils problem.[/quote]

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