For FY 2017 and FY 2018 through March, Board of Education member Rebecca Smondrowski charged $14,067 in expenses to the MCPS Operating Budget.
The Parents' Coalition has obtained Board of Education expense account records for calendar year 2017 through March 15, 2018.
From the documents we obtained we believe the documents show that Ms. Smondrowski traveled out of town on the following dates.
Conferences:
March 2017 - 5 Days in Denver Colorado [Hyatt Hotel]
August 18 2017 - Possible Ocean City stay, but BOE members are not listed on the hotel bill
September 21, 2017 - Possible Ocean City stay, but BOE members are not listed on the hotel bill.
September 27-30, 2017 - Cube Conference in New Orleans, LA [Waldorf Roosevelt Hotel]
October 3-6, 2017 - 4 days at MABE Conference in Ocean City, MD
Below are the records that we obtained. Please note that Board of Education members no longer possess personal credit cards. That practice ended in 2014 when the Parents' Coalition exposed how Board of Education members and their staff were using their personal MCPS credit cards.
However, Board of Education staff still have a MCPS credit card for Board member purchases.
The first document below shows Rebecca Smondrowski's requests for expenses/reimbursements and the second document shows the bills for Board members paid from the Board office credit card. The one Board of Education office credit card is in the name of staff member Rebecca Gibson.
Per Diem, Mileage:
Airline tickets, hotels, conference fees:
Rebecca Smondrowski was trained by Leadership Montgomery. The LM "family" sticks together.
ReplyDeleteEsther Newman
1 hr ·
As CEO Emeritus and Founder of Leadership Montgomery, I am thrilled that more than 35 of our grads showed their commitment to public service by running for office. There is a Yiddish word "kvell," which translates to "a mother's chest bursting with pride," and that's how I feel about all my LM friends and family who ran and those who will hopefully win in November.
It was wonderful to see Rich Madaleno as a candidate for Governor, Valerie Ervin for Lt. Guv then Guv before withdrawing, Aruna Miller for U.S. House District 6, and Roger Berliner for County Exec.
LM will be well represented at the State House with Senators Cheryl C. Kagan (District 17) and William Colonel Smith Jr (20) and in the House with Anne Kaiser (14), David Fraser-Hidalgo and Lily Qi (15), plus Ariana Kelly and Marc Korman (16). Sadly, Maricé Morales (19) and Shane Robinson (39) were not reelected. Other candidates were Samir Paul (16) and Rebecca Keller Smondrowski (17).
My great pride in my "kids" extends to County Council, where a majority will be LMers: Craig Rice (District 2), Nancy Navarro (4), and at-large Gabe Albornoz,, Evan Glass, and Hans Riemer. Other candidates were Meredith Wellington (1) and in the masses of at-large Marilyn Balcombe, Hoan Dang, Lorna Phillips Forde, Jill Ortman-Fouse, and Grace Rivera-Oven.
Democratic Central Committee successes include Mimi Hassanein (14), Aaron Kaufman (18), Pamela Ford Luckett (20), and Marjorie Goldman at large. Other candidates were Gregory Wims (15) and Juan M Cardenas at large.
While these are all Dems, we also have Republicans Laurie Halverson, who won District 15, and Mark Uncapher for Central Committee at large.
The nonpartisan offices included Karla Silvestre, successful for Board of Education, and Marylin Pierre, a candidate for judge.
My sincere apologies to anyone I inadvertently overlooked.
I am so proud of all my LM family - and my many other friends who ran.
WOW!!
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49Meredith Wellington, Shane Robinson and 47 others
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Anne Mahoney Robbins
Anne Mahoney Robbins You have every right to feel such pride.
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Ariana Kelly
Ariana Kelly I treasure my LM family!
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Marilyn Balcombe
Marilyn Balcombe You taught us well. You told us to go out and do great things, so we listened!
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Lorna Phillips Forde
Lorna Phillips Forde Thank you for your support and words of encouragement. It meant a lot!!❤️
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Steve Simon
Steve Simon Montgomery's Mom. Quite the legacy. Proud to be from The Blessed Class of 2006.
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Karen Murphy
Karen Murphy What a great and lasting legacy! Thank you for all you’ve done, Esther!
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Jill Ortman-Fouse
Jill Ortman-Fouse Loved my amazing LM class!
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Dana Tofig
Dana Tofig I was very proud to be an alum! And who knows who else you'll see out there ....
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Hoan Dang
Hoan Dang Esther, LM's Annapolis session led by Cheryl C. Kagan and Gene Counihan in 2004 planted the seed that led to my first run in 2010. Thank you!
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Terry Ann
Terry Ann Very impressive, you did a great job !!
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Michele Potter
Michele Potter Leadership Montgomery MD at work!!!
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April Helfner Kaplan
April Helfner Kaplan You taught us well and are proud to be part of your family.
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Karla Silvestre
Karla Silvestre LM opened many doors for me. Thank you Esther!
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Karla Silvestre
DeleteKarla Silvestre LM opened many doors for me. Thank you Esther!
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Dana Tofig
Dana Tofig Congratulations Karla!
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Janis Sartucci
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Craig Rice
Craig Rice Thanks Esther!
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Dana Tofig
Dana Tofig Congratulations Craig
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Janis Sartucci
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Nancy Navarro
Nancy Navarro You built an impressive pipeline of County leaders. I learned so much from you and your network. Thank you Esther Newman you are the best!!!!
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Alan Bowser
Alan Bowser An amazing group.
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Hattie N. Washington
Hattie N. Washington Congrats to all of our LM graduates who are elected officials and to those who had the courage to run.
What a magnanimous tribute to you, Ma Esther, and the fantastic LM organization. I have been encouraged and also helped with my non-profit home for foster boys (Aunt Hattie’s Place) by my LM classmate,2004, as well as other classes. Thanks everyone for making a difference.
Love,...See More
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Lisa Martin
Lisa Martin Much to be very proud of! Please be sure to include Charlotte Crutchfield (Delegate MD 19) who was in the '17 class with Hans Riemer & Samir Paul. Congratulations to all who won, but also those who put themselves forward! <3
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Laurie Halverson
Laurie Halverson Thank you Esther. I am proud to be a member of Leadership Montgomery! Invaluable experiences and friendships!
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Lawrence Kotchek
Lawrence Kotchek Lots of "Fast Crawlers"
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Janis Sartucci
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Evan Glass
Evan Glass Leadership Montgomery opened my eyes to the geographic, economic and political diversity of Montgomery County. It also introduced me to classmates who helped me find a profession post-CNN, which then allowed me to become more politically and civically involved. I owe much to LM and to you. Thank you, Esther!
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Michele Waxman Johnson
Michele Waxman Johnson You have some very impressive grads, Esther! There was only 1 on my ballot, and I was proud to vote for him.
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Lorna Virgili
Lorna Virgili Wow! Indeed. Thank you Esther!
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Bob Jones
Bob Jones LM works!! Thanks Esther!
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Lisa Newman Loring
Lisa Newman Loring Pretty impressive mom!!!
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Esther Newman
Esther Newman Thank u!
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Janis Sartucci
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Bette Brotman Dolan
Bette Brotman Dolan REALLY impressive --- but I already know how great you are!
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Esther Newman
Esther Newman Who am I to argue?
Cost for Leadership Montgomery Program: $5200. Per person. Taxpayers foot the bill for everyone who is in the program from a county government office or MCPS.
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