What to look for in a radon test report

As we reported in the blog article below, the 5 page radon test report that the Parents' Coalition obtained last week was fabricated by MCPS in response to a public information act request, and is not a genuine test report.

We urge teachers and parents to demand to see the actual test reports for all rooms in their schools.   Real test reports will show the start and end date and time of each test, the type of test performed, the results of each test, and the name and contact information for the company that performed the testing.

According to EPA recommendations, testing must be performed during normal use of the room being tested. Tests should not be performed while school is not in session, such as during the summer.  The most accurate tests take at least three months, although a basic test can be performed in as little as three days. 

MCPS Chief Communications Officer Brian Edwards reveals that radon document provided last week was fabricated

MCPS demands $339 (or more) to release the real radon test result documents to parents and teachers 

The MCPS radon cover-up continues.

Last week WJLA TV (ABC 7) released a 5 page report from MCPS that summarized the radon test results for most MCPS schools.  The report, which was requested by the Parents' Coalition and shared with WJLA, was obtained through a public information act request seeking the "radon level test reports for Montgomery County Public Schools." 

An additional document received today by the Parents' Coalition reveals that the 5 page report was not the actual radon test report, but was instead a summary that was prepared by MCPS in response to our first MPIA test for radon reports.   (Of course, anyone who has ever done a radon test knows that the test report is at least one page long for each room tested.)

The Maryland Public Information Act manual from the Maryland Attorney General specifically directs agencies to provide actual records and not to create new records to fulfill a request.  As revealed by the letter below, MCPS spent several hours creating the 5 page summary instead of providing the actual test reports or allowing the Parents' Coalition to come into the MCPS offices to review the original documents. 

Following up on our original request, we asked for ALL documents containing test results and records of radon remediation work for the following MCPS buildings:

Damascus Elementary School

Fallsmead Elementary School

Glennallan Elementary School

Redland Middle School

South Lake Elementary School

Springbrook High School

Takoma Park Elementary School

Watkins Mill Elementary School

Westland Middle School

Carver Center (MCPS headquarters)

MCPS is now demanding at least $339 for access to the actual test reports for just the 10 buildings listed above.

Every teacher and every parent with a child in MCPS should be concerned and should ask to review the actual, room-by-room test reports for their children's school. 

Joshua Starr Certified that MCPS Remediated for Positive Radon Test Results #fib

It is now 2015, and we know that when MCPS found high radon levels in classrooms back around 2013 they did nothing.

What was the point of doing any remediation for high radon levels when the Green Schools application had already been submitted and MCPS won for two schools?

It's all about the application, the awards, and the happy press releases.

It's not about the safety of the students and teachers.

Read the complete MCPS Green Ribbon Schools application at the link below.  What else in this application did MCPS fib about?

2013 US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Application

“What works” is not a cute slogan but a specific set of criteria for what is reliable evidence on which to implement a new policy such as county wide implementation of Artificial Turf

Testimony of Sheldon Fishman

Before the Montgomery County Board of Education

November 12, 2015

Good evening, members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Bowers.  My name is Sheldon Fishman.  I am a member of the ​​​Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition (http://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/ ) and the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County...

...I appreciate the opportunity to offer a suggestion for using capital funds to improve MCPS sports fields.  The primary objective is to get more playing time from existing land.  To achieve this objective, the Superintendent has recommended “putting a stake in the ground” and committing to convert every high school football field to an Artificial Turf field.

I urge you to investigate the assumptions in that approach and I offer a suggestion on how to investigate those assumptions.  Right after a heavy rain storm, a brand new Artificial Turf field is more playable than current MCPS grass fields.   That leads to the assumption that the only way to get more playing time is convert all grass fields to Artificial Turf.    It is assumed that after six inches of rain, you could never have a soccer tournament on a grass field in Montgomery County.  But that assumption is wrong.  

In October 2013, “the vast majority of the Discovery Cup youth tournament went ahead as scheduled on eight of the facility’s natural-grass fields despite more than six inches of rain in some areas.

“We played on [Fields] 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17 and [synthetic]turf [Fields] 18, 19, 20,” said SoccerPlex executive director Trish Heffelfinger ….

“It is remarkable in view of the amount of rain, 5.85 [inches] in five days…. Not only did we have a significant accumulation of rain but we also had no drying. It was cloudy, cool and continued to drizzle or mist the entire weekend.”

 [source: http://www.soccerwire.com/news/weathering-the-storms-how-md-soccerplex-stayed-open-last-weekend-amid-six-inches-of-rain/ ]

I urge you to investigate the assumptions underlying Artificial Turf.   Experts disagree if Artificial Turf is the most cost effective way to increase playing time and some experts ever question if Artificial Turf even provides the most playing time.  My suggestion is:

Please make an evidence-based decision built on a pilot comparing an Artificial Turf field with a state of the art real turf field, a sand capped grass field.

My understanding is none of MCPS fields currently is a sand capped grass field with drainage.  It would be prudent to consult with available experts who have already created and maintain durable grass fields.

I think you have a fiduciary obligation to investigate the cost assumptions of the AT policy since three top-line natural fields can be installed for price of one synthetic artificial turf field in Montgomery County.

The US Department of Education urges you to implement “what works”.  “What works” 1. is not a cute slogan but a specific set of criteria for what is reliable evidence on which to implement a new policy such as county wide implementation of Artificial Turf fields at every high school.  In this case, there is not reliable evidence that an Artificial Turf field provides more playing time than a sand capped grass field. 

1. Criteria for evidence based policy, “What works” : http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSum.aspx?sid=19

Happy Thanksgiving

 Wishing all our friend and supporters a very happy Thanksgiving.

UK company EMFields criticizes MCPS Technology Office for incorrect and defamatory comments

EMFileds, a UK company which sells a device used to measure WiFi radiation levels at MCPS schools, has sent a letter to the Chief Technology Officer Sherwin Collette criticizing his Office for incorrect and defamatory comments about the device. The EMFileds Tech Director confirms that the readings taken by parents are similar to those in the official AECOM Report published by MCPS Technology Office. EMFields also identifies factual mistakes on the FAQ page of MCPS Tech Office.

WJLA TV: Dangerous levels of radon found in 28 MCPS schools

ROCKVILLE, Md. (ABC7) -- A substance linked to cancer has been detected in dangerous amounts inside dozens of Montgomery County classrooms.

According to a five-page report obtained by ABC7 News, 28 of MCPS' 205 schools have dangerous radon levels.

Read and watch the full story at:

http://wjla.com/news/local/dangerous-levels-of-radon-found-in-28-mcps-schools

Corruption conviction of disgraced ex-Chicago Public Schools CEO illustrates the potential dangers of no-bid contracts

...The corruption conviction of disgraced ex-Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett illustrates the potential dangers of no-bid contracts while highlighting another potential pitfall: The problems that can arise when school leaders consult on the side for for-profit educational companies...

 http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/10/superintendents-elsewhere-caught-up-in-supes/

A Parents' Coalition tip that could save you hundreds of dollars of property taxes

Many homeowners in Montgomery County still have not completed the one-time verification form for the homestead credit. As homes start to appreciate in value, the homestead credit will automatically be applied, but ONLY TO PROPERTIES THAT HAVE A HOMESTEAD VERIFICATION FORM ON FILE WITH THE SDAT. IF THE FORM HAS NOT BEEN FILED, YOUR PROPERTY TAXES COULD GO UP BY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN 2016, 2017, and so forth.

The original deadline for submitting the homestead verification form was December 30, 2013. However, you can submit the form by December 31, 2015 and get the homestead credit starting in 2016. If you’ve already submitted the form, you don’t need to submit it again (unless you move to another home).

Submitting the homestead verification form is quick and easy. Frequently asked questions about the homestead credit and a link to the verification form can be found at:

http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/homestead_app.htm

The homestead credit is not issued to rental properties or "second homes", such as vacation homes. Each Maryland resident (or married couple) is allowed to claim only one property as their principal residence.

Also – don’t confuse the homestead credit with the “homeowner’s credit”. The homeowner’s credit is available only to low income homeowners and an application for the homeowner’s credit must be submitted each year. In contrast, the homestead credit is available to every owner-occupant, regardless of income.

Parents Calling For Wires With Their Chromebooks to Cut Radiation

Parents Are Raising Concerns That MCPS Chromebooks Emit Radio- Frequency Radiation

Did you know some children are being allowed to use a wire with their technology device at school to decrease the radiation? Parents requested it.

"We understand that MCPS schools are now allowing children to use a wire with their Chromebooks because parents have requested it. This way the child is not getting direct radiation from the laptop or tablet when it is being used in classes. However, most parents are unaware this option exists." 

See this video featuring MCPS schools and the Chromebook. It has maps showing Wi-Fi access point locations in several schools.

Read more at their blog at http://safetechforschoolsmaryland.blogspot.com

[Jay] Matthews receives a failing grade in this case for his inability to understand the needs of our children. .@washingtonpost

Below is a comment on The Washington Post article by Jay Mathews in today's paper.  

The column by Mr. Mathews is nothing more than click bait and we will not link to the original column.  The comment below is an excellent response to the Post's failure to research, investigate and present balanced reporting of public school education issues. 

Denise Marshall, COPAA Executive Director

9:52 AM EST

Mr. Matthews is shamefully misguided in his praise. Congratulations should be reserved for districts who do the right thing to assure students with disabilities can benefit from their educational program and learn at school, not those who employ a strategy which relies on tactics to harass and intimidate families. The issue is not the money spent on lawyers or placements, the issue is providing educational services for all students; some who are the most impacted children in the county. While Mr. Mathews article leaves the impression that the school system’s tactics are justified because of expensive placements, private placements are provided in a limited number of cases for those students who have the highest level of need and those aggressive tactics are utilized for the county in all types of cases, including those where the student wants to remain in their neighborhood schools. Families and school administrators may disagree about the appropriate services for a student, there should be, however, no disagreement that parents should be treated with respect and dignity when seeking school system services made available to all students. Mr. Matthews receives a failing grade in this case for his inability to understand the needs of our children.

Exclusive: Thousands of MCPS students exposed to high levels of radon

No retesting or remediation years later, in spite of EPA recommendations 

Radon test reports obtained last week by the Parents' Coalition reveal that radon levels in several schools have exceeded the "corrective action recommended" levels for years. Based on the date of the reports (November 3, 2015), it appears that MCPS has taken no action to correct the problems or has any long term testing underway.

Normal radon decay causes emission of ionizing radiation.  Scientists have long established that ionizing radiation is a significant cause of cancer.

Data from a few of the affected schools is below.   Although we asked for the entire test reports, MCPS provided only the summary data shown below, so we don't know which classrooms have the high levels.

The EPA recommends retesting and remediation when levels are above 4.0 pCi/L.

 

 

Parents and teachers should ask MCPS for the detailed reports and testing methodology for their schools.

The EPA recommends that testing be performed during normal classroom use because radon levels can vary depending on building ventilation and other factors.   The most accurate tests require long term sampling, typically lasting a few months.

Click here to go to the EPA Radon in Schools web site  

Click here to go to an NIH study about the relationship between radon and childhood leukemia

“In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.”

Dropping exams is a mistake

Regarding the Nov. 17 Metro article “It’s final — Montgomery to eliminate final exams”:

It appears that the Montgomery County Board of Education is more concerned with concealing failure rates than educating students. Roughly 15 years ago, activists uncovered wide variations in the required passing scores among the county’s high schools. The county school system was forced to establish the same passing grade countywide, and the high failure rates in some schools were revealed. Now, having failed to solve the failure rate problem, the district again is concealing it.

The article quoted a school board member quoting Albert Einstein, but I’ll quote Mark Twain: “In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.”

Julie Lees, Silver Spring

Schools are trying to curb obesity. Why are their sports leagues promoting fast food?

  ...Coaches, teachers and administrators promote the contest on Twitter, and the finalists are featured by local and national media sources. When Bethesda-Chevy Chase’s Patrick Cha was named a 2014 Heisman finalist, a Wendy’s spokesperson came to the Montgomery County school and recognized the senior tennis player with a surprise assembly. Wendy’s donated $5,000 to Bethesda-Chevy Chase in Cha’s name and gave out Frosty coupons to the students...

..."But where does it stop? What if a corporation offered to add a wing to a school? Those questions were posed by state Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George’s), who proposed the Captive Audience/Stop Commercialism in Schools Act in 2001. The bill aimed to block contracts with vending machine companies and limit advertisements in public schools, and while it was supported by health advocates, it was ultimately rejected because of concerns from educators that it would reduce revenue.

“The fact is we should build our public schools on some ethos, and I think it shouldn’t be dependent on the private sector,” Pinsky said."...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/schools-are-trying-to-curb-obesity-why-are-their-sports-leagues-promoting-fast-food/2015/11/18/6633cece-870a-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html

Former MCEA President to chair Delegation Education Committee #appleballot #mcea

 

Montgomery County House Delegation Leadership Changes Announced 

Reinforcing Delegation Commitment to Education, Economic Development, Transportation and Regional Collaboration 

 

Delegation Leadership Announces Formation of a New Committee on Education and Restructuring of Existing Committees to Encourage Leadership Development in Second-Year Delegates. 

ROCKVILLE, MD, November 19, 2015 -- Today the Montgomery County House Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly announced the formation of a Committee on Education and the elevation of four first term Delegates to Vice-Chair of the Delegation Standing Committees. 

The Education Committee will have jurisdiction over all local legislation and policy positions related to public education, including coordinating strategy for school construction funding. Chaired by one-time Special Education teacher and Montgomery County Education Association President Delegate Bonnie Cullison, this Committee is talent-rich in educational policy expertise. Committee members include House of Delegates Parliamentarian Delegate Bill Frick, former MCPS teacher Delegate Eric Luedtke, former Montgomery County Board of Education Member Ana Sol-Gutiérrez, and Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo. The Committee Vice-Chair will be Delegate Andrew Platt.

 

The establishment of an Education Committee with the legislative experts in this subject matter area will increase the Montgomery County Delegation's focus on this priority issue area for our constituents. "I look forward to working closely with this group of talented legislators on a policy area that  is so important to all the residents in Montgomery County,"  says new Education Committee Chair Bonnie Cullison. "We have such expertise and creativity within the Delegation on education issues.  Our efforts will not only focus support on our educational community, but will consider the benefit to the community at-large."

 

Other standing committees were restructured as well. 

 

Economic Development

Jurisdiction over improving the business climate, local business regulations and tax proposals, and alcohol laws.

Delegate Ariana Kelly, Chair

Delegate Maricé Morales, Vice-Chair

Delegate Sheila Hixson

Delegate Anne Kaiser

Delegate Kirill Reznik

Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher

 

Washington Metro Area Committee

Jurisdiction over WSSC, Park and Planning, and other regional interests shared with Prince George's County

Delegate Al Carr, Chair

Delegate Will Smith, Vice-Chair

Delegate Kumar Barve

Delegate Kathleen Dumais

Delegate Ben Kramer

Delegate Shane Robinson

 

Land Use, Transportation, and Public Safety

Jurisdiction over M-NCPPC bills which deal with land use issues as well as any legislation related to transportation and public safety issues.

Delegate Jim Gilchrist, Chair

Delegate Marc Korman, Vice-Chair

Delegate Charles Barkley

Delegate Aruna Miller

Delegate David Moon

Delegate Craig Zucker

Education Committee

Jurisdiction over educational policy and financing. 

Delegate Bonnie Cullison, Chair

Delegate Andrew Platt, Vice-Chair

Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo

Delegate Bill Frick

Delegate Eric Luedtke

Delegate Ana Sol-Gutiérrez

 

Local Bill hearings will be held on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the 3rd Floor Hearing Room, Stella Werner Council Office Bldg., 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850. 

 

A list of proposed local bills can be found here: http://www.montgomerycountydelegation.com/legislation.html 

 

Information on the Montgomery County Delegation can be found here:  http://www.montgomerycountydelegation.com

 

#   #    #

Rales said “together, we’re going to drive a stake through the heart of the achievement gap.”

Montgomery County Wants to Address ‘Summer Slide’ With New Education Program

 

Franchot on Pearson: “I think it’s a lousy company. I regret our involvement with it.”

Franchot: “It’s a lousy company”

Those problems have not gone unnoticed in Maryland.
During an August meeting of the state’s Board of Public Works in Annapolis, Comptroller Peter Franchot teed off on NCS Pearson’s track record. He said: “Pearson developed tests that are inappropriate to the age group, ambiguously worded, self-contradictory and therefore are virtually impossible for a majority of grade school children to pass.”
He went on, in a rant: “I think it’s a lousy company. I regret our involvement with it.”
Franchot’s spokesman, Andrew Friedson, said the comptroller remained adamantly on guard.
Friedson said, in a statement: “Comptroller Franchot remains adamantly opposed to the state’s obsession with standardized tests, which detract from teachers’ ability to effectively teach and students’ ability to actually learn. He is particularly concerned with Pearson’s atrocious track record with testing products here and throughout the country and believes that it is impossible to overstate the damage this company and its academic testing products have done to the education of our kids.”

 http://marylandreporter.com/2015/11/16/many-blame-big-corporation-pearson-for-school-testing-malaise/

Facts about Organic Infill for Plastic Grass that MCPS Does Not Want to Talk About #fieldturf #artificialturf

...During the meeting, Kitching also noted some organic in-fill options, including the PureFill [FIELDTURF PRODUCT], which requires significant maintenance daily, and the Geo-Fill, which is an organic-coconut shell that would cost an additional $350,000 compared to the SBR in-fill, and also requires an additional pad installation and irrigation.

“There’s a lot more maintenance that is required in the Geo-Fill,” said Kitching. “We also have to maintain an irrigation system because it needs a lot of water.”...

http://plainvilleobserver.com/2014/12/05/research-continues-on-field-turf-infill/

Montgomery County Grappling With Spike in MS-13 Gang Activity

Elementary Students Evacuated From Bus after Coolant Leak on I-270 - Bethesda Beat - Bethesda, MD

Elementary Students Evacuated From Bus after Coolant Leak on I-270 - Bethesda Beat - Bethesda, MD

Governor’s Task Force on the Implementation of a Dyslexia Education Program

If you live in Maryland and are the parent of a student with a reading difference like dyslexia, and your child has attended or now attends a Maryland public school, you are eligible to answer this survey.  Please forward and share this survey with other families.

We are writing to you on behalf of the Governor’s Task Force on the Implementation of a Dyslexia Education Program.  The Task Force includes professionals in the field of education, legislators, and parents who have been asked to respond to the requirements of House Bill 278.

Please distribute this survey to your parent outreach lists and/or complete the survey if you meet the criteria listed above. 

The purpose of this questionnaire is to obtain data from parents of children with reading differences like dyslexia with regard to the identification and interventions for children with dyslexia and the educational services associated with such identification.

Responses to this questionnaire will help the Governor’s Task Force on the Implementation of a Dyslexia Education Program make recommendations to Governor Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly that will potentially change the education practices for students with reading difficulties and/or dyslexia in Maryland.

Please respond by November 30, 2015.  We apologize for the short time frame but recommendations are required by December 30, 2015 and the Task Force would like to include important parent feedback in the recommendations to the Governor.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to complete the survey.

https://surveyplanet.com/562f6f9e8535760f147234a0 

 

Sincerely,

Laura Schultz

Parent Task Force Member
Lisa Blottenberger
Decoding Dyslexia MD Task Force Member

Governor’s Task Force on the Implementation of a Dyslexia Education Program

No Mention of Early Termination Fee in $5 Million + Solar Panel Deal

On November 17, 2015, MCPS held the third and last meeting on their plan to turn 3 future middle school sites into solar power plants.  
During the first meeting, the public learned that the lease for these properties will include an early termination clause.  That means that if after say 6 years, the Board of Education wants to use one of these properties for the education of public children, the Board of Education will have to pay a fee to end the lease early.  To date, the early termination clause fee has not been announced by MCPS or the solar panel companies. 

Potomac Residents Decry School System Plan to Install Solar Panels at Former Organic Farm

...Sean Gallagher, assistant director of the school system’s Department of Facilities Management, told a crowd of about 70 people Tuesday night at Seven Locks Elementary School that together with proposed solar panel fields on future school sites in Gaithersburg and Rockville, MCPS could save about $2.5 million in electricity costs over the next 10 years...
...The solar panels at Brickyard would cover 12 acres of the site, cost about $5 million to build...

New report shows disconnection among black youths in Montgomery

...The report points to the difficult experiences black youths have in and out of school, and its analysis recommends a more comprehensive strategy in Montgomery — across the school system, county and community — to narrow persistent achievement gaps and improve the broader outlook for young African Americans.

It noted that the dropout rate for black students, though improving since 2010, was 9 percent in Montgomery in 2013, compared with less than 3 percent for white students...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/new-report-shows-disconnection-among-black-youths-in-montgomery/2015/10/22/afc76e1e-78ce-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Schools confront bullying of teachers, staff

...Legal documents show the policy on workplace bullying arrives nearly 2.5 years after three elementary school teachers and one staff member settled a lawsuit against their school principal.

“I think it’s just a way to help address the way, how we are creating the best workplace possible for our employees,” said Barclay.

Barclay said the regulations will determine how Montgomery County Public Schools staff will address bullying.

“The policy is going to be the aspiration,” he said. “It’s going to be the regulation that will matter in terms of what ultimately will be the practice, and we have to see what systems are put in place.”   

The case was filed for reasons including “negligence, gross negligence and intentionally seeking to inflict harm upon any subordinate who dared to question his unchecked authority.”

Plaintiffs alleged Starnes tried to sully their names by “falsifying the teachers’ personnel files.”

A plaintiff who asked not to be named, said bullying is a problem in Montgomery County.

“I’m very uncomfortable in this county,” the person said. “We were the teachers trying to protect the children from the principal.”

...

Starnes continued to act as principal for two years after the case was settled.

...

Barclay said he could not talk about whether or not the suit and the policy were related.

Joan Kaltreider, retired teacher elementary classroom teacher from Kemp Mill Elementary School and a plaintiff from the case, said she would support the policy.

“If it’s a policy to protect teachers, I’d be highly in favor of it, but I’d be highly skeptical that it would be enforced,” said Kaltreider.

According to the law documents, Kaltreider received a negative recommendation from Starnes, and was later put on probation, after she reported to her union representative her concerns about her principal.

Kaltrieder said the negative recommendation was retaliation for talking about her principal.

She reasoned while she received positive recommendations during her previous 30 years of teaching and when the principal first arrived, her teaching was being scrutinized.

  http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/newsx/local/item/2714-schools-confront-bullying-of-teachers-staff

Breaking: BOE Attorney says Public School Classes are Free!

At today's Board of Education Policy Committee meeting, the Board of Education completely forgot that their own attorney has told them that any courses offered during the school year, for credit are available to all for FREE under the Maryland Constitution.

Ooops.

Instead, the BOE - Philip Kaufman, Rebecca Smondrowski, Patricia O'Neill and Eric Guerci - ignored the advice of their own attorney and told MCPS staff to continue charging students for classes given during the school year for credit.  

The BOE members listed above did not even make any changes to Policy JNA, even though their OWN WEBSITE SAYS THAT SCIENCE LAB FEES MAY NOT BE CHARGED.

Policy JNA

MCPS website

The MCPS website says that science lab fees may not be charged, but the Board of Education's Policy JNA says that lab fees may be charged. 

Confused? The Board of Education doesn't care. They will rip you off every chance they get. 

Tough luck parents and guardians. The rest of Maryland public schools offer free public school, but not here in Montgomery County.    

   BreslerLetter by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

MCPS Office of Shared Accountability Director Gone

In 2013, Superintendent Joshua Starr brought in a new associate superintendent for the MCPS Office of Shared Accountability.

http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2013/05/meet-new-mcps-data-assoc-superintendent.html

Mr. Sanderson is no longer shown as a MCPS employee, and he is not listed on the list of employees for the MCPS Office of Shared Accountability.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/

It turns out he went right back to Texas.

That means, that at this time there is no one in charge of this office:

The Office of Shared Accountability (OSA) provides information and analyses to support continuous improvement in the academic and operational services at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

BCC Special Ed Teacher Had Pornographic 28,785 Photos/795 Videos of Children - Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison

A former Montgomery County teacher will spend more than three years in prison for storing tens of thousands of pornographic photos of children on his computer.
Peter Flynn taught special needs students at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School from 1979 until September 2014, when school officials learned he was under federal investigation.
Prosecutors have said that none of the 28,785 photos and 795 videos of children on his computers showed images of students that he taught.
Flynn pleaded guilty to storing the pornography in January and was sentenced to 45 months in prison Monday. He was also ordered by Judge George Hazel to pay a $12,500 fine.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/longtime-montgomery-county-teacher-sentenced-to-prison-for-child-porn/2015/11/09/243a89fa-8713-11e5-be8b-1ae2e4f50f76_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-moreheds_childporn-233p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Peter Franchot: MCPS has "enormous ways to do better"

On November 9, 2015, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot spoke at the Montgomery County Civic Federation meeting.

As part of his opening remarks, Comptroller Franchot called out Montgomery County Public Schools for spending almost twice per square foot what Alexandria spends to build school buildings.

Here is what Comptroller Franchot had to say: 

"...We're paying almost $500 a square foot to build schools in Montgomery County.  They just completed one that looks like the National Museum of Art, it's so beautiful, in Alexandria, for $250 a square foot.
  
I asked the folks well why are we building them so expensively?  And they said, well you don't understand. We have to build them to last for 100 years. What happens if the kids bang their heads against the walls in the hallway?  Quote, from the head of the construction, said what happens if the kids bang their heads, we have to build them, we have no choice. 

I said, what about the kids? What are we going to do for them? 
I mean it has become ludicrous, is what I am saying. There are enormous ways to do better ..."

Tonight's Fib to the BOE: MCPS Staff Leaving Out that Field Trip Fees were used to pay for Artificial Turf

November 12, 2015, response from MCPS administrators:

 http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/A487AL7D836C/$file/151112%20Follow-up%20Qs%20Work%20Session%20151105.pdf


And, here's the facts that we already know.  MCPS transfers cash from overcharging for field trip fees that parents and guardians pay to the artificial turf fund.  Interesting how this transfer of cash was not mentioned in the information given to the Board of Education this week.  Why not?

How about that math? At $40,000 a year from field rentals, how will that equal $5.8 million in 10 years? Remember that the "partnership agreements" have just paid for the initial installation of the plastic grass.  Where are those extra millions coming from?  

Here is the information on the transfer of field trip cash from 2013:  

Parents, Your Field Trip Fees to pay for Artificial Turf

Should MCPS buy teachers or electronic toys and artificial grass?

The following letter was published today in the Washington Post and also Facebook by a Florida parent:

Dear Rick Scott, Governor of Florida

Please buy my child a teacher.

I pay taxes and send my children to public school.

Please buy my child a teacher. A child whisperer. A trained, energetic, enthusiastic, loving, educated, invested adult to grow a relationship with my child in the pursuit of learning.

Please buy my child a teacher who can see, hear and understand my child in a small group of special, targeted relationships. My child loves learning when learning comes with love.

Buying my child a new curriculum will not improve her relationship with learning.

Buying my child a new test will not improve his relationship with learning.

Buying my child a new computer program will not improve her relationship with learning.

Buying my child all these things reduces funding for what my child really needs: a relationship.

My child needs a person. A crowd.

Please invest my tax dollars in the people surrounding my child.

Buy my child a teacher who is paid so well that he would choose a career in education.

Buy my child a teacher who is trained so well that she can beautifully engage my child’s developing mind.

Buy my upset or disruptive child a teacher with time and expertise available for his needs.

Buy my child more teachers’ assistants for gentle encouragement and better classroom dynamics.

Buy my child enough support staff to improve communication with parents, to make use of the learning garden each morning and to run the clubs that spark my child’s interest.

Please transfer my taxes from the purchase of things to the purchase of people.

Spend less on assessment and more on relationships.

Spend less on hardware and more on hearts.

Spend less on worksheets and more on wisdom.

Spend less on standards and more on students.

Buy my child a person.

Buy my child a teacher.

Best Regards,

Are you a Montgomery County Public Schools parent or taxpayer with similar feelings?

I know I am.  I would add artificial turf to the list of items I'd be willing to sacrifice for a few good teachers.

If you agree, send your letters to MCPS and let them know!

Patricia O'Neill, President, MCPS BOE
850 Hungerford Lane
Rockville, MD 20850 
boe_account@mcpsmd.org

Why is MCPS charging $620 for Technology Class and $310 for Health Education Class? #mdconstitution #freepubliced

Dear Mr. Civin,

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD, has been informed that MCPS is charging $620 for students to take a 1 credit Foundations of Technology course, and $310 for students to take a .5 credit Health Education course during the school year. 

The MCPS website shows these fee on the information pages for each class.  The fees are shown for the fall and spring semesters. 

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/onlinelearning/courses/technology.aspx

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/onlinelearning/courses/index.aspx
As the MCPS General Counsel, you are no doubt familiar with the law with regard to the ability of Maryland public schools to charge curricular related fees, however, we will refresh your memory by restating the law and providing you with the link to the letter on this issue from the Maryland Attorney General's office.

 From the Maryland Attorney General's office:

...we are safe in saying that anything directly related to a school's curriculum must be available to all without charge...

http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2011/09/md-atty-gen-how-to-appeal-illegal-class.html

Not only do the Foundations of Technology and Health Education courses allow students to obtain credits, they are also both graduation requirements.

There is no evidence that the $620 curricular fee, or the $310 curricular fee for these classes has ever been approved by the Montgomery County Board of Education, the Maryland Legislature, or that they are authorized under the Maryland Constitution.

Please advise under what authority MCPS is charging students $620 to take a required technology credit course, and $310 to take a required health education credit course during the school year.  Thank you for your assistance.

Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD

Multiple Trespassers in Blair High School - Principal: "Maybe it's happening more often than we know."

Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identity of the sources.

Montgomery Blair experienced three security breaches by students who attend other Montgomery County high schools between Oct. 7 and Oct. 12. Two of these breaches led to physical confrontations between the Blazers and the outside students.

The first incident occurred on Oct. 7, when a trespasser entered the second floor math hallway near the end of the school day to confront a Blair student he knew from his neighborhood. A verbal altercation escalated into a physical fight, at which point Blair security intervened. "Security was called, security came in, there was a heated argument between the men and the trespasser was removed. We later found out too, from looking at security cameras, he didn't walk through the main entrance and sign in," Principal Renay Johnson explained.

Two days later, on Oct. 9, a student from another Montgomery County High School entered the building with the intent of buying a ticket for the Homecoming dance. However, he also did not sign in at the office and was therefore considered a trespasser.

On the Monday of the next school week, Oct. 12, two students from a Gaithersburg high school gained entrance to the building at the end of the day. After the last bell rang, they approached a Blair student in an English classroom with whom they had a disagreement and a physical altercation ensued. The hallway quickly became crowded as Blair students gathered to watch and film the fight on cellphones. "Everyone was crowding around the girls and I heard them yelling at each other and then I saw hands flying," sophomore Aissatou Bokoum said. The fight was broken up by the teacher, who told students to move along in the hallway and pulled the two students from Gaithersburg into his classroom. "I got stuck at the door because everyone crowded up and I had to wait until everything was over," Amy remembered. A friend of the targeted Blazer who intervened to defend the student received a cut to the face.

All of the students who entered the building without permission received "no trespassing" letters, issued by Montgomery County Police. The Blair students who opened the door for the intruders were suspended.

Johnson sent out a letter to Blair parents and guardians after the incidents, which warned against opening doors for visitors, but did not mention the specific instances themselves. "I was basically trying to say 'don't let strangers come in' but not going into detail on each incident. I think it's too much information," Johnson said. She also made a similar announcement to students over the intercom, mentioning that outsiders had gained entrance to the building but not the physical violence. Johnson said that describing the incidents in more detail could have compromised the privacy of the affected students.

Though she said there was likely no connection between these three occurrences, Johnson had some guesses as to why they happened. "Maybe Homecoming week was just a crazy week and people felt like they wanted to settle their beefs, but maybe not. Maybe it's happening more often than we know," she said.

 https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/story/13131