Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:During yesterday's session with the Council there was a discussion about the proposed bus depot sites. Friedson and Balcombe highlighted the lack of outreach to the affected communities.
Taylor responded by implying that it is impossible to do community outreach before the project is funded. That is utterly preposterous. That is what facility planning funding is for - you do studies and community outreach to determine whether and how to move forward on specific projects and how much they will cost.
Taylor is right that this has been a really difficult issue. There is no location in the County where residents will be happy to have an MCPS bus depot at. I'm glad I don't have to deal with it. But his response to questions about community outreach was fundamentally dishonest and frankly quite condescending to members of the public who aren't being paid to sift through CIP documents that are written in very technical ways. And that I think kind of epitomizes his approach to engaging with stakeholders. To him, he is always right and above the politics and everyone else is dumb, uninformed and selfish.
Below is the description of MCPS Facility Planning which is a project funded in the CIP:
"This project serves as the transition stage from the conceptual stage to inclusion of a stand-alone project in the CIP. There is a continuing need for the development of accurate cost estimates and an exploration of alternatives for proposed projects. Implementation of the facility planning process results in realistic cost estimates, fewer and less significant cost overruns, fewer project delays, and improved life-cycle costing of projects. In the past, this project was funded solely by current revenue; however, as a result of new environmental regulation changes, design of site development concept plans must be done during the facility planning phase in order to obtain necessary site permits in time for the construction phase."
https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/BASISCAPITAL/Common/Project.aspx?ID=P966553&CID=15&SCID=50
Watching this now and you are 100% right about Taylor's responses. They are disingenuous.
Anonymous wrote:During yesterday's session with the Council there was a discussion about the proposed bus depot sites. Friedson and Balcombe highlighted the lack of outreach to the affected communities.
Taylor responded by implying that it is impossible to do community outreach before the project is funded. That is utterly preposterous. That is what facility planning funding is for - you do studies and community outreach to determine whether and how to move forward on specific projects and how much they will cost.
Taylor is right that this has been a really difficult issue. There is no location in the County where residents will be happy to have an MCPS bus depot at. I'm glad I don't have to deal with it. But his response to questions about community outreach was fundamentally dishonest and frankly quite condescending to members of the public who aren't being paid to sift through CIP documents that are written in very technical ways. And that I think kind of epitomizes his approach to engaging with stakeholders. To him, he is always right and above the politics and everyone else is dumb, uninformed and selfish.
Below is the description of MCPS Facility Planning which is a project funded in the CIP:
"This project serves as the transition stage from the conceptual stage to inclusion of a stand-alone project in the CIP. There is a continuing need for the development of accurate cost estimates and an exploration of alternatives for proposed projects. Implementation of the facility planning process results in realistic cost estimates, fewer and less significant cost overruns, fewer project delays, and improved life-cycle costing of projects. In the past, this project was funded solely by current revenue; however, as a result of new environmental regulation changes, design of site development concept plans must be done during the facility planning phase in order to obtain necessary site permits in time for the construction phase."
https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/BASISCAPITAL/Common/Project.aspx?ID=P966553&CID=15&SCID=50
Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing his days are numbered by Fall 2027, when regional programs/transportation take effect and the community sees all the pitfalls.
Anonymous wrote:Doubt it will be that soon. This Board does not care, and I have no faith more competent Board members will be elected.
Anonymous wrote:I don't see anything wrong with the job he is doing. Why would he be fired?
Making decisions that some people dislike is part and parcel of leadership. If he didn't make anyone unhappy, it would mean that he was avoiding the big decisions.
The thing with top jobs is that almost every decision they are faced with is a tough one. The easy decisions are made at lower levels. If something rises to the superintendent's level it almost by definition is controversial or otherwise difficult.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Taylor will be gone as soon as Moran and company complete their mutiny.
WTH does this even mean? They are best buddies.
Everyone is TT's best friend, until Taylor stumbles...
He stumbled today. Big time.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Taylor will be gone as soon as Moran and company complete their mutiny.
WTH does this even mean? They are best buddies.
Everyone is TT's best friend, until Taylor stumbles...
Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing his days are numbered by Fall 2027, when regional programs/transportation take effect and the community sees all the pitfalls.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm no supporter of Taylor, but mostly over his general management of the central office and due to some of his less publicized decisions. But I do appreciate his willingness to put the needs of the district as a whole over the loudest and richest voices.
His people skills with central office staff leave much to be desired. I've seen that in action. But I don't agree that he put the needs of the district as a whole over the voices of loud, rich people. He has a toxic confidence that communicates that only he is correct. I find he listens to no one.
Regional programs will only rearrange the current inequities. Eastside parents with social/financial capital will now all descend on the small number of regional criteria seats available at westside high schools. No one will be rushing to attend regional IB programs that have limped along and for which Taylor has no plan for improvements. Notice how Churchill and Whitman HSs remain untouched in this whole process. The rich will continue to do well and the poor will not.
Anonymous wrote:A lot of us are interested in these changes and support him. This county is becoming less attractive to qualified candidates for many different reasons. The pool is shrinking. He at least grew up here and is invested, whether you agree with him or not. Also what if it all works out more or less fine for MOST kids.