The Parents' Coalition, like many of you, was surprised to learn that a large contingent of Montgomery County elected officials and employees, their spouses and other relatives, and private interests, are planning a trip to China this month, September 15-25.
The entire list is below.
Board of Education member Rebecca Smondrowski will be making the trip.
From MCPS, we see Superintendent Josh Starr, Winston Churchill HS Principal Joan Benz, and Spark Matsunaga ES Principal Judy Brubaker.
Also attending will be County Executive Ike Leggett and his wife, Catherine Leggett, and a large group from Mr. Leggett's office.
Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Roger Berliner will be going as well. Surprisingly also attending are Marielsa Bernard, Circuit Court Judge, Maryland County Circuit Court, Bonnie Kirkland, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney General of the State of Maryland and Sherry Thompson, Senior Executive Administrative Aide, Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.
What do they hope to learn from China's judicial and prison system? Oh, and its 'rehabilitation' system? We wonder.
According to county officials, the county is only paying the travel expenses, approximately $3,000 each, for two employees, Steve Silverman, the Director, Department of Economic Development, and Lily Qi, Special Projects Manager from the County Executive's Office. Here is the complete list:
As far as Smondrowski is concerned; the co-opting has begun.
ReplyDeletesee husbands criminal charge/not prosectuted
DeleteCheck out all the charges (in Maryland) at http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/processDisclaimer.jis
Delete322434V Smondrowski, Kenneth J Defendant Montgomery County Circuit Court CIVIL CLOSED 10/28/2009
324864V Smondrowski, Kenneth J Defendant Montgomery County Circuit Court CIVIL CLOSED 12/29/2009
333779V Smondrowski, Kenneth J Defendant Montgomery County Circuit Court CIVIL CLOSED 06/14/2010
0000000DC0A7X Smondrowski, Kenneth Joseph 01/1969 Defendant Silver Spring District Court 02 Traffic Closed 05/17/2012
0000000MX0DDR Smondrowski, Kenneth Joseph 01/1969 Defendant Rockville District Court Traffic Closed 11/21/2012
0000000MY0DDR Smondrowski, Kenneth Joseph 01/1969 Defendant Rockville District Court Traffic Closed 11/21/2012
0000000MZ0DDR Smondrowski, Kenneth Joseph 01/1969 Defendant Rockville District Court Traffic Closed 11/21/2012
0000000N00DDR Smondrowski, Kenneth Joseph 01/1969 Defendant Rockville District Court Traffic Closed 11/21/2012
060100149392007 Smondrowski, Kenneth Defendant Rockville District Court CONT Closed 07/23/2007
060200335402009 Smondrowski, Kenneth Defendant Silver Spring District Court 02 CONT Closed 11/30/2009
122310R Smondrowski, Kenneth Other Montgomery County Circuit Court CIVIL CLOSED 03/07/2011
122310R Smondrowski, Kenneth Defendant Montgomery County Circuit Court CIVIL CLOSED 03/07/2011
324864V Smondrowski, Rebecca K Defendant Montgomery County Circuit Court CIVIL CLOSED 12/29/2009
0000000DP0E7Y Smondrowski, Rebecca Keller 10/1968 Defendant Rockville District Court Traffic Closed 06/05/2013
000000HC02985 Smondrowski, Rebecca Keller 10/1968 Defendant Annapolis District Court Traffic Closed 12/28/2011
060200335402009 Smondrowski, Rebecca Defendant Silver Spring District Court 02 CONT Closed 11/30/2009
OMG, who did we elect to the BOE?! It would be nice if the Smondrowskis could pay their creditors.
DeleteShe just paid $3000 to go to China.
DeleteI bet you that Smondrowski's creditors wish they could get some of that $3,000.
DeleteMCPS wants to learn from China!
ReplyDeleteSee "China broadcasts confession of Chinese-American blogger" in today's Washington Post:
http://wapo.st/15xymhZ
See Friday's New York Times. Two British American contractors arrested by the Chinese. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/business/global/china-hems-in-private-sleuths-seeking-fraud.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
ReplyDeleteI understand from my teacher friends that Starr's predecessor was referred to as "Comrad Weast."
ReplyDeleteHe was referred to as worse with gritted teeth more than once. LOL
DeleteWeast is a psychopath and that's the best that can be said of him.
ReplyDeleteStar is a puppet to the psychopaths (Bressler, Bowers, Mills, Williams, Kimbal, Statham etc.) that Weast left behind. These people do NOT care about our children or parents, they care about making money with PEARSON.
Why does this blog allow anonymous comments? If people are going to make inflammatory and vitriolic comments they should at least be required to use their real name. Not judging the content of what they are saying, but simply pointing out that hiding behind anonymity is totally gutless. Parents' Coalition should be more responsible if they want any real credibility.
ReplyDeleteK. Skimmons
P.S. Being able to post articles under pseudonyms/profile names is just as bad.
Both Weast and Starr were hired by the people the citizens of Montgomery County elected to the Board of Education. Most of the board members running were re-elected. Don't want the school system run this way, with your annual payment of $2.1Billion in taxpayer dollars? Then don't keep re-electing the same people to these offices. And, your re-elected council members (to whom you are about to give a 17% raise, BTW) continue to approve the budget with almost no questions asked. Very cozy. Don't blame Starr for taking the job, and don't blame 'psychopaths.' It is up to you, the voters and this is what you have put in place.
ReplyDelete