Jan. 23rd and 24th: Board of Education OFF CAMERA FOR TWO DAYS but meetings are Open to the Public. Public can attend, record, and video to document off camera BOE actions.

The Montgomery County Board of Education is meeting for two days off camera to hold discussions and possibly act.  

These meetings are open to the public under the Maryland Open Meetings Act.  The public is encouraged to attend part or all of these meetings and record or document what discussions and business the Board of Education transacts.  

Past Board of Education retreats have yielded crucial discussions that impacted the operations of MCPS and the Board's interactions with the public. 

Friday, January 23rd and Saturday, January 24th

15 West Gude Drive, Rockville, Maryland

1. Opening Remarks and Agenda Overview - 10:00 a.m.

2. Topics

2.1 Team Building Exercise

2.2 Norms/Shared Commitments

2.3 StrengthsFinder Exercise

2.4 Lunch Break

2.5 The Board's Governance Role

2.6 Board Handbook Technical Update

2.7 Break

2.8 Professional Development (Appeals)

2.9 2026-2027 Advisory Committee on Communications and Community Engagement

3. Closing Remarks - 3:30 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DQJTBZ76A64D

1. Closed Session Approval - 9:00 a.m.

1.1 Resolution for Today's Closed Session

This Agenda Item Contains an Attachment.

2. Opening Remarks and Agenda Overview - 10:30 a.m.

3. Topics

3.1 Team Building Exercise

3.2 Lunch Break

3.3 Governance Exercise

3.4 Communications Strategy

3.5 Break

3.6 Board Meeting Timing and Schedule Considerations

3.7 2026-2027 Board Annual Calendar Review and Considerations

4. Closing Remarks - 3:30 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DQJTH2775FB3

Silver Spring middle school delayed contacting police when student was seriously injured

Incident is one of two highlighting lags in reporting

Administrators at Odessa Shannon Middle School delayed contacting Montgomery County police for several hours following an Oct. 22 incident that seriously injured a student when he was struck in the head with a metal object thrown by another student, according to a police report recently posted on social media by the injured boy’s mother.  

The incident at the Silver Spring school occurred at roughly 11 a.m. and resulted in the hospitalization of the student in an intensive care unit. Principal Natasha Booms called 911 for medical aid, but did not contact police until about 5 p.m. that day, the police report said. Responding Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) crews transported the boy to Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring.  

“It should be noted that school staff did not contact [the police department] about this incident when it occurred,” said the report posted on Jan. 14 by Emily Diaz, mother of the injured boy. Bethesda Today confirmed the report’s authenticity with police. 

The October incident is one of two incidents occurring in Montgomery County public schools in recent months in which there was a delay in contacting police —despite a 2022 memorandum of understanding between the police department and the district that details the type of incidents that require police to be contacted immediately...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2026/01/21/silver-spring-middle-school-delays-police/

1/22/26: Superintendent Taylor Finds $441,380 to spend on Commercial Office and Warehouse Space

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the Montgomery County Board of Education will meet for their once a month business meeting.  Up until last year, the Board of Education held two business meetings a month.  

At the January 22nd meeting the Board's Consent Agenda will include an item authorizing Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor to spend $441,380 on an architectural firm to design the commercial warehouse and office space he apparently leased in November of 2025. 

The Resolution to authorize the spending of $441,380 on an architecture firm lists a "WHEREAS clause" that states that "Funds for architectural planning of the project were approved in the FY 2024 Capital Budget and the FY 2023-2028 Capital Improvements Program."

In that Capital Budget, $2,500,000 was approved to "fit out the new leased warehouse."  However, the cost to "fit out" the leased MCPS Commercial and Office space at 750 Progress Way has already been stated to be $13,000,000. 

What is the definition of "fit out?"  

Montgomery County Public Schools FY 2024 Capital Budget and Amended FY 2023-2028 Capital Improvements Program page 198. 

The Board of Education's Consent Agenda is for items that are grouped together for a single vote that are projected to be approved by a unanimous vote.  

We do not expect the Board of Education to question this additional expenditure for the surprise leased MCPS commercial office and warehouse space. 

It's only $441,380 of education funding.  There aren't any other needs in MCPS classrooms, correct? 

 

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Proposed cuts to MCPS staff who support students, families raise concerns

50 central service positions on chopping block under fiscal year 2027 budget proposal

A typical work week for a pupil personnel worker for Tee Clark in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), can involve helping families and students experiencing homelessness complete required forms, advising families who are considering homeschooling or assisting in the re-enrollment of students who are involved with the county Department of Juvenile Services.   

“We show up at hospitals for kids. We show up at funerals for kids,” Clark told Bethesda Today on Tuesday. “We’re there with families who are grieving the loss of their kids because of whatever reasons. I was at a funeral about a month and a half ago with a family. I went to the house before the funeral. So we do a whole lot of personal touch with the families.”   

That’s why Clark, who serves the Northwood cluster, and her fellow pupil personnel workers, along with county school board members, are raising concerns about Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s recommendation to cut 10 of the district’s 52 positions and other positions that support students as part of his proposed $3.78 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2027.   

“Although I totally understand that we are [in very hard times] times of budgeting … I am very leery about cutting certain positions that we have built on for decades to ensure that we have that trust in the community,” school board President Grace Rivera-Oven said Tuesday during a work session on the budget proposal attended by Clark and other pupil personnel workers at the board’s Rockville headquarters...

  https://bethesdamagazine.com/2026/01/07/proposed-cuts-to-mcps-staff-raise-concerns/

NYC failed to collect $43M in penalties from school bus companies, audit finds

 

New York City failed to collect $42.6 million in penalties from school bus companies due to drivers’ failure to log into GPS systems as required, a new audit by city Comptroller Brad Lander found.

The GPS systems are supposed to allow parents to track when buses are about to arrive, as well as their kids’ whereabouts once they’re on board. But parents have complained for years that the GPS often doesn’t work. Lander said a lack of accountability is one of the problems driving the dysfunction of the notorious school bus system.

“For decades, our city’s school bus system has failed our students and families,” he said.

Lander said the system is plagued by “a real culture of underperformance from the bus companies and weak oversight by [the education department’s] Office of Pupil Transportation.” He called for a thorough overhaul of the school bus system, and said Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani should appoint a school bus czar to jump-start major improvements.

Lander’s audit comes after a Gothamist investigation found the city’s official data on delays and other school bus problems does not capture the full scope of the problem. The city relies on school bus companies to self-report incidents, like when they are stuck in traffic, get in a crash or don’t show up at all.

The city last month renewed an agreement with bus companies for the next three years despite the persistent problems, but pushed back against an even longer contract supported by the bus companies. Lander said officials must use that window to finally reform the system.

“With the shortened three-year contract extensions, City Hall has a unique opportunity to fix our schools’ dysfunctional bus system,” the comptroller said...

https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-failed-to-collect-43m-in-penalties-from-school-bus-companies-audit-finds

The Budgetpalooza is coming! February 16th, 7:30 pm - 9 pm Zoom only

PROPOSED BUDGET: $3,775,269,535

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 156,511

EIGHT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

ONE BUDGETPALOOZA!

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County is working with the Montgomery County Taxpayers League for our annual MCPS Budgetpalooza. We will go through the proposed FY27 Operating Budget chapter by chapter. The proposed budget is now proposed at $3.775 billion.

 

We are looking for volunteers to take a chapter or an appendix/appendices and report on it at the Budgetpalooza. If you would like to volunteer please let us know. If you can, please go through the budget and see which chapter (or appendix/appendices) is of interest for you to review.

 

This year the Budgetpalooza is Monday, February 16th at 7:30 pm - 9 pm by zoom.

 

DATE: Monday, February 16, 2026

TIME: 7:30 pm - 9 pm

LOCATION: Zoom

 

More information coming, please let us know if you can volunteer for this event.

Please pass this on to your neighborhood and PTA listservs!

 

Here is the link to the superintendent's proposed FY27 Budget: 2027operatingbudget.pdf

See you there!

Blair HS Silver Chips: Another Scandal Plagues Electric Buses - Maryland State Board of Education Rules Contract [Illegal]

https://issuu.com/silverchipsonline/docs/october_2025_-_silver_chips_print

 

Silver Chips: Another scandal plagues electric school buses in Montgomery County by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Montgomery County Public Schools' review of employee histories reveals criminal violations

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — 7News presses Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for answers after a recent review of employee histories reveals criminal violations.

We reached out to MCPS to learn more about the cases. The school system confirmed recent screenings flagged 22 employees...

...We talked to a former MCPS student and parent who is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider.

She said MCPS is putting its students in danger.

"My response is a deep sense of disappointment and outrage. What this means is MCPS is failing in its most basic duty to help create safe environments for our children," Jennifer Gross said.

MCPS blamed the background check backlog on the previous administration and said it rescreened more than 10,000 employees between September and December of 2025...

https://wjla.com/news/local/story/montgomery-county-public-schools-mcps-background-checks-criminal-violations-employee-screening-child-protective-services-safety-concerns-maryland-education-issues-backlog-policy-fbi-rapback

BREAKING: Taylor Proposes Major Cuts to Autism Services *** Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half***

 

As Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor enters his second year and Dr. Margaret Cage is early in her first year leading the Division of Specialized Support Services, MCPS is executing significant changes to special education that directly affect autistic students and their families.

We have learned of reductions and reorganization within MCPS special education, including the elimination of supervisors of services important to autistic students: Autism Services, Speech and Language Services, Transition Services, and Alternate Learning Outcomes. Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak, the Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s longtime supervisor, Kristin Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge... https://xminds.org/resources/EmailTemplates/News%20Webpage%20January%202026/index_preview.html

‘Over my dead body’: MoCo school board meeting gets tense over Wootton High closure proposal

The public comment portion of the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting Thursday was dominated by parents who oppose the proposal to close Wootton High School and send those students to the future Crown High School instead.

It’s just one element of the school district’s redistricting plan that would draw new boundaries in the state’s largest school district.

Throughout the meeting, parents held up signs and many wore tee shirts emblazoned with a large “W” featuring stars and stripes...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2026/01/wooton-high-school-community-packs-mcps-board-meeting-on-closure-proposal/

Board of Education set to discuss fate of its only charter school

Leaders of the MECCA Business Leadership Institute in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County’s only charter school, plan to attend the Board of Education’s work session Thursday to refute what they say are inaccurate allegations against their school.

BOE members expect to vote later this month on a recommendation by the school district to revoke its charter...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/board-of-education-set-to-discuss-fate-of-its-only-charter-school/

Harford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson has been placed on administrative leave, with pay. The Maryland Inspector General for Education is investigating.

BREAKING NEWS:

Harford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson has been placed on administrative leave, with pay.

The Maryland Inspector General for Education is investigating.

Dr. Diane Mack is now acting superintendent.

This comes after @FOXBaltimore obtained the… https://t.co/8A71WfIuV7

— Chris Papst (@chrispapst) January 8, 2026

"...a previously unreported traffic incident has come to light. Now, a third student has been injured near school grounds..."

 

After-school pedestrian safety under scrutiny after death and multiple child injuries

Since the October 2025 death of 11-year-old sixth-grader Summer Lim, near Earle B. Wood Middle School in Rockville, a previously unreported traffic incident has come to light. Now, a third student has been injured near school grounds. Are two new stop signs enough to keep our children safe? MCM News asked a traffic safety expert to provide insights...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/after-school-safety-its-complicated/

MoCo school board member Brenda Wolff won’t seek re-election to District 5 seat

Story by reporter Ashlyn Campbell, in Bethesda Today. For the whole story go here.

MCPS parent files to run for post; Grace Rivera-Oven becomes sole incumbent running for re-election 

Montgomery County school board Vice President Brenda Wolff, who represents District 5, said Monday she won’t seek re-election to a third term in 2026.   

Wolff told Bethesda Today by phone she will have served on the board for eight years at the end of her current term and believes it’s time for someone else to take on the role.  

Meanwhile, Elma-Lorraine Diggs, a parent of two Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students, on Jan. 2 filed with the state and local elections board to run for Wolff’s seat in the June gubernatorial primary election, according to the state elections board website. Diggs is the only candidate who has filed for the District 5 seat. Her candidate information filed with the state elections board includes a Silver Spring address. 

These Teenagers Are Already Running Their Own AI Companies

 From the Wall Street Journal by reporter Katherine Bindley. To read the entire article go here.

They might not yet drive, but they’re getting an early start in business by leveraging vibe-coding and social media

Like any good tech founder, Nick Dobroshinsky puts in late nights and early mornings working on his startup. But this particular founder doesn’t have much choice: Between 8 a.m. and 2:55 p.m., he’s in high school. He’s 15.

“Around the end of eighth grade, I wanted to make some sort of business,” says Dobroshinsky, a sophomore in Sammamish, Wash. “I just spent a long time thinking about what problems there are that could be fixed with AI.”

With a little market-research help from his mom, who works in finance, and some early technical guidance from his dad, who works in AI at a big tech company, he landed on the idea of using AI models to generate reports on small- and mid-cap publicly traded companies. The result is BeyondSPX, an AI-based financial research platform.

Superintendent Taylor Determines Transparency is No Longer Important, Withholds Proposed Budget Until MCPS Closes for Winter Break.

Remember when Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor was hired by the Board of Education?  

On his third day of work Superintendent Taylor released a letter to the public which stated:

"...Transparency is really important to me..."

Apparently transparency is no longer "really important" to Superintendent Taylor.  Despite putting out a press release that said:

MCPS Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor presented his recommended Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Operating Budget on Dec. 17

As of December 22, 2025, Superintendent Taylor's proposed FY27 Operating Budget had still not been released.  

When asking the MCPS Chatbox on December 22, 2025, where the FY27 Operating Budget was on the MCPS website, here was the Chatbox's response:  

Road Safety Town Hall in-person meeting Saturday Jan 10 at 10am, Council Office Building, Rockville

From at-large councilmember Evan Glass (D). Mr. Glass is also running for county executive. Note Dr. Taylor, MCPS Superintendent will be at this meeting.

Dear Friend,

Across our region, too many neighbors know someone who has been injured or tragically killed while walking or cycling on our roads. Montgomery County has seen 563 pedestrian- and cyclist-involved crashes this year, including 65 serious injuries and 15 fatalities. That urgency is why I am convening a Road Safety Town Hall on Saturday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m. at the Council Office Building – to have a dialogue about real solutions that will make our streets safer. 

Our goal is to ensure that residents feel heard and are engaged in meaningful discussion. We’ll start in the Council chamber and then break into two small-group conversations where residents can share priorities, concerns, and solutions.

This is a unique opportunity to talk directly with county and state transportation leaders, MCPS staff, public safety officials, and to learn about current projects and help identify what’s most needed to keep everyone safe on our roads.

Please register to attend the Road Safety Town Hall using this link. You can also share which breakout room you plan to join and submit your questions and concerns to ensure we have feedback from everyone who attends.

I look forward to seeing you at the town hall.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Evan Glass

Superintendent Parties as Buddy the Elf while Sherwood High School Floods

 

On Thursday, December 18, 2025, a broken sprinkler system at Sherwood High School caused flooding that damaged at least 12 classrooms.  The flooding caused the school to be closed on Friday, December 19th. 

Meanwhile on Councilmember Will Jawando's Facebook on Thursday, December 18th, we see that the Councilmember attended a MCPS leadership and staff Holiday Party where Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor was dressed up as Buddy the Elf.  

Did Buddy the Elf have a creative plan for cleaning up the water flooding the classrooms and halls at Sherwood High School?  Did he suggest bubble gum or marshmallows as caulk?  All of the other elves are waiting to hear Buddy the Elf's solution to the flooding at Sherwood High School.  

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1560727386058035&set=pcb.1560727802724660