For those who don't remember -- or who weren't here a couple of years ago -- the Attorney General of Maryland has repeatedly stated that curricular fees are illegal under the Maryland constitution.
Sherwood HS Class Dues Fees Doc
More information about illegal curricular fees can be found here.
This is a form that has been used for years, and the Class Fees section should have been omitted. I do not recall having to pay fees for books, materials, etc. for SHS classes. Frankly, SHS has been hit so hard the past couple of years with budget cuts, I would happily donate some money if asked, and no....I don't have tons of money to spare. SHS has a principal who really cares, and it's heartbreaking to see him have to layoff so many talented young dynamic teachers.
ReplyDelete@1:46 AM There is no relationship between teacher salaries and illegal curricular fees. Your comment makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteIllegal curricular fees collected by local schools go into a local school SLUSH FUND for the principal.
The fees do NOT go to pay for teacher salaries or school construction. They do NOT go into the MCPS Operating budget and are NOT accounted for in the MCPS budget documents. The fees have nothing to do with heartbreaking teacher cuts.
It's an ILLEGAL SLUSH FUND. Period.
Anon 1:46 AM -- Please do the Sherwood community a favor by letting the principal know that incorrect information about class fees been posted to the Sherwood web site, and ask the principal to post a corrected version of the form, along with a notice that there are really no class fees. When the corrected version of the form has been posted, let us know and we'll publish an update to this blog article.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said it was "heartbreaking" to see the principal have to layoff so many talented young dynamic teachers.
ReplyDeleteBut today's Gazette says: "Not a single Montgomery County Public Schools teacher was laid off for the upcoming school year."
http://www.gazette.net/article/20110817/NEWS/708179632/1124/1124/montgomery-avoids-teacher-layoffs&template=gazette
Which is it?
Any principal or school administrator who allows illegal fees should be fired immediately. What does our new school superintendent have to say about this practice?
ReplyDeleteThe "incorrect fees info" was sent home in the mailer too, must have been an oversight as well then? I doubt it. Farquhar MS's website has a list of extensive supplies required for all students, they have not heeded the rules at all. They got a new principal last year and we were hoping this year would bring change, but the list continues to be out of control. Pyle MS has a fairly extensive list and expects students to provide their own flash drives. All of these schools are in districts that figure parents can "afford" it no doubt.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that only the class fees would be a violation. Is that correct? The rest appears to be requests for donations via the Boosters, PTA, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe Attorney General wrote "... anything directly related to a school's curriculum must be available to all without charge".
ReplyDeleteThere appears to be no rule against soliciting truly voluntary donations.