Anonymous
Post 05/18/2020 19:11     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Are the developers not required to pay for new schools prior to approvals granted?
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2020 19:04     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:Mr. Austin wants community voices to be heard when decisions are made. The community (parent, student, and teacher voices) should be part of the decision. The conclusion should reflect these decisions and public comment should have a meaningful impact on the results.

in Austin's analysis of WXY data he looks at adjacent clusters. The most he sees that can move from adjacent clusters, which the Board said they would prioritize, is 3400 students. This includes more than the nearest elementary, middle, or high school.

Opportunities to reduce overcrowding include choice programs, reopening closed MCPS facilities, the builder's putting in money toward school construction, putting on additions rather than totally new schools, and distance learning for example.

The Board has eight members with many years combined of PTA and teaching experience. Mr. Austin's dedication and skills in analyzing data, doing research, and making sure that individual parents and teachers and students are heard would be an excellent complement to the skills of the others on the Board.

For someone who wants "community voices heard" he doesn't seem to have an issue shutting down naysayers on his FB page.

If Mr. Austin analyzed the WXY data then he should be aware that we currently have some f*dup crazy boundaries, and we should have those boundaries redrawn, and that some 30% to 40% of students do not go to their closest schools, ie neighborhood schools.

Austin should be glad that the boundary analysis was done which shows these issues in our current boundaries.

We already have choices programs, yet, we still have overcrowded schools. How many parents in the W clusters would want their children to choose to go to Watkins Mill?

Re-opening closed facilities - sure, but you can't just open it as they are. It does require money to get them up to date, and it would still require redrawing boundaries, and that means looking at the adjacent clusters.

I don't think most parents would want distance learning as a permanent solution. If Austin is all for it, I'm wondering if he finds the current distance learning to be great for his child.

Mr Austin's experience in investments does not mean that he knows anything about budgets. Those are two different skill sets.

Mr Austin has zero experience in education, not even volunteering. That does not show me he cares about educating all kids in this county.

If he wants a job as a number cruncher in MCPS, then go for it. But, the BOE needs people who understands the educational needs of our students. You don't have to be a policy wonk, or an educator, but I do expect someone who says they care about the education of our kids to have at least volunteered in his kids' schools.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2020 19:00     Subject: Re:Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Really? Where's all the discussion about Ahadpour? Or Chaudry? Or Geller? Odongo? Osorio? I am waiting to hear your opinions about those candidates.


Not the PP you asked, but:

Ahadpour: Primary care dr, FDA. 2 MCPS grads, 1 current. Attended MCPS schools herself (she's a local). Advocates for no boundary changes, doesn't like boundary study process that just happened. Similar views to Austin but no evidence of polarizing behavior that I've seen. PTA roles; MoCo Medical Society volunteer. Top issues: using evidence-based practices, addressing drug abuse/mental health.

Chaudry: DHS, veteran, served multiple tours in Iraq. Child of educators, 3 kids in MCPS, no MCPS volunteering. Top issues: data driven analysis of results (defund programs w/o results); safe/orderly learning enviros, countywide responsibility for achievement gap. Wants period boundary studies (dropping current one) to prioritize, in order: proximity; reduced transit times; limit split articulation/provide compact feeder patterns; diversity: build flexibility to reduce community opportunity gaps; optimize the usage of existing facilities; ensure school assignment stability.

Geller: MCPS kids, but answered Q oddly so unclear how many. MCCPTA pres/VP programs, lots of PTA roles. Top issues: boundaries to "rethink how best to utilize existing schools to accommodate all 166K students"; achievement gap, overburdensome testing, college/career readiness.

Odongo: didn't respond to Bethesda Magazine Q&A

Osorio: 18 month old DD. Former school social worker, now works at prog for children wi severe special needs. Political volunteerism. Top issue: opportunity gap which he will solve by a) Grow-Your-Own (MCPS students into teachers) & b) commitment to the “3 C’s”: career, college, and community. Wants to use data from boundary study to inform next steps, thinks there should have been > transparency.

Why didn't you ask about Lynne Harris or Darwin Romero? or Thomas? (I'm assuming you deliberately left the 2 young tutors off the list).

Harris: MCPS kids, answered question oddly so unclear how many. Current MCCPTA Pres, has held many prior MCCPTA positions. Top issue: "provide consistency in academic courses/opportunities, uniform excellence in delivery of them, access for all." Sort of an equality of outcomes message imo. Flags lack of transparency/community engagement but pro use of data to redo boundaries. Pro community schools for high FARMS.

Romero: MCPS parent. Not sure if he volunteered for MCPS or CBO Latino groups but 2 of them. Top issue: culturally competent diverse administrators/teachers. Boundary study overdue but poorly handled process.

Thomas: MCPS parent. Govt lawyer, FDA. Lots of PTA roles. Thinks current boundary study not objective/transparent. Independent audit of Title I/FARMs progs. Pro universal PreK. No to raising salary.

Bethesda Q&A has links to all of their websites.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2020 18:52     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Also, "public comment should have a meaningful impact on the results" means "people who are used to getting their way should get their way, otherwise they will kick up a huge fuss."
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2020 18:50     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:Mr. Austin wants community voices to be heard when decisions are made. The community (parent, student, and teacher voices) should be part of the decision. The conclusion should reflect these decisions and public comment should have a meaningful impact on the results.

in Austin's analysis of WXY data he looks at adjacent clusters. The most he sees that can move from adjacent clusters, which the Board said they would prioritize, is 3400 students. This includes more than the nearest elementary, middle, or high school.

Opportunities to reduce overcrowding include choice programs, reopening closed MCPS facilities, the builder's putting in money toward school construction, putting on additions rather than totally new schools, and distance learning for example.

The Board has eight members with many years combined of PTA and teaching experience. Mr. Austin's dedication and skills in analyzing data, doing research, and making sure that individual parents and teachers and students are heard would be an excellent complement to the skills of the others on the Board.


The Board has 7 adult members and 1 student member. Here are the 7 adult members:

1. a financial analyst (Shebra Evans)
2. a lawyer (Brenda Wolff)
3. a retired principal (Jeanette Dixon - she didn't run for re-election, and Steve Austin and 12 other people are running to fill her seat)
4. a retired principal (Judy Docca)
5. a school board member (Pat O'Neill)
6. a Montgomery College administrator (Karla Silvestre)
7. a former legislative aide (Rebecca Smondrowski)

Characterizing these various members of various backgrounds - all women - as having "many years of PTA and teaching experience," and then saying that they would benefit from Steve Austin's quantitative skills (and total lack of volunteer experience) - ick.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2020 18:00     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Mr. Austin wants community voices to be heard when decisions are made. The community (parent, student, and teacher voices) should be part of the decision. The conclusion should reflect these decisions and public comment should have a meaningful impact on the results.

in Austin's analysis of WXY data he looks at adjacent clusters. The most he sees that can move from adjacent clusters, which the Board said they would prioritize, is 3400 students. This includes more than the nearest elementary, middle, or high school.

Opportunities to reduce overcrowding include choice programs, reopening closed MCPS facilities, the builder's putting in money toward school construction, putting on additions rather than totally new schools, and distance learning for example.

The Board has eight members with many years combined of PTA and teaching experience. Mr. Austin's dedication and skills in analyzing data, doing research, and making sure that individual parents and teachers and students are heard would be an excellent complement to the skills of the others on the Board.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 17:08     Subject: Re:Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that all the love and hate is for Austin. No one says anything about any of the other candidates. He's not supported by the "establishment" (teacher's union, Washington Post) so this must really be bothering some people that an "outsider" candidate is actually drawing the interest of the voters!


People are saying things about several of the other candidates. Pay closer attention.


Really? Where's all the discussion about Ahadpour? Or Chaudry? Or Geller? Odongo? Osorio?


I am waiting to hear your opinions about those candidates.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 17:05     Subject: Re:Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that all the love and hate is for Austin. No one says anything about any of the other candidates. He's not supported by the "establishment" (teacher's union, Washington Post) so this must really be bothering some people that an "outsider" candidate is actually drawing the interest of the voters!


People are saying things about several of the other candidates. Pay closer attention.


Really? Where's all the discussion about Ahadpour? Or Chaudry? Or Geller? Odongo? Osorio?

Clearly, Austin is a polarizing candidate, and that is why there is so much discussion around him. Maybe the others aren't so polarizing.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 16:06     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone figured out where Austin actually works? I've heard he's in finance but that's it.

Jeez please stop. Lockheed Martin.


That's it? Is there some weirdo national security reason we couldn't be told this awhile ago?
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 16:05     Subject: Re:Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that all the love and hate is for Austin. No one says anything about any of the other candidates. He's not supported by the "establishment" (teacher's union, Washington Post) so this must really be bothering some people that an "outsider" candidate is actually drawing the interest of the voters!


People are saying things about several of the other candidates. Pay closer attention.


Really? Where's all the discussion about Ahadpour? Or Chaudry? Or Geller? Odongo? Osorio?
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 16:05     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Austin is for fiscal accountability and community voice in decision making. He wants excellent education for all. This is possible still being fiscally responsible by more closely finding how money is spent and data informed outcomes. He will listen to the voices of communities of parents, teachers, and students.

Please explain how he will create " excellent education for all" in terms of overcrowded schools?

He doesn't want to look at adjacent clusters when redrawing boundaries, which means we have to build more. So, how does he think MCPS will afford to address over crowded schools with the limited budget? And of course now they have to also spend time and money on dealing with the lawsuit that *he* in involved in.

Please explain Austin's plan for how he will address over crowding in our schools? And also, please explain why he doesn't want neighborhood schools, but rather the status quo? Let's recall that some 30 to 40% of students do not attend their closest school.


Austin posted this on Twitter today:

"Not many students are actually eligible to be moved for capacity if we stick to adjacencies. I’ve been saying this all along, but here’s the data summary on my numbers:"

https://twitter.com/Stephen_Austin_/status/1262020682516508672

Based on his computations, derived from the WXY report, moving students to adjacent schools won't solve the overcrowding issue.


Isn't that sweet? Steve Austin is using data from the WXY report he opposed. I guess it's turned out to be useful after all! How about that?

It's a weak argument, anyway. Just because boundary changes wouldn't ameliorate all overcrowding problems, doesn't mean we shouldn't do it where it would.


+1. And he's selectively picking parts of the report which are most aligned to his position. His tweet is based on one chart about the single-nearest school to each school, which is a much narrower scope than looking at several adjacent/nearby schools, which the report also does. If he had read a few pages further, he would see that it says "Comparing the difference of only two schools may give us an incomplete picture of the utilization conditions around a school. It is informative to look at disparities among groups of closest schools." And "It is important to consider a wider number of schools than just the nearest school for several reasons, including factors such as island assignments that complicate the idea of the “nearest” school."

I encourage everyone interested in this topic to read the report for themselves. Page 123 is the beginning of the relevant section:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/publicinfo/Boundary_Analysis/interim-report/MCPS_InterimReport_Full.pdf
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 16:03     Subject: Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Steve Solomon and Stephen Austin are moderates who want to make our funds achieve more. BOE not responsible for taxes but many BOE members have a socialist ideology. I'd recommend people who want a nonpartisan and efficient BOE who uses our money wisely to vote for Stephen Austin for At large and Steve Solomon for district 4. Apple Ballot tends to support socialist types.

More than likely, Austin's stance on addressing over crowding by not looking at adjacent clusters will cause tax increases. How else is MCPS going to pay for adding new additions or building new schools because he doesn't over boundaries to be changed in an over crowded cluster? Also, at a time when MCPS can least afford it, he is a part of that lawsuit against MCPS.

Having "investment" experience doesn't mean you understand how budgets work in a school district. Two separate things.

I'm betting he's against tax increases, though. I haven't heard how he plans on addressing over crowded clusters without increasing the budget or not redrawing boundaries with adjacent clusters.


I will NOT vote for Austin or anyone who is firmly against changes to school boundaries. In the decades that I have lived in this county, there have been few changes to school boundaries, even though the county has grown tremendously. I'm sorry if you spent hundreds of thousands of dollars more to be in X school boundary, but common sense should have told you that eventually, those boundaries would need to change and things may not always be the same...at least that's how it works in other places. The only people I know who are supporting Austin are those who moved so their child could go to a certain cluster.



+1, growing up Germantown and beyond were all farm land. Even parts of upper Rockville and Gaithersburg were farm land. Sometime has to give when you change those farms and open land into housing and later high density housing. They are building so many apartment and condos that the schools and roads cannot keep up. No one thought this through and Austin is only in it for himself. We need to rework all the boundaries to make the existing schools work and focus on rebuilding and repairing those that need it. If you can afford to live in a million dollar house and you don't like it, pay for private.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 15:56     Subject: Re:Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that all the love and hate is for Austin. No one says anything about any of the other candidates. He's not supported by the "establishment" (teacher's union, Washington Post) so this must really be bothering some people that an "outsider" candidate is actually drawing the interest of the voters!


People are saying things about several of the other candidates. Pay closer attention.

Also, speaking for myself - no, Austin's candidacy isn't bothering me. I'm a big believer in the Run For Something idea. It's his positions, his statements, and his actions as a candidate that bother me.


^^^also, since this "outsider" candidate thing comes up often: No, a white man who lives in Bethesda and is employed in the finance industry, and whose candidacy is explicitly based on defending the status quo, is not an outsider candidate.


The fact that his race matters to you motivates me more to vote for Austin. You couldn't have just said a man who lives in Bethesda who works in finance...yadda yadda. Like his race is somehow pertinent?


A large part of the dispute about the boundary analysis is the question: how should the demographics of the student body affect school boundaries and school boundary change decisions?

Race is baked into this part of the dispute.

And Steve Austin got involved in the dispute about the boundary analysis specifically because he thought that the demographics of the student body should NOT affect school boundaries or school boundary change decisions.

So yeah, his race is pertinent.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 15:33     Subject: Re:Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that all the love and hate is for Austin. No one says anything about any of the other candidates. He's not supported by the "establishment" (teacher's union, Washington Post) so this must really be bothering some people that an "outsider" candidate is actually drawing the interest of the voters!


People are saying things about several of the other candidates. Pay closer attention.

Also, speaking for myself - no, Austin's candidacy isn't bothering me. I'm a big believer in the Run For Something idea. It's his positions, his statements, and his actions as a candidate that bother me.


^^^also, since this "outsider" candidate thing comes up often: No, a white man who lives in Bethesda and is employed in the finance industry, and whose candidacy is explicitly based on defending the status quo, is not an outsider candidate.



The fact that his race matters to you motivates me more to vote for Austin. You couldn't have just said a man who lives in Bethesda who works in finance...yadda yadda. Like his race is somehow pertinent?

? how does ^^PP's opinion on race motivate you to vote for Austin? You are motivated to vote for a white male because someone said race of the candidate matters?

Is this like "owning the libs"?
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2020 15:29     Subject: Re:Got the MD Board of Education absentee ballot today. Who will be least likely to raise taxes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that all the love and hate is for Austin. No one says anything about any of the other candidates. He's not supported by the "establishment" (teacher's union, Washington Post) so this must really be bothering some people that an "outsider" candidate is actually drawing the interest of the voters!


People are saying things about several of the other candidates. Pay closer attention.

Also, speaking for myself - no, Austin's candidacy isn't bothering me. I'm a big believer in the Run For Something idea. It's his positions, his statements, and his actions as a candidate that bother me.


^^^also, since this "outsider" candidate thing comes up often: No, a white man who lives in Bethesda and is employed in the finance industry, and whose candidacy is explicitly based on defending the status quo, is not an outsider candidate.



The fact that his race matters to you motivates me more to vote for Austin. You couldn't have just said a man who lives in Bethesda who works in finance...yadda yadda. Like his race is somehow pertinent?