Anonymous wrote:Saying a problem is nationwide does not absolve Dr. McKnight or MCPS from criticism for its response to these national problems.

No one is saying MCPS uniquely created the chronic absenteeism issue. But it is a fact that MCPS’s lax enforcement of its attendance policies and refusal to hold kids and families accountable has put gasoline on this fire.

Copy and paste this response to any number of issues MCPS gets flack for.

Here’s another one: Dr. McKnight isn’t responsible for kids bringing guns to schools. Fine. But what MEANINGFUL steps has she taken to minimize the odds a gun is brought into the school building from a security perspective since 2021 when the Magruder shooting happened? Nothing.

+1 thank you. Totally agree. And to the PP immediately above who is making excuses for her, I still don’t have a single example of something during her tenure that has been a success or show of leadership on her part. Just a string of excuses and big mistakes. I do think the lady they hired as the medical officer seems great, although she was hired like two years too late and her job doesn’t seem so necessary anymore.

Saying a problem is nationwide does not absolve Dr. McKnight or MCPS from criticism for its response to these national problems.

No one is saying MCPS uniquely created the chronic absenteeism issue. But it is a fact that MCPS’s lax enforcement of its attendance policies and refusal to hold kids and families accountable has put gasoline on this fire.

Copy and paste this response to any number of issues MCPS gets flack for.

Here’s another one: Dr. McKnight isn’t responsible for kids bringing guns to schools. Fine. But what MEANINGFUL steps has she taken to minimize the odds a gun is brought into the school building from a security perspective since 2021 when the Magruder shooting happened? Nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either McKnight knew and is involve or didn’t know and is a fool. Either way is worse than the other

+1 this is really the bottom line.

And P.S. She really has no successes or wins during her tenure to tout. Principals are resigning in huge numbers, test scores and achievement are abysmal, absenteeism is hugely problematic and way higher than other jurisdictions, she got no confidence votes from the teachers, her anti-racism platform hasn’t solved or reduced incidents of hate and bias and has instead incited tribalism into identity groups rather than bringing people together, there was the first school shooting in the district and numerous other violent incidents that are being handled in unsatisfactory ways, don’t forget the whole bus driver fiasco of last year and the year prior, and she’s got a whole cache of retirees in top level acting positions because everyone else either resigned, or was placed on administrative leave. I really wanted to see this person succeed because she comes off to me as bright and positive and thoughtful. But actions speak louder than words, and she has repeatedly failed to deliver really anything good or notable on behalf of the entire school community.

While I agree that McKnight's leadership is a problem, the toxic culture within MCPS top management goes back to at least Weast's tenure. MCPS is very top down and it protects its leaders (why did Casey Crouse get a job in MCPS central office after everyone else was fired in the Damascus case?). I am concerned how many retired administrators they are bring back in acting positions such as Lance Dempsey. This will not fix the problem as they are part of it. Many of the issues you identify were problems before McKnight taking over the position. MCPS stopped giving final exams in 2015 because most students were failing the Algebra 1 exam. Teachers were dead set against this. Absenteeism has been a problem for years and came into the spotlight after incidents in Baltimore City made the state investigate every school district. Google absenteeism and see that it is a nationwide issue. The bus problem is also a nationwide issue and COVID made it worse. Bus drivers are in short supply because of low pay and student behavior. My issue with McKnight during this problem is that she was working virtually out of state (the school board was meeting virtually) while battering down that MCPS stay in person after stating schools would close if they reached 5% COVID cases. The shooting came very early in her tenure. Racism, unfortunately is rampant around the world (turn on the TV). The timing of her position has not been easy (COVID, resignations, wars, etc.). I do believe she has handled the Beidleman situation badly. He needed to be fired. MCPS should clean house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is no longer getting paid. Give it a rest. You witches got what you wanted. Ruining this man’s life and his children. Job well done.

He ruined his own life. Only person he has to blame is himself.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good look for the in house MCPS counsel who took over doctoring the report when the investigator refused. She’s at the Maryland AG’s office now but I can’t imagine they’re happy with this kind of conduct from one of their own.

Is every school district the same sh__ show that MCPS is? 88 people confirmed Beidleman's bad behavior and it took this long to get out? Counsel covers for the higher ups.

Beidleman is still getting paid, pending the completion of the investigation, but how many other people are out as a result of this mess? This is a blow out and it's not over yet. Who else has been harassing employees and not been held to account within the school district?

Many districts (and orgs) have the same challenges as MCPS. MCPS just gets more attention because of its size and the fact the area draws lots of type A people with the time and money to pursue every little thing. This can be good and bad.

Good in that things like this come to light and get community attention and pressure to be fixed. Bad in that other not so important things get attention that then draws time and resources from other things they should be doing. Also folks thing everything can be solved with the snap of a finger, while not understanding laws, finances or reality.

Tell us you never worked in the corporate world without telling us.

Tell us you’ve never been in any level of management without telling us. Those that have understand corporate and government and nonprofit have different governance, politics, and legalities to deal with.

Which one allows an employee to sexually harass 18 employees? Do tell

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good look for the in house MCPS counsel who took over doctoring the report when the investigator refused. She’s at the Maryland AG’s office now but I can’t imagine they’re happy with this kind of conduct from one of their own.

Is every school district the same sh__ show that MCPS is? 88 people confirmed Beidleman's bad behavior and it took this long to get out? Counsel covers for the higher ups.

Beidleman is still getting paid, pending the completion of the investigation, but how many other people are out as a result of this mess? This is a blow out and it's not over yet. Who else has been harassing employees and not been held to account within the school district?

Many districts (and orgs) have the same challenges as MCPS. MCPS just gets more attention because of its size and the fact the area draws lots of type A people with the time and money to pursue every little thing. This can be good and bad.

Good in that things like this come to light and get community attention and pressure to be fixed. Bad in that other not so important things get attention that then draws time and resources from other things they should be doing. Also folks thing everything can be solved with the snap of a finger, while not understanding laws, finances or reality.

Tell us you never worked in the corporate world without telling us.

Tell us you’ve never been in any level of management without telling us. Those that have understand corporate and government and nonprofit have different governance, politics, and legalities to deal with.

It’s ok Karma is real…

Anonymous wrote:He is no longer getting paid. Give it a rest. You witches got what you wanted. Ruining this man’s life and his children. Job well done.

He ruined his own life. Only person he has to blame is himself.

Anonymous wrote:He is no longer getting paid. Give it a rest. You witches got what you wanted. Ruining this man’s life and his children. Job well done.

Great news!

He is no longer getting paid. Give it a rest. You witches got what you wanted. Ruining this man’s life and his children. Job well done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good look for the in house MCPS counsel who took over doctoring the report when the investigator refused. She’s at the Maryland AG’s office now but I can’t imagine they’re happy with this kind of conduct from one of their own.

Is every school district the same sh__ show that MCPS is? 88 people confirmed Beidleman's bad behavior and it took this long to get out? Counsel covers for the higher ups.

Beidleman is still getting paid, pending the completion of the investigation, but how many other people are out as a result of this mess? This is a blow out and it's not over yet. Who else has been harassing employees and not been held to account within the school district?

Many districts (and orgs) have the same challenges as MCPS. MCPS just gets more attention because of its size and the fact the area draws lots of type A people with the time and money to pursue every little thing. This can be good and bad.

Good in that things like this come to light and get community attention and pressure to be fixed. Bad in that other not so important things get attention that then draws time and resources from other things they should be doing. Also folks thing everything can be solved with the snap of a finger, while not understanding laws, finances or reality.

Tell us you never worked in the corporate world without telling us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good look for the in house MCPS counsel who took over doctoring the report when the investigator refused. She’s at the Maryland AG’s office now but I can’t imagine they’re happy with this kind of conduct from one of their own.

Is every school district the same sh__ show that MCPS is? 88 people confirmed Beidleman's bad behavior and it took this long to get out? Counsel covers for the higher ups.

Beidleman is still getting paid, pending the completion of the investigation, but how many other people are out as a result of this mess? This is a blow out and it's not over yet. Who else has been harassing employees and not been held to account within the school district?

Many districts (and orgs) have the same challenges as MCPS. MCPS just gets more attention because of its size and the fact the area draws lots of type A people with the time and money to pursue every little thing. This can be good and bad.

Good in that things like this come to light and get community attention and pressure to be fixed. Bad in that other not so important things get attention that then draws time and resources from other things they should be doing. Also folks thing everything can be solved with the snap of a finger, while not understanding laws, finances or reality.

Anonymous wrote:Not a good look for the in house MCPS counsel who took over doctoring the report when the investigator refused. She’s at the Maryland AG’s office now but I can’t imagine they’re happy with this kind of conduct from one of their own.

Is every school district the same sh__ show that MCPS is? 88 people confirmed Beidleman's bad behavior and it took this long to get out? Counsel covers for the higher ups.

Beidleman is still getting paid, pending the completion of the investigation, but how many other people are out as a result of this mess? This is a blow out and it's not over yet. Who else has been harassing employees and not been held to account within the school district?

Not a good look for the in house MCPS counsel who took over doctoring the report when the investigator refused. She’s at the Maryland AG’s office now but I can’t imagine they’re happy with this kind of conduct from one of their own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They use freelancers because it's cheaper. No benefite etc. They will continue to use them.

But they didn’t. Robbins had to take her story to moco360.

Maybe not this time, but the implication was that the paper doesn’t use freelancers anymore when that isn’t true.