An MCPS spokesperson did not answer questions about Navarro’s compensation or her start date. [Navarro already refusing to answer questions about her position.]

Superintendent McKnight hires Nancy Navarro as senior adviser for external affairs at MCPS

...Janis Sartucci a member of the Montgomery County Parents Coalition, an advocacy and MCPS watchdog group, said that the hiring was “shocking” and brings into question the priorities of the school system.

Members of the MCCPTA did not immediately respond to MoCo360’s request for comment.

“We’ve seen other superintendents … that would bring in consultants, advisers, mentors and to be honest, we always have the same question: Why are those positions more important than classroom teachers? Is that what it means to fund an education system?” Sartucci said.

She continued that some teachers don’t have enough resources to buy classroom supplies.

“I think a lot of the public, the voters might think when they fund education, they’re funding classrooms and teachers and school buildings. Yet the reality we see is we’re funding administrators, consultants, mentors. And I think that’s where we need transparency.”

At this time, it is unclear how much Navarro will be paid in this new position. An MCPS spokesperson did not answer questions about Navarro’s compensation or her start date.

Sartucci added that another concern was that it appeared to her that McKnight hired Navarro without bringing the hire to the Board of Education. MoCo360 inquired about this concern with an MCPS spokesperson, but they did not immediately respond on Wednesday evening and Monday morning by email.

“We prefer to see as much transparency as possible so the public can be involved and make their own decisions on what is in the best interest of the school system and what the voters of Montgomery County want,” she added.

A blog post on the Parents’ Coalition’s website has also compiled a list of past issues the group has documented while Navarro was a school board member and County Council member. Some issues include not allowing a student to enroll at MCPS, violations of Open Meetings Act and closing special education programs.

MoCo360 was unable to reach members of the school board by phone and left a message with the board’s office secretary. When reached for comment, Navarro directed questions to MCPS spokesperson Chris Cram.

Cram did not answer questions about Navarro’s employment on Monday and on Wednesday evening...

Nancy Navarro hired as MCPS' senior advisor for external affairs | MoCo360