Happy Thanksgiving

 Best wishes to all from the Parents' Coalition for a very happy Thanksgiving.

(photo from The New Yorker magazine)

Joshua Starr now superintendent in residence at New Mexico Right At School, a leading provider of after-school enrichment programs.

 https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/article_cd9b0228-d33b-40b9-baf7-eb8932ae6634.html

ABC7 Found $10M in Unapproved Spending by MCPS Administrators. Board of Education Asleep at the Wheel.

Report raises questions about spending at Montgomery County Public Schools

by Kellye Lynn

Tue, November 25, 2025 at 6:01 AM

Updated Tue, November 25, 2025 at 7:08 AM

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A new inspector general report shows Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) failed to get school board approval for more than a million dollars in payments to various vendors.

The review comes just three months after 7News told you thousands of MCPS employees had outdated criminal history checks.

The Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General conducted a review of the school system's procurement process. The report focused on fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

It found the Division of Procurement, which purchases supplies and equipment for MCPS, failed to follow laws, regulations and procedures for expenditures.

For instance, the school system is required to get Board of Education approval for purchases over $25,000, but in several cases, that didn't happen...

“We just saw the State Board of Education determine that the electric school bus bid award was made illegally. How many illegal things are we going to have before there's some prosecution or action?” Janis Sartucci said.

https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-inspector-general-report-million-without-broad-approval-procurement-review-spending-education-vendor-payments-accountability-jp-morgan-chase-policy-violations-maryland-transparency-oversight

Board of Education Held Closed Meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025, to discuss "State Agency Matter."

Would this have been a discussion of the recent Maryland State Board of Education declaring the MCPS bid award on the electric school bus scheme illegal? 

...Resolved, That the Board of Education of Montgomery County conduct a special closed session on November 17, 2025, in Room 120 at 15 West Gude Drive, Rockville, Maryland, beginning immediately following the vote to go into closed session until approximately 6:00 p.m., in order to receive legal advice regarding a state agency matter, which advice must be shared in closed session to prevent disclosures that may negatively impact the Board’s position with regard to the resolution of the matter; to maintain confidentiality of legal advice with regard to the current status of the matter; and to preserve attorney-client privilege, and is permissible pursuant to General Provisions Article, Section 3-305(b)(7); and be it further..

https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DNFTU378FFA0/$file/251117%20Resolution%20for%20Todays%20Closed%20Session.pdf

Council Public Hearing on $3.8M for HVAC/Mold Remediation in MCPS. Deadline to sign up to speak is December 1st at 2 PM.

The County Council will hold a public hearing on Dec. 2, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. 

The hearing will allow the public to speak to the $3.8M in Healthy Schools funding from the State of Maryland. 

Deadline to sign up to speak is Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. (Link to sign up page)

• Resolution to approve an Amendment to the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program and Supplemental Appropriation #26-34 to the FY26 Capital Budget, Montgomery County Public Schools, Healthy Schools MCPS (No. 652504), $3,814,685 (Source of Funds: State Aid)

https://montgomerycountymd.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=169&clip_id=18402&meta_id=207523

How can quality programs be replicated under proposed MCPS regional model?

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) plans to make sweeping changes to the academic programs available to students. Part of this is the wholesale elimination of the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) and the Northeast Consortium (NEC) model in favor of a six-region model. The dissolution of the consortia will have a direct impact on countywide magnet programs and in particular the MCPS Visual Art Center (VAC) at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington. MCPS is among the nation’s best public school systems in part because it offers such exceptional programs. The county will lose one of its crown jewels if the MCPS academic programs committee implements this plan. Last year MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor celebrated the VAC’s 50 years of excellence. Today he wants to eliminate it.

The VAC, a criteria-based program, draws applications from students attending all schools in Montgomery County and admits between 30-35 students per class year. With two dedicated instructors, a purpose-built studio, and a double period schedule, the small class-based curriculum consistently produces artist-scholars recognized at the local, state, and national level. For example, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards from 2025 alone included an American Visionary nominee, seven gold portfolios winners, along with winners of 58 gold keys, 84 silver keys, and 132 honorable mentions. These artist-scholars are high achievers on AP exams, consistently outperforming the national average.

Beyond the numbers, the VAC presents opportunities for teen artists to express their creativity and their voices beyond the typical high school experience. VAC instructors mentor students to enter competitions as part of the curriculum. Last spring, VAC students exhibited work at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival on the National Mall and at American University’s Katzen Arts Center. In the current small learning community model, students receive the instruction and mentorship of two dedicated visual arts educators, resulting in diverse candidates for scholarships, college application support, and career-ready portfolio development...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/20/letter-to-editor-how-can-quality-programs-be-replicated-mcps-regional-model/

Petition: End The Neglect of Sherwood High School

 

The Issue

Sherwood High School is plagued by hazards that jeopardize the health and well-being of everyone within its walls due to years of neglect by the county. 

Persistent mold, aging plumbing, malfunctioning HVAC system, sewage issues, leaks, broken tiles, bad ventilation, and asbestos are not just inconveniences—they are contributing factors to illnesses that have impacted students, teachers and staff for years. The deterioration of the school's infrastructure is undeniable, especially considering that certain parts of the building have not been improved since the 1950s.  It is unconscionable for our children and their teachers to spend their days in an environment that poses significant health risks.

Teachers, students and staff at Sherwood High School experience respiratory illnesses while in the building. In fact, twenty-eight IAQ complaint forms were submitted to MCPS last week alone.  A high number of teachers and staff past and present received a cancer diagnosis which has created fear in our community.  Everyone in the lower level of the building endures moldy and sewage smells on a daily basis. Students deal with drastic temperature fluctuations while switching to and from areas of the school that are either unbearably hot or too cold. There is visible mold growing in areas of the school and teachers are equipped with spray bottles that contain bleach because they constantly wipe mold from furniture and teaching materials.  Bathrooms are frequently "out of order".  My daughter spends her morning in a moldy classroom and suffers from a "cold” often. These conditions do not create a healthy, safe and positive environment for learning. 

 Read what some teachers endure: 

https://www.change.org/p/end-the-neglect-of-sherwood-high-school?source_location=search

MCPS Parent Speaks Out After Student Injuries Raise Bullying Concerns

A Rockville parent said he was moved to speak out and advocate for his 10-year-old son, who was allegedly struck in the head on his schoolyard in early October, after reading about MCPS middle school student Lenny Diaz on MCM news. Diaz was hospitalized with serious injuries after another student threw a metal object at his head.

The parent, John Bittner, has a fifth grader at Sequoyah Elementary School in Derwood, whom he said has been harassed by two classmates for several years. Bittner alleges his son was kicked in the head and suffered headaches and nightmares as a result...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-parent-speaks-out-after-student-injuries-raises-bullying-concerns/

County school board renews debate over artificial turf vs. grass fields during proposed capital budget review

 Article in Bethesda Today, reporter Ashlyn Campbell. for the full story go here.

Reminder this blog posted a series of investigation articles into the county Board of Education and County Council decision to use dangerous artificial turf instead of natural sod, including climate issues, and finances. 

We have sod farmers in our Agricultural Reserve but instead our tax dollars are being used to purchase artificial turf from refurbished carpet factories in Georgia. In addition these turf fields are heat islands that can be seen from space, giving lie to the idea that the Board of Education and the County Council believe there is such a thing as climate change. Clearly they do not.

From the Bethesda Today article:

MCPS staff say synthetic surface can be utilized by more athletes, community members

Six high schools are set to get either new synthetic turf fields or replacement fields as part of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) proposed six-year capital improvements program (CIP), a plan that sparked debate among county school board members Tuesday over whether the district should move forward with turf or explore installing more natural grass fields.  

MCPS Athletics Director Jeffrey Sullivan and Capital Budget and Projects Manager Donald Connelly joined the school board Tuesday to talk about the proposal for fields during a CIP work session at the school board headquarters at 15 W. Gude Drive in Rockville. They discussed the costs, benefits and drawbacks of natural and turf fields as part of the board’s review of the district’s $2.7 billion proposed CIP plan.  

In recent weeks, the board has held several work sessions to review the proposed CIP, and is expected to vote on the proposal during its Nov. 20 business meeting. 

MCPS Blake High School Teacher Elected to State Board of Education

 Nicole Murray-Lewis received highest number of votes in Teacher Member election. 

BALTIMORE (November 18, 2025) – Nicole Murray-Lewis, a social studies educator at James H. Blake High School in Montgomery County Public Schools, was elected to serve as the teacher member on the State Board of Education.

A 28-year veteran educator, Murray-Lewis received 39.9 percent of the 3,624 votes cast in the election, held November 3 to November 17 to fill the open teacher member seat on the State Board. Prior to joining Blake High School, she spent 24 years at Gaithersburg High School and four years in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. She achieved National Board Certification in 2008.

The full results can be found online. Eligible voters included individuals holding an active Maryland educator certificate or license as of October 10, 2025.

Murray-Lewis’ appointment will be sent to Gov. Moore and is subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

###

https://news.maryland.gov/msde/mcps-teacher-elected-to-state-board-of-education/

Inspector General Flags Inconsistencies in MCPS Procurement Practices

...The OIG found there are no standard procedures on how MCPS staff should document purchases, and records are often incomplete or scattered across multiple systems. Staff often relies on personal judgment or unofficial processes, leading to inconsistent practices.  

Some of the key findings in the report state MCPS ignored Maryland law and its own regulations by making purchases over $25,000 without Board of Education approval. Additionally, seven vendors received payments above the threshold in FY23 and FY24 with no evidence of Board authorization...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/the-montgomery-county-office-of-the-inspector-general-found-inconsistencies-in-how-montgomery-county-public-schools-handled-its-procurement-process-during-fiscal-years-2023-and-2024/

County school board renews debate over artificial turf vs. grass fields during proposed capital budget review

Six high schools are set to get either new synthetic turf fields or replacement fields as part of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) proposed six-year capital improvements program (CIP), a plan that sparked debate among county school board members Tuesday over whether the district should move forward with turf or explore installing more natural grass fields.  

MCPS Athletics Director Jeffrey Sullivan and Capital Budget and Projects Manager Donald Connelly joined the school board Tuesday to talk about the proposal for fields during a CIP work session at the school board headquarters at 15 W. Gude Drive in Rockville. They discussed the costs, benefits and drawbacks of natural and turf fields as part of the board’s review of the district’s $2.7 billion proposed CIP plan.  

In recent weeks, the board has held several work sessions to review the proposed CIP, and is expected to vote on the proposal during its Nov. 20 business meeting.   

The CIP calls for the district to spend $15 million during fiscal year 2027 for six turf installations or replacements. The amount also includes money for three or four playground replacements...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/13/mcps-turf-debate/

Somerset County school board violated state law in hiring lawyers, inspector general says

...After hiring new attorneys, the board rescinded its policy on selecting legal counsel through a competitive process.

The board declined to be interviewed by the Inspector General’s Office. Their lawyers wrote that “they will not agree to be independently interrogated by you or the OIGE.”

Henry has asked the Maryland State Board of Education to establish standard practices for county boards to give the public more transparency in how they hire contractors.

Henry also said he would like county boards to be trained in what the rules are for hiring contractors, including what ethical standards are.

https://www.thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/marc-and-gordana-schifanelli-FTHLXHLUC5H7ZFWIGGSWACDUHQ/

The Maryland State Board of Education said Montgomery County Public Schools’ electric bus contract was “tainted” by an employee later convicted of fraud.

A school district’s deal to shift to electric buses hits another bump

...The state board said it reviewed the external report conducted on behalf of the Montgomery school district that detailed how the electric-bus contract was awarded. The four-person committee was tasked with scoring the potential vendors.

The state board said that if the scores of Ewald and Watkins were excluded, Highland Electric Fleets would not have won the Montgomery contract. It alleges their involvement “at a minimum … created an appearance of impropriety.”

Ewald’s scores were not included in the report, and López referred questions about the omission to the investigator. Andrew Nussbaum, a Howard County-based attorney, did not immediately answer questions about his report...

 https://wapo.st/3JJn7yR

Maryland's State Board of Education report says MCPS electric bus deal is illegal

...Janis Zink Sartucci, with the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County — a watchdog group — said the state’s findings are unprecedented.

“I have certainly never seen a decision by the Montgomery County Board of Education declared illegal,” Sartucci said.

In a statement to the I-Team, MCPS said it is still reviewing the state’s decision and has not yet analyzed the full implications for the district.

“It is outrageous that our Board of Education and Superintendent have not addressed this issue that has been ongoing for years,” she said. “Instead, they’ve opted to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees on what the State Board of Education now calls a tainted bid award.”..

https://wjla.com/features/i-team/maryland-report-says-mcps-electric-bus-deal-is-illegal-montgomery-county-public-schools-parents-coalition-iteam

Montgomery County schools see ‘sharp decrease’ in student enrollment

...He said the school system is anticipating a loss of 6,000 students over the next six years. That would bring the enrollment figures down to 149,706 from a high of 165,267 in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the declining enrollment projections, Taylor said, “It doesn’t change the size of our portfolio,” referring to the total 238 school buildings in the school system...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/10/montgomery-county-schools-see-student-enrollment-drop-project-its-part-of-trend/

Baltimore Sun: Nonprofit tied to Baltimore schools faces scrutiny over pay, lawsuits and finances

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/11/08/nonprofit-tied-to-baltimore-schools-faces-scrutiny-over-pay-lawsuits-and-finances/

A Maryland nonprofit that helps school districts — including Baltimore City Public Schools — hire educators is facing questions about its finances, legal disputes and how it uses taxpayer dollars.

Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, or LTYC, is a nonprofit with a mission to help children excel through arts education. But public records obtained by Spotlight on Maryland reveal a series of lawsuits and concerns involving the organization and its founder, Dermell Brunson.

[...] 

He declined an in-person interview for this story but answered a majority of questions through email. In emails, Brunson signs his name with the title “Dr.” When asked about his academic background, he said he graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts – a high school. When asked again which college he attended, he replied, “That’s all I have for you at this time. Extremely busy.”

Also reported by WBFF TV 45:
https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/nonprofit-tied-to-baltimore-schools-faces-scrutiny-over-pay-lawsuits-and-finances 

Teachers union urges MCPS to halt proposed regional programming changes

In the latest pushback against a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) proposal for a regional program model for middle and high schools, the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) announced Thursday its opposition to the plan and asked the district to stop moving forward until all stakeholders are adequately involved.  

“While MCEA supports the goal of the proposed model – to increase access and equity to enriched instruction – the Association does not have confidence that the plan, as currently proposed, will meet that goal in any meaningful sense,” MCEA, the local teachers union, said in a Thursday statement. 

The MCEA Representative Assembly voted Wednesday night to oppose the district’s proposed regional program model, the statement said. The union is advocating for the creation of a new programming plan that includes MCEA input on the design and limits financial and other impacts on district initiatives “that are successful and should serve as models for expansion.” ..

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/06/teachers-union-halt-programming-changes/

Superintendent Taylor wants to see if MCPS can fail again at a public-private partnership. MCPS has money to burn.

 

MCPS to explore public-private partnerships to fund some facility needs  

Proposed capital improvement program includes money to hire adviser

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will explore partnering with private companies to pay for some facility projects included in its proposed $2.7 billion six-year capital improvements program (CIP), Superintendent Thomas Taylor told the county school board Tuesday. 

A public-private partnership, also called a P3, allows a school district to partner with a private-sector company to get new construction projects started faster, without requiring the district to pay the upfront costs, according to a district presentation during a work session on the proposed CIP.  

The ongoing construction of the Purple Line is the most well-known local example of a P3, with the state partnering with the private sector to build the 16-mile light-rail that will run from Bethesda to New Carrollton when completed. 

MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said the Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville is an example of an MCPS facility that could be suitable for a public-private partnership to make needed renovations...  

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/04/mcps-public-private-partnership/

Montgomery County’s new school ratings: More schools earned 4 stars — and 1 star

Montgomery County schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor has set ambitious goals for the state’s largest school district: By 2035, he says, every campus should score the equivalent of a four- or five-star rating on the Maryland School Report Card.

The latest results show there’s a long way to go — but the district is inching in the right direction...

https://www.thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/what-to-know-about-montgomery-countys-new-school-ratings-57PI4OE46NDI3EBGS4NRCOGJTE/?schk=NO&rchk=YES&utm_source=The+Banner&utm_campaign=d45429f77a-NL_ALRT_MC_20251104_1300&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fed75856d2-d45429f77a-599447540&mc_cid=d45429f77a