Budget Cut Magically Disappears when BOE Member Julie Yang Steps In

The Lost and Found of Chinese Language Program at Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools

...According to Karen He, a Chinese teacher at Montgomery County Public Schools, most of her students are not of Chinese heritage. However, when news spread about the possible cut to the Chinese language program, many Chinese families, whether their children were in the class or not, passionately discussed the issue and brought it to the attention of Montgomery County Public School Education Board members including Julie Yang, who is also Chinese American.

Advocate for Their Language and Pride

Yang took the issue seriously. She explained to the Chinese community that the entire world language program within Montgomery County Public Schools was affected, and the Chinese language program was not the only one impacted. The budget cuts were so severe that many programs beyond language, such as the Montgomery Virtual Academy, had to close. She clarified that this was not discrimination against the Chinese community...

...Yang brought the issue to the attention of the Montgomery County Public Schools central office and the chief of academic programs. She emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity in language programs and the challenges students would face if the Chinese language program were cut.

"They might need to switch to a different language, which wouldn't be as beneficial for their language development," Yang stated.

Lost and Found

A few days into summer break, both Hallie Wells Middle School and Clarksburg Middle School informed their teachers and students that the Chinese language programs would be reinstated—again, without explaining. Neither principal responded to Yuan Media’s interview requests...

Yuan Media

Board of Education Candidate Forum, Wed., Oct 9 2024 in person! 15 W. Gude Drive Rockville

Please join the League of Women Voters and our co-sponsors at this in-person Board of Education Candidate Forum, Oct. 9, 7pm. The Board of Education is a critical part of our county government. They manage our $33.3 Billion budget and the education of approximately 160,000 students.

Two San Diego teens investigated their high school foundation’s finances. Then one got called in to the principal.

Kevin Wang, a 17-year-old senior at Canyon Crest Academy, was bored over the summer and needed something to do.

Then he remembered something that had bothered him back when he was a business officer for one of the school’s robotics teams: The school’s nonprofit foundation and main fundraising arm, the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation, was taking a bunch of money from his team.

The foundation kept 25 percent of every donation it collected on behalf of the robotics team. It did that for other student clubs, too, and it controlled the accounts of school-sponsored clubs, such as the robotics team, Kevin said.

Then, at the end of every fiscal year, it would take somewhere between 28 and 34 percent of the team’s revenue, Kevin said — the percentage varied year to year and wasn’t fully explained.

“I thought they were just super expensive — a rip-off,” Kevin said of the fees in an interview. “I just thought it was really wrong.”

Over the summer, he realized he still had access to the robotics team’s financial spreadsheets. So he began digging to find out where this fee money was going.

“What I found was, like, really shocking, and it just kept building up,” Kevin said...

Two San Diego teens investigated their high school foundation’s finances. Then one got called in to the principal. (msn.com)

Extremely Low Turnout for Superintendent Thomas Taylor's Listening Session. Are parents tired of "entry plans" without action?

Another MCPS Superintendent. [4 in 3 years + acting interim superintendent]

+

Another Superintendent entry plan/transition plan/transition team.

=

Minimal interest in Superintendent Thomas Taylor's Listening Session at Blair High School this week. 

 Superintendent's Entry Plan | Montgomery County Public Schools | Rockville, MD (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)

Montgomery Blair High School on X: "Dr. Thomas Taylor is hosting a Community Meeting now here at Blair. Come join us! @BlairPTSA @MCPS https://t.co/bWJ0Jdg7H7" / X

MCPS Sets Up "Committee" to Cover for Failure to Follow CESO Transportation Report Recommendations

The Montgomery County Board of Education tried to keep the comprehensive $168,380 Center for Effective School Operations (CESO) report from the public.  But the Parents' Coalition made the report public and ABC7 covered the extensive issues documented in the report.

In response to the ABC7 news story on August 21, 2024, the Board of Education and MCPS quickly set up a "committee" to meet once a month to "discuss" the CESO report.   

However, the CESO report actually had very specific recommendations and actions that MCPS was to take, some immediately.  One of the recommendations was to put a plan in place to implement some of the CESO recommendations prior to the MCPS FY 2026 Operating Budget planning.  

CESO believes that the planning for change should occur in time to support the FY2026 budget development cycle...[Deliverable #6 page 2]

The MCPS FY 2026 Operating Budget planning has already started, and submissions were due in September.  The "committee" has only had a "meet and greet."  

Why is a "committee" discussing the $168,380 CESO report and not the Montgomery County Board of Education?  

Why did the Montgomery County Board of Education shelve this report for 8 months? 

And who is on this "committee?"  Are vendors on this "committee?"  

Friday, Sept. 27th: MD Public Information Act Compliance Board Annual Meeting

The PIA Compliance Board will hold its second annual meeting by videoconference on Friday, September 27, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to finalize the Board’s Annual Report.  The meeting will be held virtually by Microsoft Teams. The public is invited to attend.

 

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 266 506 582 13

Passcode: QQsA9S

 

Join by phone (audio only)

+1 443-529-0364,,755685150# United States, Baltimore (one-click dial)

Phone Number: 443-529-0364

Conference ID: 755 685 150#

If you have trouble joining by video or phone on the day of the meeting, please call (410) 576-6560, or email piaopengov@oag.state.md.us.

 

The meeting agenda is being uploaded to the Board’s website. To request a copy of the agenda or for additional information about this open meeting of the Board, please contact S. Spencer Dove, Administrative Officer, at piaopengov@oag.state.md.us, or call (410) 576-6560.

 

Note: this meeting was originally scheduled for Friday, September 20, 2024, at 1pm. However, because the Board did not reach a quorum, the meeting was not held and no business conducted.

MCPS Buys GPS Bus Tracking Software for SIXTH TIME (No Bids, No Discussion by BOE Members)

 The September 12, 2024, Board of Education Agenda showed the following purchase: 

Procure Contracts 240912.pdf (boarddocs.com)

The Parents' Coalition has previously documented multiple GPS purchases by the Board of Education.  There was no discussion of the September 12th purchase.  The public has no idea why the Board of Education continually purchases GPS systems for school buses.  Do they never work?  

Is the 6th time the charm?  

#Breaking 2-alarm fire at JoAnn Leleck Elementary School on the 700 block of Beacon Rd in Silver Spring, MD. The school was under construction. #MCFRS

#Breaking 2-alarm fire at JoAnn Leleck Elementary School on the 700 block of Beacon Rd in Silver Spring, MD. The school was under construction. #MCFRS pic.twitter.com/V9S4uND7WT

— Allison Papson (@AllisonPapson) September 25, 2024

Read the Report MCPS Does Not Want You to See: CESO Assessment of MCPS Department of Transportation

@mocoboe Paid $168,380 for Comprehensive Analysis of @mcps Transportation, Then Shelved the Report.

Here is the 5 Part CESO report the Montgomery County

Board of Education doesn't want the public to read. 

 

1  

Montgomery County Public Sc... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

2

Montgomery County Public Sc... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

3

Montgomery County Public Sc... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

4

Montgomery County Public Schools, MD: 4 CESO Deliverable 01.31.2024 by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

5      

Montgomery County Public Sc... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

BOE Member Shebra Evans Should Recuse Herself from Discussions of "In the Matter of AUTOFLEX FLEET, INC" After Endorsement from Plaintiff's Attorney

Litigation involving the MCPS electric school bus procurement is currently before the Montgomery County Board of Education. The Parents' Coalition made the Appellate Court Order of March 5, 2024, public.  

AutoFlex Fleet, Inc. has been represented by Ryan Spiegel in this litigation.  

Attorney Ryan Spiegel is also Delegate Ryan Spiegel and he recently endorsed Board of Education member Shebra Evans for re-election in November.  

Shebra Evans should now recuse herself of any further discussions of the AutoFlex Fleet litigation as it now appears that she has a personal connection with the plaintiff's attorney.  

Deadline looms for Maryland to obligate federal money for schools

Maryland school officials said they are confident they will able to obligate almost $780 million in federal funds by Sept. 30 – money that will have to be returned to the federal government if they don’t.

The funding is part of $1.95 billion Maryland received in use-it-or-lose-it pandemic-relief funds for schools from the American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, program. As of this week, Maryland had spent 60.7% of the total, for $1.18 billion.

Maryland’s rate of obligating its funds is one of the lowest in the nation, ahead of only Nebraska and the District of Columbia, according to a U.S. Department of Education dashboard...

Deadline looms for Maryland to obligate federal money for schools - WTOP News

County school board candidates discuss budgets, school security in forum

 ...District perception  

One question about the perception of MCPS spurred conversations around student and school performance and the reason for declining trust in the district.  

Harris blamed unfavorable perceptions of MCPS on only bad news being reported, noting the school system is struggling with similar challenges that other districts also are facing, like the increased needs of students that require more educational resources.  

“We are very honestly struggling to meet the needs of the current generation of learners,” Harris said. “This is a school system that is still trying to catch up to reality.”  

Diaz said she would empower all teachers to give students the grades they deserve and eliminate grade inflation.  

Evans said the district and board members needed to be out in the community more so people can understand what’s going on in the district. “We have some wonderful legislators that have put forth [the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future] that is going to allow us to ensure that our teachers are paid more,” said Evans, noting the 2021 landmark education reform legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. 

Montoya said she still believed in the quality of the school district but added that test scores and safety incidents are creating concerns among families.  

“So I think that when we talk about addressing these issues, what we’re talking about is rebuilding that trust,” Montoya said. “[To] spend wisely, invest in proven approaches, to close the gap and have a healthy balance between mental health support and adequate law enforcement coverage.”..

County school board candidates discuss budgets, school security in forum   | MoCo360

Coming up at the County Council: Sept. 30th - IG Investigation of MCPS' Management of the EV School Bus 'Contract'

 

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html

Parents confront Northwest High School officials over delayed notification of student’s gun arrest

..."It's just kind of crazy. Parents are really upset... it's really messy!" said April Stone, a concerned parent. 

Another parent who attended Tuesday night's meeting, Yuki Nakandakri, expressed similar frustration, saying, "I came for answers, now I got more questions."

Students attending the meeting also left unsettled. 

Alvaro Nakandakri, a junior, said, "There is no knowing what their intention was – it does bother me."..

Parents confront Northwest High School officials over delayed notification of student’s gun arrest | FOX 5 DC

 

Tonight: Northwest High School Parent Information Session After Sept. 6th Arrest

In response to the recent student arrest that took place on September 6, we understand there may be questions and concerns within our community. To provide clarity and open communication, we invite you to join us for a Parent Information Session.

Date: Tuesday, September 17

Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Northwest Auditorium

https://secure.smore.com/n/3g5xm-northwest-news

Sept. 16th: Bathrooms to Reopen at BCC High School

 https://www.instagram.com/p/C_3RO3TRrbq/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Two Apple Ballot Candidates Refuse to Attend Candidate Debate

Two of the Apple Ballot (MCEA) endorsed Board of Education candidates in the upcoming election have refused to participate in a candidate's forum sponsored by 6 different groups.  

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD is one of the sponsors of the forum that will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 7 PM on Zoom. 

Each sponsoring organization has prepared questions for the candidates and all of the candidates have received the questions in advance.  

Here are the questions that the Parents' Coalition has presented to the candidates.  

Questions from Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD:

1.  The Appellate Court of Maryland has Ordered the Montgomery County Board of Education to review the HET MCPS, LLC electric school bus contract in light of the fact that two of the MCPS Department of Transportation Directors who were integrally involved in the electric school bus bidding process awarded the contract to an affiliate of the company they were receiving kickbacks from. 

[MCPS' Todd Watkins and Charles Ewald awarded the electric school bus contract to Highland.  Highland's proposal had American Truck & Bus as a subcontractor.  Watkins and Ewald were engaged in an embezzlement scheme with American Truck & Bus. After the contract was awarded to Highland, MCPS allowed Highland to create a new company called HET MCPS, LLC and MCPS wrote the contract to HET MCPS, LLC, even though they never bid on the proposal. American Truck & Bus remained as a subcontractor on the contract.]

The Montgomery County Board of Education has refused to review the HET MCPS, LLC contract despite the Mandate from the Appellate Court of Maryland.

What kind of example does this set for public school students? 

 See:  In the Matter of AutoFlex Fleet, Inc., No. 0539, September Term 2022. Opinion by Zic, J.  This opinion is a public document from a court that held proceedings in public courtrooms.  This case is not confidential, it is not a secret and no one is prohibited from discussing this public proceeding.  

2.  The Montgomery County Board of Education paid $168,380 for a comprehensive review of the MCPS Department of Transportation.  But when the review was completed by CESO (over 80 pages) the report was shelved and never presented to the Board of Education or made public.  The Parents' Coalition made the report public.  

The CESO report reveals that MCPS Fleet Maintenance workers are in imminent danger of being crushed or electrocuted because the repair bays are not designed for the heavier electric school buses.  Electric school bus repairs risk danger of electrocution or lift collapse if bays are not set up appropriately.  

Would you support an independent, dedicated Office of Inspector General to focus exclusively on Montgomery County Public Schools so that when reports are hidden and staff are in danger of death or injury there would be someone to speak up and alert the public to fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds, and of dangers to staff and students?  

Following his arrest, additional charges were added to include possession of a firearm on school property

 

16-Year-Old Charged with Archdale Road Shooting

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section have arrested and charged a Clarksburg teen with attempted first-degree murder, following a shooting that occurred on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in the 19300 block of Archdale Road in Germantown.

 

The investigation has revealed that at approximately 2:59 p.m., 16-year-old Jaiden Ochieng arrived at the location in a stolen Hyundai. Moments later, when a 15-year-old male victim got off a school bus at the location, Ochieng got out of the Hyundai and chased after the victim. He then pulled out a handgun and allegedly shot at the victim, who was not injured. After the shooting, Ochieng left the scene.

 

Upon arriving at the scene, officers located two shell casings in the area of Trophy Court and Archdale Road.

 

Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified Ochieng as the suspect.

 

Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Ochieng, charging him with attempted first-degree-murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent felony and theft related charges.

 

On Friday, September 6, officers arrested Ochieng in the 13300 block of Copper Ridge Road in Germantown and recovered a loaded handgun that the suspect had tossed prior to his arrest. Officers determined that the handgun was reported stolen out of Clinton, MD.

 

Following his arrest, additional charges were added to include possession of a firearm on school property, possession of a loaded handgun and underage possession of a firearm.

 

Jaiden Ochieng was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where has been charged as an adult. He is being held without bond.

# # #

Montgomery County Maryland (montgomerycountymd.gov)

FTC Files Amicus Brief Saying COPPA Can’t Force Parents Into Arbitration

The agency opposes efforts to invoke Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act to deprive parental rights

The Federal Trade Commission filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit brought by a group of parents who are suing IXL Learning, Inc. The FTC’s brief disputes the company’s argument that under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and the COPPA Rule, the schools’ agreement to binding arbitration also applied to parents.

The plaintiffs in the case – Shanahan, et al. v. IXL Learning, Inc. – are parents of school age children who allege IXL Learning illegally collected, used and sold their children’s data on their website and software in school. The parents’ putative class action lawsuit alleges that the education company violated various laws, including the Federal Wiretap Act and multiple California statutes, as well as common law privacy torts.

IXL Learning, which provides websites and school educational services, filed a motion to compel arbitration, claiming that the school districts agreed to the company’s full terms of service, including an arbitration provision. IXL Learning argued that under COPPA, school districts act as agents for the parents in the use of IXL’s educational services, and the parents are therefore bound by the full terms of service.

The FTC amicus brief clarifies that nothing in COPPA or the COPPA Rule dictates that parents and children should be bound by every part of the terms of service agreement between a company like IXL Learning and a school district, nor does COPPA support a claim that parents should be bound to arbitration in this case.

In December 2023, the Commission proposed amendments to strengthen the COPPA Rule by further limiting companies’ ability to monetize children’s data. The proposed Rule would require targeted advertising to be off by default, bar indefinite retention of kids’ data, and strengthen data security. The Commission’s review of this Rule is ongoing.

The agency filed its amicus brief in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division. 

The Commission voted 5-0 to file the amicus brief. Commissioner Andrew Ferguson issued a concurring statement.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers.  The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/ftc-files-amicus-brief-saying-coppa-cant-force-parents-arbitration