Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

It seems like BOE candidates tend to focus on issues like fiscal concerns, diversity issues, zoning, etc. - Have any candidates specifically focused on academics?

Valerie Coll. Although I don't think she's done a great job campaigning. I have been to several small meet and greets with her, and she is all about the academics. But that message really isn't getting out there.

+1. I like her too. One of the few local races that isn’t already predetermined.

I like that she isn't an incumbent, but she tweeted a few days ago that school buildings were closed in 2020 not schools which was really tone deaf in the face of the now-clear terrible impact of closing schools and the general consensus that it was a mistake (hello Europe, Rhode Island etc that kept them open). Moms are still raging and the wounds are still fresh on that.

So she tweeted something accurate. Another reason to vote for her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

No, she doesn't just "not center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues." She is chairperson of the board of her church that says this on their website:

HUMAN SEXUALITY
The Bible teaches that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, this Church opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. (Rom. 1:18-32; Hebrews 13:4)

You do know most Christian churches say the same thing, right? So are you going to rule out Christians from holding office?

Separation of Church and State. the FIRST Amendment. As long as candidates abide by that, there is no problem.

NP - Do you know what the 1st Amendment says? It doesn't say that you think it does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

It seems like BOE candidates tend to focus on issues like fiscal concerns, diversity issues, zoning, etc. - Have any candidates specifically focused on academics?

Valerie Coll. Although I don't think she's done a great job campaigning. I have been to several small meet and greets with her, and she is all about the academics. But that message really isn't getting out there.

+1. I like her too. One of the few local races that isn’t already predetermined.

I like that she isn't an incumbent, but she tweeted a few days ago that school buildings were closed in 2020 not schools which was really tone deaf in the face of the now-clear terrible impact of closing schools and the general consensus that it was a mistake (hello Europe, Rhode Island etc that kept them open). Moms are still raging and the wounds are still fresh on that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

MCPS is a mess. Also Grace had a six-figure federal tax lien that MAGICALLY went away soon after she received covid funds. Esther wants MCPS kids to read and do math at grade level and MCPS to stop burning money and not helping students. You don't have to agree with someone on everything to vote for them. Life is full of hard choices but honestly Grace is mailing it in so much is this even hard? Like SHE ISNT EVEN TRYING TO SHOW VOTERS SHE CARES ABOUT KIDS AND MCPS IMPROVING?

Anonymous wrote:Oven v Wells

Oven has had some health issues recently, but is by far the better candidate. Wells supports getting rid of teaching CRT (Critical Race Theory) which is not taught in MCPS. Is also a board member of an anti-LGBTQ+ organization.

What I think conservatives object to (because I do) is not the content, but the approach. There are two ways to go about this: a common humanity approach or a common enemy approach.


What we have, in practice, is the common enemy approach: All too often kids (as well as adults) think there is one bad group (whites in power) and one good group (everyone else), and they then see each other as exemplars of those groups. And so there is a lot of animosity right now in terms of race relations in the schools.

If the schools could turn it around to a common humanity approach (and I wish this is the tack that Wells and others would take), the schools would emphasize the need to dismantle structural racism, but cut it out with the white privilege and white fragility framework. That makes it too personal. And kids, developmentally, really can't see the nuance here. And it just leads, in many cases, to white kids who think Black kids can't take care of themselves, and Black kids thinking whites are the cause of all their problems. I particularly hate that part of it, because it takes the locus of control away, which is bad for everyone's mental health.

Anonymous wrote:Oven v Wells

Oven has had some health issues recently, but is by far the better candidate. Wells supports getting rid of teaching CRT (Critical Race Theory) which is not taught in MCPS. Is also a board member of an anti-LGBTQ+ organization.

Instead of attacking Wells, please explain why is Oven the best candidate. What does she support? What are her accomplishments? What is her goal with MCPS?

Oven v Wells

Oven has had some health issues recently, but is by far the better candidate. Wells supports getting rid of teaching CRT (Critical Race Theory) which is not taught in MCPS. Is also a board member of an anti-LGBTQ+ organization.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

No, she doesn't just "not center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues." She is chairperson of the board of her church that says this on their website:

HUMAN SEXUALITY
The Bible teaches that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, this Church opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. (Rom. 1:18-32; Hebrews 13:4)

You do know most Christian churches say the same thing, right? So are you going to rule out Christians from holding office?

Separation of Church and State. the FIRST Amendment. As long as candidates abide by that, there is no problem.

Wrong. There are plenty of affirming Christian churches. It's evangelical Christians who are trying to legislate their religious beliefs so you can miss me with your 1st amendment talk.

"Plenty" is not "most." Most do not. Evangelical Christians are the majority of non-Catholic Christians. And of course Catholics are the largest denomination of Christians. Neither of which approves of marriage equality within their churches.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

It seems like BOE candidates tend to focus on issues like fiscal concerns, diversity issues, zoning, etc. - Have any candidates specifically focused on academics?

Valerie Coll. Although I don't think she's done a great job campaigning. I have been to several small meet and greets with her, and she is all about the academics. But that message really isn't getting out there.

+1. I like her too. One of the few local races that isn’t already predetermined.

+2. I think she would bring a very valuable perspective to the board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

It seems like BOE candidates tend to focus on issues like fiscal concerns, diversity issues, zoning, etc. - Have any candidates specifically focused on academics?

Valerie Coll. Although I don't think she's done a great job campaigning. I have been to several small meet and greets with her, and she is all about the academics. But that message really isn't getting out there.

+1. I like her too. One of the few local races that isn’t already predetermined.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

No, she doesn't just "not center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues." She is chairperson of the board of her church that says this on their website:

HUMAN SEXUALITY
The Bible teaches that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, this Church opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. (Rom. 1:18-32; Hebrews 13:4)

You do know most Christian churches say the same thing, right? So are you going to rule out Christians from holding office?

Separation of Church and State. the FIRST Amendment. As long as candidates abide by that, there is no problem.

Wrong. There are plenty of affirming Christian churches. It's evangelical Christians who are trying to legislate their religious beliefs so you can miss me with your 1st amendment talk.

I promise this is an honest question. How can her church’s beliefs, even her own religious beliefs affect the Board of Education? Speaking on a broader level wouldn’t that mean that we would not want any other religion represented on the board of election that opposes homosexuality? And if not, that would just be one vote on one particular subject that would easily be outvoted by the rest of the board. There might be other reasons not to vote for her that are not based on her religion but I don’t see why her religious be a factor.

I'm not the PP, but to me it is not about her religious beliefs. But she says clearly in her bio: "She serves as the Chairman & President Trustee of the Board of a multi-million dollar non-profit in Gaithersburg, MD." And I think it's legitimate to look into what that non-profit is, and what its values are, and decide whether you want a leader of such an organization to be on the school board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

No, she doesn't just "not center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues." She is chairperson of the board of her church that says this on their website:

HUMAN SEXUALITY
The Bible teaches that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, this Church opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. (Rom. 1:18-32; Hebrews 13:4)

You do know most Christian churches say the same thing, right? So are you going to rule out Christians from holding office?

Separation of Church and State. the FIRST Amendment. As long as candidates abide by that, there is no problem.

Wrong. There are plenty of affirming Christian churches. It's evangelical Christians who are trying to legislate their religious beliefs so you can miss me with your 1st amendment talk.

I promise this is an honest question. How can her church’s beliefs, even her own religious beliefs affect the Board of Education? Speaking on a broader level wouldn’t that mean that we would not want any other religion represented on the board of election that opposes homosexuality? And if not, that would just be one vote on one particular subject that would easily be outvoted by the rest of the board. There might be other reasons not to vote for her that are not based on her religion but I don’t see why her religious be a factor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I get that impression too. I voted for her in the primary. I will be voting for Esther Wells in the general. I know everyone says she's anti LGBTQ+, but I think it's more she doesn't center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues. I want someone with fiscal knowledge to provide some actual oversight to MCPS' wheelings and dealings.

No, she doesn't just "not center and elevate LGBTQ+ issues." She is chairperson of the board of her church that says this on their website:

HUMAN SEXUALITY
The Bible teaches that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, this Church opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. (Rom. 1:18-32; Hebrews 13:4)

You do know most Christian churches say the same thing, right? So are you going to rule out Christians from holding office?

Separation of Church and State. the FIRST Amendment. As long as candidates abide by that, there is no problem.

Wrong. There are plenty of affirming Christian churches. It's evangelical Christians who are trying to legislate their religious beliefs so you can miss me with your 1st amendment talk.

What about the ballot questions? Are they as straightforward as they appear or is there something behind some of the questions? Thinking particularly about the state delegate must be a resident question.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have questions about Board of Education and I went back to a thread I thought it was live but it seems to be deleted. Can I ask those here too?

Grace Rivera Oven v. Esther Wells

Rivera Oven has and has not participated or replied to many of the newspaper and media requests for interviews versus Wells who has. Does anyone have any insight to why this? To me it appears like Rivera Oven seems disinterested in the election or this believes she’s the front runner who doesn’t need to try.

I don't agree with this. Rivera Oven has participated in forums and been interviewed.

https://youtu.be/M212GaGiyBY

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/10/20/community-activist-and-accountant-face-off-for-district-1-school-board-seat/

She's also the only one of the BOE candidates to be endorsed by both MCEA and the Washington Post.

A Washington Post endorsement is honestly not worth much anymore. Her main claim to a BOE seat seems to be representation. That’s not enough for me.

I understand that Wells is not everyone’s cup of tea. But MCPS has suffered too long from groupthink and not enough BOE members asking tough questions and engaging in proper oversight. I have confidence that Wells will do that and it’s why I’m going to vote for her.

So offensive to dismiss someone’s positions and accomplishments this way. Only person to get both MCEA and WaPo to endorse her and you think her only claim is “representation”.

Meanwhile Wells is fundamentally out of step with the large majority of MoCo residents on important issues.

I don’t really understand your point. Getting endorsements is not a professional accomplishment.

That is true but I was using those as shorthand for the fact that she has demonstrated to two very different constituencies that she is the best candidate for the job. If you want her professional accomplishments she has started and runs a nonprofit and has a long history of working with kids. Either way the idea that the only thing she has to offer is representation is offensive.