Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

Political cover. He can say he’s transparent and seeking community input while knowing all too well that there’s nothing he can do to reverse the BOE’s decision. It was a way for him to make clear that the closure was the fault of others and that he should get a clean slate with this constituency and be judged on how well he listens from here on out. Not to say that he’s a bad person at all - he’s doing what any good leader would do in his position in seeking input on how he can help these families that were dealt a bad hand and got a raw deal from the prior admin.

I guess. Again, definitely would not be my first priority. And I’m not sure why the MVA families showed up knowing it wouldn’t change the outcome.

But it does solidify that Taylor’s top priority is PR and image, which is exactly what the community told the BOE we didn’t want to continue to prioritize.

Was a couple hours of his time. I’d hardly call that a first priority. But yes, he’s learning quickly that you can survive in the game if you put up a good show. Last month it was the Maryland state senator who expressed grave concern and vowed to look into it. And next month it will likely be someone else until the clock runs out completely.

I’m just surprised that MCPS lawyers let him meet with the group now that they’ve threatened lawsuits over unlawful school closure statutes.

Sad that the MVA is such a toxic issue that the person starting all of these new threads about the virtual academy can’t even mention the words MVA or Virtual Academy in the title of the threads

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

Political cover. He can say he’s transparent and seeking community input while knowing all too well that there’s nothing he can do to reverse the BOE’s decision. It was a way for him to make clear that the closure was the fault of others and that he should get a clean slate with this constituency and be judged on how well he listens from here on out. Not to say that he’s a bad person at all - he’s doing what any good leader would do in his position in seeking input on how he can help these families that were dealt a bad hand and got a raw deal from the prior admin.

I guess. Again, definitely would not be my first priority. And I’m not sure why the MVA families showed up knowing it wouldn’t change the outcome.

But it does solidify that Taylor’s top priority is PR and image, which is exactly what the community told the BOE we didn’t want to continue to prioritize.

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

Political cover. He can say he’s transparent and seeking community input while knowing all too well that there’s nothing he can do to reverse the BOE’s decision. It was a way for him to make clear that the closure was the fault of others and that he should get a clean slate with this constituency and be judged on how well he listens from here on out. Not to say that he’s a bad person at all - he’s doing what any good leader would do in his position in seeking input on how he can help these families that were dealt a bad hand and got a raw deal from the prior admin.

Can HS MVA students still register for early college or whatever the name is at MC for HS students? Does MC have a youth virtual program? They have or used to have youth summer programs but can't recall if that was in person only or also online.

a virtual program at the state level?

Is there a virtual program/academy that students who want to enroll in can do so? Can MVA families enroll now if there's such a program?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

How?

Anonymous wrote:What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

He learned he can undo the decision.

What exactly did Dr. Taylor accomplish with this meeting? As he stated, he can’t undo the decision so why was this a priority?

Anonymous wrote:
Taylor thinks a statewide program for virtual learning is a great idea for the long-term.

This is obviously the only way something like the MVA could make sense. There's a reason most states do it that way rather than leaving it up to individual districts. Even one of the largest districts in the country isn't big enough to fill out the MVA program. (unless you consider 10 kids/class "full")

Anonymous wrote:He flip flops as he says the BOE has ultimate decision making and he cannot change the decision.

That's not inconsistent. The decision to close MVA was already made and it isn't possible to undo without impacting the education of far more students than the meager MVA enrollment.

Anonymous wrote:He flip flops as he says the BOE has ultimate decision making and he cannot change the decision.

Umm, the BOE DOES have ultimate decision making…

He flip flops as he says the BOE has ultimate decision making and he cannot change the decision.

https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-superintendent-meets-with-virtual-academy-families/

MCPS Superintendent Meets With Virtual Academy Families
The new superintendent for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) met with families who were enrolled in the school system’s virtual academy, which has been eliminated.

Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor held a meeting for more than two hours Tuesday night at Rockville High School to hear from parents, students and teachers.



“We want action,” said virtual academy parent Sterling High ahead of the meeting. High said he is hopeful: “He is a new superintendent. He seems to have a mind to transparency and dialogue and being open to hearing about different ways of doing business.”

Taylor started the meeting with an apology to families. He became superintendent after the decision to close the Montgomery Virtual Academy (MVA) was already made.

“You deserve better. You should’ve been treated better. You should’ve been talked to, consulted and respected in a different way, and I’m sorry that that didn’t happen,” Taylor said.

Families have protested outside the school board’s building in Rockville to fight for the MVA after they learned MCPS planned to close it.

According to MCPS, eliminating the academy was a decision made due to a lack of budget funding this year. The school board approved the operating budget with cutbacks June 11.

NaToya Goldman told Taylor her son Toryn has prospered in the academy.

“At this point, there’s no transition plan in place for him or anything,” Goldman said. Homeschooling is not an option, she said — her son would no longer have an IEP and would lose autism waiver services.

Taylor said the fiscal challenges the school system faces are “very real.” He plans to get more feedback from virtual academy families about their different learning needs.

“Because different needs are going to have some cost implications and it will help me in some of the next steps of what needs to happen,” Taylor said.

He said “we are in this together.” He said he needs to do due diligence before making any kind of recommendation.

Taylor thinks a statewide program for virtual learning is a great idea for the long-term.