BOE Candidates Forum April 15, 2024

The complete forum held on April 15, 2024, is here.

Board of Education Candidates Forum Results of 'yes/no' questions

 As part of the BOE Candidates Forum on April 15th, organized by Moderately MoCo, one segment of the forum was a series of 'yes/no' questions posed to the candidates.  Here are their answers.

Forest Oak Middle School School Building Service Manager Charged With Possessing Loaded Handgun on School Property @mcps @mocoboe

A Forest Oak Middle School employee was arrested and charged with possessing a loaded privately manufactured handgun on the school campus in Gaithersburg.

Tuesday at 12:24 p.m., Gaithersburg Police Community Engagement Officers were called to the school in the 600 block of Saybrooke Oaks Boulevard for a report of a staff member with a firearm.

William Broadus Coleman, 30, of Washington, D.C. consented to a search of his vehicle, where the officers found a loaded handgun, police reported...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/school-building-service-manager-charged-with-possessing-loaded-handgun-on-school-property/

REMINDER FOR BOE ELECTION: Confirmed: Board President Karla Silvestre and Vice President Shebra Evans Violated Maryland Law in Hiring Outside Law Firm without Board of Education Approval.

 https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/09/confirmed-board-president-karla.html

MCPS requested to testify on May 8th at U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce on antisemitism in MCPS

 

2 School Districts to Testify as Congress Expands Antisemitism Inquiry

New York Times/Yahoo News, reporter Troy Closson For the full story go here.

"The leaders of public schools in New York City and Montgomery County, Maryland, will testify about how their districts are handling antisemitism before a congressional committee next month. It will be the first time that K-12 districts have taken center stage in the House hearings focused on how schools are responding to a wave of student protests since Hamas’ attacks against Israel on Oct. 7."

And:

"And in Montgomery County, the biggest district in Maryland, a number of local schools have struggled with antisemitic episodes, including swastika graffiti, since Oct. 7. Several teachers were also placed on administrative leave for social media posts in recent months, including one teacher who signed an email with the contested phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

And: 

"The committee could cover a similar range of issues in the K-12 hearing, including discipline policies, the handling of antisemitic episodes and student protests.

In Montgomery County, for example, Silvestre will likely be asked about the status of an investigation into the social media posts of another teacher who claimed that the Hamas attacks were a hoax.

The county had been grappling with a rise in antisemitism in schools even before Oct. 7. Those included an episode this fall at one high school, where the principal said students filmed themselves “performing an antisemitic salute.”

The district said in a statement that Silvestre was eager to share how schools were tackling antisemitism and intolerance, and creating “a safe and welcoming learning environment that supports all students.”

When will victims of sexual abuse by @mcps staff get their chance to be heard by the Board of Education? @mocoboe

Survivors of abuse address archbishop of Baltimore in bankruptcy court | NBC4 Washington

Board of Education Candidates Forum Tomorrow! Monday, April 15th 6:30 PM

Mail your taxes and then head to the candidates forum! Easily accessible by metro and bus, parking nearby.

Detectives Continue to Investigate Lost Knife Road Attempted Abduction; Composite Sketch of Suspect Released

For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 11, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police - Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have obtained a composite sketch of a suspect who attempted to abduct a 10-year-old girl in the 18300 Block of Lost Knife Road. Detectives have released the composite sketch of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him. 

 

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, at approximately 3 p.m., a 10-year-old girl was sitting outside of an apartment building in the 18300 Block of Lost Knife Road.  The victim told police that while sitting there, an unknown male grabbed her arm and told her to come with him.  The victim believes the suspect ran away when he saw police cars that were in the neighborhood.

 

The suspect is described as a light complected unknown race male, between twenty-five and thirty-five years old, with a thin build, a tattoo on the left side of the face and a straight piece of blonde hair. The suspect was last seen wearing a black shirt, a black sweatshirt jacket with a hood and black pants.

 

Anyone with information regarding this case or suspect is asked to call 240-773-5400 or visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org. Click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477.  Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000. Tips may remain anonymous...

https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail_Pol.aspx?Item_ID=45070

Maryland legislature passes bill banning registered juvenile sex offenders from schools

Annapolis, Md. (WBFF) — Certain juveniles sex offenders will no longer be allowed to attend Maryland public schools in person. Legislation that just passed in Annapolis aims to make school safer following an alarming Fox45 News investigation.

“I'm really pleased with the final product. I think it's the right thing that protects students in schools and makes sure that everybody's rights are protected,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson who promised to get the bill passed.

It took just 72 days for Maryland lawmakers to fulfill that promise.

“It did happen quick,” said Delegate Nino Mangione. “It was a shocking story that you guys did a great job with, and it proves that we can be bipartisan. We can come together and get important things done when need be.”..

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/maryland-legislature-passes-bill-banning-registered-juvenile-sex-offenders-from-schools

MCPS considers adding vape, weapons detection systems, plus mandatory IDs to improve school safety

Recognizing growing community concerns about safety and discipline, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is considering new security and safety tools such as vape and weapons detection systems and mandatory student and staff IDs, according to a community letter from interim Superintendent Monique Felder.

In the letter sent April 2, Felder reaffirms the district’s commitment to safety and discipline in schools and aims to address mounting worries regarding student behavior that have been “in the forefront of community discussions, among student and staff and, lately in the news.”

“Comprehensive methods … can foster higher levels of safety and minimize incidents that violate the Student Code of Conduct,” Felder wrote...

https://moco360.media/2024/04/10/mcps-considers-adding-vape-weapons-detection-systems-mandatory-ids-to-improve-school-safety/

Four Montgomery schools lose Title I money after change in poverty metric

Nine-year-old Leo Kennedy used to struggle with writing.

Then an enrichment teacher at Viers Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring, Md. — where Leo is a fourth-grader — started pushing him more, recounted his mom, Laurel Kennedy. After the teacher gave him C’s, it motivated him to try harder. Leo started writing, and he loved it. Now, his dream is to become a reporter.

But the program that helped Leo discover his love of writing is in jeopardy, now that Viers Mill is losing a federal Title I grant that’s key in paying for the enrichment teacher and other positions. Three other Montgomery County elementary schools are in a similar predicament.

The four campuses are among 58 Montgomery schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, another federal program that gives free breakfast and lunch to all students at certain schools with high need. Through it, Montgomery County Public Schools says it is feeding more children than ever at no cost...

https://wapo.st/4b6Dpdh

Opinion: Cutting MCPS autism program is detrimental mistake

Darnestown Elementary Learning Center is only one focused on autistic-specific strategies

As parents of children with autism (ASD) attending Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), we are not strangers to advocating for our students’ needs. We attend countless Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, we research local ASD resources for help and accommodations, we attempt to comprehend the federal and Maryland education and disability laws, and we champion the voices for our neurodiverse children. But once considered at the forefront of special education, MCPS has taken one step forward and two steps back when it comes to taking accountability and creating the best-possible learning environments for our children on the spectrum. 

In March, the dissolution of the autism program within the Darnestown Elementary Learning Center (ELC) was announced during the school’s PTA meeting and was later confirmed by MCPS central staff at the Board of Education meeting...

https://moco360.media/2024/04/06/opinion-cutting-mcps-autism-program-is-detrimental-mistake/

12-year-old hospitalized after being hit by car while walking to Montgomery Co. school

A 12-year-old boy has suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car on his way to school Thursday morning in Damascus, Maryland.

Montgomery County police told WTOP they were called to the area of Ridge Road and Oak Drive around 7:45 a.m. for reports of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2024/04/12-year-old-hospitalized-after-being-hit-by-care-while-walking-to-montgomery-co-school/

 

Maryland schools report highest dropout, lowest graduation rates in 5 years

 https://www.wmar2news.com/local/maryland-schools-report-highest-dropout-rate-lowest-graduation-rate-in-5-years

Board of Education Candidates Forum April 15th 6:30pm - in-person, Council Office Building

 

Top 100 salaries of MCPS employees in 2023

 https://moco360.media/2024/04/02/top-100-salaries-of-mcps-employees-in-2023/

@mcps @mocoboe Board of Education to Select Superintendent Search Firm in Open, Transparent Process*

 *APRIL FOOLS!

Sorry! That would never happen. 

On April 2, 2024, the Montgomery County Board of Education will select a search firm to find the next superintendent in a Closed Session. 

No RFP has been issued. No Bids were taken. No public process was used.  

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/D3QRC26D3C12/$file/240402 Resolution for Todays Closed Session.pdf

Every time you hear the Montgomery County Board of Education President say something is going to be "transparent," just remember that in MCPS land, every day is April Fools' Day!  

Locked bathrooms spark frustration among students, staff

By the end of the school day, many of the bathrooms throughout the school are locked, causing many students to travel to other floors to use the restroom.

At RM, many students have become irritated over the lack of open bathrooms at school. Searching for open bathrooms has caused several students to miss class time, interfering with their learning. Some students have expressed that they find it to be a major inconvenience to spend so much time just to use the restroom. 

“It wastes my class time; it wastes my time to learn.” Sophomore Shyla Agarwal said, “I can’t take notes in class because I missed them which affects my grades on quizzes and tests.” 

Many students share similar stories about having to search the school for a bathroom. 

Sophomore Sara Benachenhou said, “I was on the second floor and both the bathrooms were locked so I had to go all the way to the first floor to get to a bathroom.” ..

https://thermtide.com/22277/news/locked-bathrooms-cause-frustration-among-students-and-staff/

New building for Joann Leleck Elementary at Broad Acres would become county elementary school with largest capacity

The Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday approved Montgomery County Public Schools’ plans to replace JoAnn Leleck Elementary School at Broad Acres in Silver Spring with a new building.

Issues with overcapacity and aging infrastructure made the school a candidate for potential expansion in 2019, according to MCPS. The district later decided to build a new school that is proposed to be one to three stories tall at the same site at 710 Beacon Road.

According to planning documents, the building will have a three-story classroom wing and a single-story wing that will house learning spaces, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a kitchen, offices, a community health clinic and other support and service spaces. In addition, plans include two internal, open-air courtyards as well as 25,000 square feet of outdoor play and learning space adjacent to the building...

https://moco360.media/2024/03/21/plans-to-replace-silver-spring-elementary-school-approved-by-county-planners/

Parents, students alarmed by plan to postpone construction of auditoriums at new Woodward, Crown high schools

Parents and students in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) communities that would likely feed into the new Charles C. Woodward and Crown high schools are concerned by a school board decision Tuesday to delay the construction of auditoriums at the schools until after they open.

The Montgomery County Board of Education approved changes to the project scope of the reopening of Woodward in Rockville and the construction of the new Crown High School in Gaithersburg, adding an additional phase to construct auditoriums for both projects. Officials did not say when they plan for the auditoriums to be completed...

https://moco360.media/2024/03/22/parents-students-alarmed-by-plan-to-postpone-construction-of-auditoriums-at-new-woodward-crown-high-schools/