Wootton Student Who Threatened Mass School Violence Sentenced

The Rockville teenager who threatened “to shoot up my school” in a 129-page manifesto that included another nearby elementary school in his plans was sentenced Wednesday. He received a sentence of 12 months followed by five years of tightly supervised probation.

Alex Ye, 19, has been incarcerated for 14 months since his arrest. His one-year sentence began Wednesday as he waived his right to count his time served.

The Wootton High School student was found guilty on Jan. 8 following a two-day trial.

“We thought this young man who was in transition, who had multiple institutionalizations prior to his arrest, posed a substantial threat to the community,” said State’s Attorney for Montgomery County John McCarthy following the sentencing...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/wootton-student-who-threatened-mass-school-violence-sentenced/

Joshua Starr Finalist for North Carolina Superintendent Position

 https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/education/article306389816.html

Montgomery Co. teen who wrote ‘manifesto’ about school shootings to serve 1 year in prison

...Judge Jill Cummins ordered Ye to appear in court every two weeks during his probationary period to meet with her and provide proof that he’s following his probation requirements. There are multiple conditions, including receiving mental health treatment and conducting community service...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/05/montgomery-co-teen-who-wrote-manifesto-about-school-shootings-to-serve-1-year-in-prison/

School board appoints new Montgomery Blair, Quince Orchard High principals

...The Montgomery County school board approved Thursday several appointments for school principals, including for Quince Orchard and Montgomery Blair high schools.  

In a 6-2 vote, the school board appointed Irinia LaGrange to be the principal Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg. LaGrange currently serves as the director of college and career readiness and districtwide programs for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Board members Rita Montoya and Grace Rivera-Oven voted against the appointment, but didn’t explain why during the board meeting. LaGrange formerly served as the principal of Tilden Middle School in Rockville. 

Beth Thomas, the former Quince Orchard principal, announced her retirement from the school principal role in October, according to the school’s student newspaper The Prowler.  

The school board unanimously voted to appoint Damon Monteleone, the current associate superintendent of the MCPS Office of Well-Being and Student Services, to serve as the principal of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. According to Monteleone’s LinkedIn profile, he served as the assistant principal of Paint Branch High in Burtonsville from 2010 to 2014 and from 2014 to 2021, he served as the principal of Richard Montgomery in Rockville. He then served as the MCPS assistant chief of schools and then as an associate superintendent. Monteleone was a finalist for The Washington Post principal of the year in 2020 when he served as principal of Richard Montgomery...

 https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/22/school-board-appoints-montgomery-blair-quince-orchard/

Memorial Day

 We remember with sadness all those, and their families and loved ones, who sacrificed everything for our freedoms.

$128,378 Still in MCPS Budget for Logo Gifts for Administrators

What's more important than Special Education teachers?

Well, MCPS logo clothing and gifts, of course!

Superintendent Taylor's list of "cuts" to the Board of Education's proposed budget only includes cuts to staffing and curriculum.  Superintendent Taylor does not make one single cut to vendors paid out of the MCPS Operating Budget.  A number of those vendor "contracts" are no-bid and have been in place for decades.  

That means the logo clothing and gifts budget is safe for FY 2026!  

4Imprint Inc  $128,378 paid by MCPS in first 7 months of Fiscal Year 2025.

‘Our Kids Can’t Learn In These Conditions’

   

...“During state testing this week, we were evacuated two times” in Tuesday’s heavy downpour, said 7th grade English teacher Kelly Rankin.

“We assumed there was something, like an actual fire,” she said. Later, the staff was told the alarm sounded due to the overheating of the system...

...Nolan, the SIEU union representative at Loiderman, said she recently was absent three days because of all the mold.

“Our kids can’t learn in these conditions,” declared Joshua Rubin, a world studies teacher, as staff, parents and students cheered and chanted, “Do Your Job” to school administrators.

“We have been through a number of smells. We have been through a number of odors,” said 7th grade English teacher Camilla Barillas, adding, “Frankly we deserve better.”

Sometimes it is 40 degrees in the classroom. Other times, it’s 90 degrees, said Rankin, who has had four different sinus infections. “We can’t wait any longer.”..

https://www.mymcmedia.org/our-kids-cant-learn-in-these-conditions/

5/16/2025: Magruder HS Closed Early Due to Excessive Heat in Building. Here's what temp and humidity showed.

Magruder High School will be dismissing today, May 16, 2025, at 12:45 pm due to excessive heat in the building. Families, please see the community message that I sent to you for more details.

— Chris Ascienzo (@MHS_principal) May 16, 2025

When Magruder High School was closed on May 16th, the AVERAGE interior temperature was 81 degrees and the AVERAGE humidity for the building was 67% at 12:30 PM.  

Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor and the Board of Education pay millions of dollars for the temperature and humidity for every single room in every single school building in Montgomery County Public Schools, but they hide those details from parents and staff.  All that is known is that these were the AVERAGES at the time the school was closed.  

How hot were the hottest rooms and what was the highest humidity?  

 12:30 PM averages at Magruder High School:

 

How Superintendent Taylor Spent $445,209,270 in first 7 months.

On May 22, 2025, the Montgomery County Board of Education will meet to discuss what to eliminate from their FY 2026 Operating Budget proposal.  The Board of Education will not be receiving their entire request and must eliminate $8,585,914 in expenditures.  

Where to trim the Board of Education's FY 2026 Operating Budget?  Superintendent Thomas Taylor has posted his recommendations at this link, including the elimination of 30 special education teacher positions. 

Below is a list of all of the MCPS Operating Budget funds paid out to vendors receiving over $25,000 through January in FY 2025.  Notice that in Superintendent Taylor's recommendation he doesn't mention anything about any of the MCPS contracts or vendor deals listed below.  

That's notable especially since the Board of Education has been ordered by the Maryland Appellate Court to review the $168 million dollar electric school bus procurement but, to date, the Board of Education has refused to comply with that court order.  

What if the Board of Education complied with the court order and ended up saving millions of dollars in the leasing of electric school buses?  Would Superintendent Taylor still need to cut 30 special education teachers next year?  

Take a look at the $445,209,270 in vendor payments as of January 2025: 

Vendor                                 Amount Paid 

The Northern Trust Company $76,670,121 

Keller Brothers Inc $20,681,042 

Hess Construction Company, LLC $18,377,495 

Dustin Construction Inc $17,973,401 

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company $17,578,979 

Henley Construction Co Inc $14,887,358 

Amplify Education Inc $11,473,547 

CDW LLC $10,231,370 

WGL Energy Services Inc $8,523,685 

HET MCPS LLC $8,177,192 

JPMorgan Chase Bank. N.A. $7,933,786 

Pepco $6,956,233 

Data Networks of America Inc $5,068,886 

Douron Inc $4,817,483 

Sheppard Pratt Non-Contracted Services LLC $4,233,537 

Oak Contracting LLC $4,215,398 

Denver-Elek Inc $4,071,090 

Shapiro & Duncan Inc $3,973,040 

J. A. Scheibel Inc $3,620,917 

VOYA Holdings Inc $3,573,448 

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission $3,546,451 

Ameresco Inc $3,500,847 

Mansfield Oil Company of Gainesville Inc $3,490,440 

Bell TechLogix Inc $3,412,140 

Rockville MD II SGF LLC $3,339,275 

Interstate Corporation $3,283,740 

WorkSource Montgomery Inc $3,256,158 

Ivymount School $3,245,960 

Bus Patrol America LLC $3,224,101 

Orndorff & Spaid Inc $3,144,619 

Lenovo Inc $3,012,003 

PowerSchool Holdings LLC $2,342,998 

Treatment & Learning Centers Inc $2,259,053 

Great Minds PBC $2,169,887 

Kennedy Krieger Education and Community Services Inc $2,164,088 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company $2,109,408 

EMJAY Construction Co Inc $2,051,010 

Unisource Services LLC $1,949,620 

R D Bean Inc $1,898,555 

NORESCO LLC $1,890,976 

Delta General Services Inc $1,784,972 

Edupoint Educational Systems LLC $1,773,163 

Applications Software Technology LLC $1,713,459 

Dairy Maid Dairy LLC $1,697,143 

M&M Welding & Fabricators Inc $1,592,570 

Aries Building Systems LLC $1,582,756 

The Foundation Schools Inc $1,559,764 

Prevost Construction Inc $1,512,565 

Netcom Technologies Inc $1,490,933 

American Medical Staffing $1,489,040 

Boland Trane Services Inc $1,414,145 

Singer Equipment Company Inc $1,406,221 

Walker Willis Corp $1,405,923 

SHAW INTEGRATED AND TURF SOLUTIONS INC $1,403,037 

PHILLIPS Programs $1,335,299 

Staples Inc $1,279,064 

PJK Food Service LLC $1,242,340 

Paramount Mechanical Corp $1,232,193 

Oracle America Inc $1,222,069 

Playground Specialists Inc $1,204,939 

US Modular Group East Inc $1,125,645 

S Freedman & Sons Inc $1,117,107 

The Therapy Spot LLC $1,092,356 

Colossal Contractors, Inc $1,085,053 

Brook Lane Behavioral Services Inc $1,062,964 

Empire Landscape LLC $1,033,713 

Exelon Corporation $987,007 

Smith & Haines Inc $969,747 

Modular Genius Inc $928,033 

Imagine Learning LLC $926,747 

The Stepping Stones Group LLC $925,400 

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP $888,455 

Follett Content Solutions LLC $885,447 

Instructure Inc $884,500 

Daikin Applied America Inc $872,878 

MTFA Architecture PLLC $867,933 

ATC Corp $858,757 

Buch Construction Inc $840,103 

McGraw Hill LLC $827,408 

EMH Environmental Inc $806,155 

11400 Inc $795,559 

Acme Paper & Supply Co Inc $795,169 

All Roads Kenworth LLC $791,618 

Adventist HealthCare Inc $787,906 

Community Support Services Inc $765,872 

Amber Enterprises Inc $755,792 

Control Sources LLC $745,528 

Specialized Education of MD Inc $741,812 

Gilbane Building Company $738,808 

Let's Do Lunch Inc $738,376 

Jewish Social Service Agency $729,497 

Criswell Chevrolet Inc $700,452 

WB Mason Company Inc $697,482 

Food Pro Corp $696,908 

Capitol Document Solutions LLC $684,311 

Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children $682,220 

School Specialty LLC $653,956 

Rasix Computer Center Inc $652,438 

Metro Metal Services Inc $644,362 

L&R Enterprises, Inc $630,693 

Bowie State University $600,143 

IXL Learning Inc $585,469 

Elcon Enterprises Inc $580,365 

Form Plastics Company $578,883 

Cummins Inc $572,837 

Global Payments Inc $554,376 

Rich Holdings Inc $553,116 

Schwan's Food Service Inc $548,366 

The Matthews Group Inc $547,858 

Dell Marketing LP $538,529 

Potomac Edison $536,731 

Plexus Installations Inc $528,190 

Tyson Prepared Foods Inc $526,650 

Kellogg Sales Co $524,242 

Ferguson US Holdings Inc $520,970 

State of Maryland $510,349 

Comcast $502,596 

Infor (US) Inc $500,727 

K Neal International Trucks Inc $497,496 

County Contractors LLC $494,833 

Reginald S Lourie Center for Infants & Young Children Inc $492,587 

Varsity Brands Holding Co Inc $490,498 

Gold Star Foods $487,218 

Miles & Stockbridge PC $479,070 

Sunbelt Rentals Inc $477,672 

Pyramid Paper Company $474,809 

Espina Paving Inc $473,793 

Fitz Flooring LLC $464,124 

Boiler & Furnace Cleaners Inc $459,468 

RDA Company, LLC $445,645 

E&R Services Inc $435,243 

RK Payroll Solutions Inc $433,952 

St Elizabeth School $427,615 

Guitar Center Stores Inc $422,334 

Superior Supply Ltd $420,688 

Capital Telecom Services $406,181 

Verizon Maryland Inc $406,165 

Main Line Real Properties LP $406,025 

State of Maryland $405,141 

TEX-AM Construction Co Inc $403,803 

Montgomery College $403,456 

Mitel Business Systems Inc $401,882 

Washington Gas Light Company $401,644 

Recovery Point Systems Inc $401,084 

Pathways Schools $397,911 

General Mills Finance Inc $394,189 

Sempco Inc $391,787 

Stormwater Management Facilities Repair Group Inc $388,398 

Maggin Construction Company Inc $384,962 

Innovation Learning LLC $384,500 

Lakeshore Parent LLC $382,904 

Unitec Distribution Systems Inc $372,757 

ALTA IT Services LLC $372,734 

WB Waste Solutions LLC $364,008 

Parlights Inc $363,854 

Atmos Solutions Inc $359,154 

Bowings & Huber LLC $358,126 

Magnolia Plumbing Inc $356,466 

McCain Foods USA Inc $355,995 

The Children's Guild Inc $346,583 

Gold Creek Foods LLC $342,185 

The Lab School Of Washington Inc $341,460 

CollegeTracks, Inc $337,500 

Coughlan Companies LLC $333,247 

Remind101 Inc $331,660 

NCS Pearson Incorporated $322,080 

BGE $322,003 

Samaha Associates PC $316,126 

HCGI Hartford Inc $316,000 

Donald B Rice Tire Co Inc $312,084 

B. W. Wilson Paper Company, Inc. $310,071 

AT&T Mobility LLC $309,226 

Language Line Services, Inc $306,158 

Johnson Controls US Holdings LLC $303,543 

K&M Supply Inc $300,040 

Shorehaven Inc $298,606 

Stantec Architecture Inc $297,877 

RRMM Architects PC $295,734 

Skanska USA Building Inc $291,912 

Hadley Farms Inc $291,454 

SAMSARA INC $288,014 

Goodman Food Products Inc $287,815 

TAN Fire Alarms LLC $287,015 

TeachNow Inc $282,027 

Atlantech Online Inc $280,874 

Pinnacle Venue Services LLC $279,552 

James Posey Associates Inc $273,730 

Regency Cab Inc $271,960 

Notable Inc $271,250 

E.A.R.N. Contractors Inc $269,665 

Diversified Educational Systems Inc $267,478 

B & H Foto & Electronics Corp $264,598 

Venable LLP $262,291 

Wenger Corporation $261,720 

VMDO Architects, P.C. $261,580 

Fresh Air Concepts LLC $261,579 

Equal Opportunity Schools $261,000 

Finley Asphalt and Concrete Inc $259,413 

BrainPOP LLC $257,623 

Craig Gaulden & Davis Inc $257,029 

Perfection Learning Corporation $256,808 

The Tree House Inc $252,155 

N2Y LLC $250,733 

Anne Arundel Fire Inspection Inc $248,821 

Kirkland, David E $247,500 

Herman Born & Sons Inc $247,326 

Hood College $245,916 

Edmentum Inc $244,941 

Harbour School $244,641 

Chesapeake Communications Inc $244,566 

Barfresh Corporation Inc $242,654 

East West Telecommunications $242,219 

SHC Services Inc $233,800 

H&S Distribution LLC $232,653 

Service Tire Truck Center Inc $231,540 

TELUS HEALTH (US) LTD. $227,773 

Smucker Foodservice Inc $227,025 

Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr LLP $224,557 

3P Health LLC $220,506 

Crisis Prevention Institute Inc $220,229 

Microsoft Corporation $215,848 

International Baccalaureate $214,094 

The Executive Learning Lab LLC $213,800 

AON Consulting Inc $213,318 

Chelsea School $212,967 

University of Maryland $207,071 

Apple Inc $204,423 

The New England Center for Children Inc $201,616 

Paxton Patterson LLC $200,321 

CONAGRA BRANDS INC $200,173 

Kuder Inc $200,000 

Calfed Financial Corp $199,188 

Verizon Wireless $198,920 

Kramer, Ethan $198,318 

DG Investment Intermediate Holdings 2 Inc $195,997 

Brightly Software Inc $194,984 

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP $192,805 

Superior Text LLC $191,515 

Mobile Communications America Inc $184,495 

Mythics LLC $184,183 

Telnet Inc $184,068 

Parts Authority LLC $183,987 

Benedictine School $183,254 

Baptist Convention of MD/DE $182,128 

The Best Battery Company Inc $180,995 

Gateway Education Holdings LLC $180,461 

Sigman and Summerfield Associates Inc $177,450 

AFP Holding LLC $177,408 

Proffitt & Associates Architects, PC $177,126 

Pixellot US Inc $176,499 

Maryland Unemployment Ins Adm $174,424 

Game Day Inc $173,724 

Active Internet Technologies LLC $173,221 

Macmillan Holdings LLC $171,692 

Rescue One Training for Life Inc $170,588 

SupportEd LLC $169,471 

Home Health Connection Inc $169,048 

Radio Systems Integrators Inc $168,268 

Calico Packaging LLC $168,194 

BrightView Holdings Inc $166,821 

Fisher Scientific Company LLC $164,810 

The Mayor and Council of Rockville $164,434 

Riverside Assessments LLC $164,352 

CN Robinson Lighting Supply Co Inc $163,524 

Thrive Behavioral Health LLC $162,337 

Canon Solutions America Inc $161,008 

Young Men's Christian Association of Metropolitan Washington $158,703 

Insight Public Sector Inc $158,084 

FleetPride Inc $157,805 

Greenwood Asher & Associates LLC $157,375 

Tilley Lubricants LLC $157,072 

Sonny Merryman Inc $155,803 

Allegis Group Holdings, Inc. $155,648 

Peterson Farm Fresh Inc $154,881 

Washington District Football Officials Association $154,049 

Tasty Brands LLC $153,774 

EnergyCAP LLC $153,236 

Aireco Supply Inc $153,079 

Butterball LLC $151,708 

Delmar Architects PA $150,659 

Latham Centers Inc $149,243 

Cengage Learning, Inc. $148,550 

Motir Services Inc $148,330 

B&B Concepts Inc $146,370 

Carolina Biological Supply Company $145,836 

Follett School Solutions LLC $143,005 

Bunn LLC $142,385 

Gaithersburg Farmers Supply Inc $142,206 

Weiss Bros of Hagerstown Inc $141,245 

Metropolitan Washington Soccer Referees Association Inc $141,036 

KEV Group Inc $140,457 

Great Books Foundation $139,823 

The Middleton & Meads Co Inc $139,599 

JPG Plumbing and Mechanical Inc $138,901 

Yoti N N & Associates Inc $136,802 

Reynolds Consulting Engineers Inc $135,119 

Project Lead The Way Inc $134,046 

Home Depot USA Inc $133,715 

Nexus Woodbourne Family Healing $133,166 

Curriculum Associates LLC $131,133 

Aztech Datasystems Inc $130,955 

Envy Brands $129,153 

Central Jersey Office Equipment Inc. $128,633 

4Imprint Inc $128,378 

Linwood Center Inc $128,243 

AMN Healthcare Allied Inc $127,523 

ExploreLearning, LLC $126,422 

Automatic Nursing Care Services, Inc $125,806 

KCI Technologies Inc $125,666 

Montgomery County Children's Opportunity Alliance Incorporated $125,000 

The Urban Alliance Foundation Inc $125,000 

Heartline Fitness Products Inc $124,322 

Home Market Foods Inc $123,744 

Safeware Inc $122,772 

RSC Electrical & Mechanical Contractors Inc $121,860 

The Maryland School for the Blind $121,837 

Penske Truck Leasing Co LP $121,129 

Maryland Department of Education $120,000 

Associated Professional Rehabilitation Services Inc $119,571 

W W Grainger Inc $119,207 

MIK Industries Inc $118,319 

Southern Utilities Company Inc $117,024 

Kingmor Supply Inc $115,901 

Weyer's Floor Service Inc $114,744 

Gabriel Roeder Smith & Company $113,500 

Hershey Creamery Company $113,072 

Notre Dame of Maryland University Inc $112,121 

Hartman Electric LLC $111,110 

ProQuest LP $110,843 

Soliant Health LLC $110,604 

Brookaire Company LLC $109,109 

Partition Plus Inc $107,746 

COSMOS AIR PURIFICATION & ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS INC $107,705 

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. $106,141 

Sweeney, John R $106,049 

Scholastic Library Publishing $104,545 

The Prophet Corporation $104,475 

iMonza Inc $104,106 

Dawkins Management Inc $100,768 

Sheffield Pottery, Inc $100,592 

United States Postal Service $100,350 

Bost & Filtrex Inc $99,982 

Clarity Imaging Solutions Inc $99,088 

All American Sports Corp $98,836 

National Speech & Language Therapy Center Inc $98,779 

Grimm & Parker Architecture Inc $97,960 

Clayworks Supplies Inc $96,711 

Independent Hardware Inc $95,231 

Kelly Generator & Equipment Inc $95,182 

enerG Fitness and Wellness Solutions LLC $94,220 

Maryland Association of Boards of Education $94,090 

Identity Inc $91,951 

S&E Paper Inc $91,354 

Maxim Healthcare Services Holdings Inc $91,144 

Quadient Inc $91,032 

JemiSun Healthcare Services Inc $90,389 

Canon Financial Services Inc $89,690 

Institute for Multi-Sensory Education LLC $89,331 

Perkins Eastman Architects DPC $89,186 

Quality One Care Home Health Inc $88,516 

Harrington Jr, Kevin Michael $88,426 

Scholastic Inc $88,360 

MG Auto Glass Inc $88,255 

Really Great Reading Company LLC $87,375 

Land O'Lakes Inc $87,309 

Maryland's Athletic House $86,034 

Master Care Flooring Inc $85,706 

TJ Distributors Inc $85,280 

SB & Company LLC $85,000 

Pavion Corp $84,700 

Midwest Shop Supplies Inc $84,371 

United Refrigeration Inc $84,012 

Texthelp Inc $83,434 

Board Of Education Prince George's $81,528 

Reider, Kelly $79,865 

Zayo Group Holdings Inc $79,677 

Peterson Farms Inc $79,112 

Enel X Advisory Services North America Inc $79,050 

Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. $78,933 

Lanier Electronics Group Inc $78,188 

Whiteford Taylor & Preston LLP $78,090 

Xerox Corporation $78,088 

Flinn Scientific Inc $78,003 

J.B.A. Consulting Engineers Inc $77,762 

Board of Education of Frederick County $77,340 

Scenario Learning LLC $76,950 

Michigan Dessert Corporation $76,761 

Lyon & Associates Inc $75,835 

Luminace Aggregator LLC $75,732 

Agile Sports Technologies Inc $75,000 

Board of Child Care of the United Methodist Church Inc $74,713 

Zeager Brothers Inc $74,515 

Consigli Construction Co Inc $74,439 

Rolyn LLC $73,945 

PlayPower LT Farmington Inc $73,327 

Gold Standard Consulting LLC $73,300 

Associated Catholic Charities, Inc. $72,433 

Funds For Learning LLC $70,850 

Para-Med Medical Transportation Inc $70,570 

Gifted Intermediate Holdings II Inc $70,262 

ATC Healthcare Services LLC $70,154 

Vista Higher Learning Inc $69,964 

Out of The Shell, LLC $69,232 

Mead Tree & Turf Care Inc $68,825 

Board of Education of Baltimore County $68,768 

Sonova USA Inc $68,579 

Cavazos, Hermelinda $68,562 

Visual Language Associates $68,541 

J.S.B Industries Inc $68,522 

The K Group Architects $68,420 

Octagon Services Inc $68,092 

PBC Guru LLC $67,099 

Germantown Cultural Arts Center Inc $66,228 

Adelphi Medical Staffing LLC $66,100 

Round House Theatre Inc $65,400 

Capp Inc $64,784 

Building Dynamics LLC $64,678 

Intelligent Marking USA Inc $63,000 

Professional Startup and Operating Services Inc $61,902 

Trapeze Software Group Inc $61,485 

Anne Arundel Co Public School $61,146 

DLR Group of DC PC $60,916 

Bowman Sales & Equipment Inc $60,902 

Washington Music Sales Center Inc $60,496 

Terraform Solar XVIII LLC $60,433 

National Compadres Network Org $60,000 

Leonard Paper Co $59,921 

Jackson Lewis PC $58,806 

Gotugo LLC $58,691 

Infobase Holdings Inc $58,006 

Brady Industries of Maryland LLC $57,966 

Automotive Support Services Inc $57,867 

Lighting Maintenance Inc $57,515 

Maryland Department of Health Regional Institute for Children & Adolescents $56,537 

OverDrive Inc $55,642 

Daktronics Inc $55,531 

Electric Advantage Inc $55,144 

National Food Group Inc $54,394 

Clark Azar & Associates Inc $54,305 

Vernier Software & Technology Inc $54,210 

Sunbelt Staffing LLC $53,987 

Bobs Overhead Door Repair & Service Inc $52,376 

Banc of America Public Capital Corp $52,006 

Kendall Hunt Publishing Company $51,693 

Kids Discover LLC $51,660 

DeltaMath Solutions Inc $51,383 

World Fuel Services Inc $51,378 

Multi-Health Systems Inc $51,059 

The Rockmont Motor Company Inc $49,713 

Enterprise Holdings Inc $49,600 

Waldon Studio Architects, A Michael Graves Company, Inc. $49,496 

Delcoline Inc $48,650 

Multicorp Fire Protection Services LLC $47,992 

Demco Inc $47,592 

Cintas Corporation No 2 $46,963 

Rochester 100 Inc $46,682 

Environmental Quality Resources LLC $46,486 

Norton Land Design LLC $46,450 

El Dorado Trading Group Inc $46,318 

EDU Healthcare LLC $46,252 

Snelson Media Inc $45,727 

Design Collective Inc $45,492 

Alan Tye & Associates LC $45,065 

Barwood Management LLC $44,754 

Tumbleweed Press Inc $44,653 

RL Acquisition Co Inc $44,614 

Burdette, Koehler, Murphy & Associates Inc $44,017 

D & F Construction Co Inc $43,684 

Dollamur LLC $43,480 

Follett Corporation $43,357 

Ortiz Dynda & Associates LLC $43,000 

Imagination Stage Inc $42,778 

Southern Insulation Inc $42,200 

Hercules Fence Of Maryland LLC $42,040 

Catapult Learning LLC $42,000 

Interstate Office Supply $41,289 

Nichols Contracting Inc $41,254 

Long Fence Company Inc $40,846 

Gambrills Equipment Co Inc $40,667 

Briggs Chaney Walk in Clinic LLC $40,550 

Stanbury Uniforms LLC $40,480 

SGM Bindery Inc $40,477 

Medical Access PC $40,458 

Business Software Inc $40,225 

Tammy L Turner Esq LLC $39,673 

School Health Corporation $39,567 

Community Products LLC $39,468 

Lexia Learning Systems LLC $39,311 

Blick Art Materials LLC $39,306 

Country Pure Foods, Inc. $39,044 

Havtech Parts Division LLC $38,944 

J&J Snack Foods Sales Corp $38,880 

Glass Distributors Inc $38,866 

LessonPix Inc $38,511 

Valley Fox Inc $38,312 

Schneider Electric IT Corporation $37,855 

McDaniel College Inc $37,276 

VWR International LLC $37,207 

Allsafe Elevator Inspections LLC $37,085 

United Distributors of Maryland/CVM $37,001 

Eagle Mat & Floor Products Inc $36,807 

Takoma Tree Experts LLC $36,790 

White Glove Drug & Alcohol Testing Inc $36,606 

Sports Imports Inc $36,546 

Pocket Nurse Enterprises $36,490 

Discovery Education Inc $36,478 

Commissioners Of Poolesville $36,076 

Hands on Dental Assistant Training $36,000 

RCI Systems Inc $35,826 

School Datebooks Inc $35,660 

IB Source $35,502 

Total Kitchen Care LLC $35,162 

Washington Field Hockey Umpires' Association $34,979 

United Electric Supply Company Inc $34,904 

West Music Company Inc $34,799 

MPS Healthcare Inc $34,696 

BlueTriton Brands Inc $34,576 

Lowry Enterprises Inc $34,500 

Lincoln Library Press Inc $34,396 

Newsela Inc $34,368 

Rebel Athletic Inc $34,108 

School & Office Services Inc $34,086 

Intellias Inc $33,905 

Kent County Public Schools $33,744 

HIS Sign LLC $33,727 

Nasco Education LLC $33,413 

W.L .Gary Company Inc $33,397 

Uline, Inc $33,138 

Global Equipment Company Inc. $32,591 

CPG Beyond Inc $32,506 

Jasper Engine Exchange Inc $32,076 

DS Services of America Inc $31,432 

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution $31,300 

Hawthorne Educational Services Inc $31,203 

RT MacKenzie Inc $31,169 

Charles County Public Schools $30,136 

B. Love Media and Publishing LLC $30,000 

ESJ Renaissance OB Westech LLC $30,000 

EAI Security Systems Inc $29,835 

OTC Brands Inc $29,618 

Cargill Kitchen Solutions Inc $29,370 

New Direction Solutions LLC $28,831 

DPF SERVICES LLC $28,412 

Family Services Inc $28,114 

BusinessU LLC $28,090 

Service Photo Supply Inc $27,994 

Applied Acoustical Sciences Inc $27,854 

Southern Aluminum Manufacturing Acquisition Inc $27,341 

LJ CBG Acquisition Company $27,095 

Werres Corp $27,094 

Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply $27,062 

AlphaB2B LLC $26,831 

All American Protective Services LLC $26,555 

Weather Control Inc $26,507 

BB Tech Inc $25,977 

Graybar Electric Company Inc $25,900 

KLO Companies $25,895 

Havtech LLC $25,817 

Triumvirate Environment Inc $25,772 

Washington County Board of Education $25,730 

Academy Express LLC $25,601 

EDpuzzle Inc $25,399 

DGS Educational Products $25,362 

American Association of School Administrators Inc $25,000 

10 kids, 2 adults hurt after school bus crash in Silver Spring

Twelve people, mostly children, were taken to hospitals after a crash involving a school bus in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Tuesday morning, officials said.

Ten children, the school bus driver and another adult were hurt after a school bus and a second vehicle crashed near New Hampshire Avenue and Norwood Road, a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson said.

None of their injuries are considered life-threatening, according to the department.

A photo from the scene shows a white vehicle with a crumpled hood standing on a sidewalk, near a yellow school bus with a sign saying "Montgomery County Schools." First responders arrived at the scene about 7:15 a.m...

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/10-kids-2-adults-hurt-after-school-bus-crash-in-silver-spring/3917514/

The tragic death of a special needs student in 2019 was supposed to prompt meaningful change in Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

Annapolis, Md. (WBFF) — The tragic death of a special needs student in 2019 was supposed to prompt meaningful change in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. But now, the family of Bowen Levy tells Project Baltimore, promises made to keep special needs students safe are not being fulfilled.

“Tell me about your son,” Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst asked Bryan Levy, Bowen Levy’s father.

“Super, super kid,” replied Levy. “So many people would be intimidated by him. But once they got to know him, all of them would come in and hug and kiss him.”

On November 18, 2019, Bowen Levy would have turned 18. But he never made it - because his own school system failed to keep him safe...

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/after-student-death-family-says-anne-arundel-county-failing-to-uphold-safety-promise-bowen-levy-central-special-bryan-levy-individualized-education-program-mark-bedell

Disagreement leads to physical altercation between staff, students at Silver Spring middle school

...Booms sent another letter Tuesday to the entire school community in which she apologized for not reaching out to the entire school community and said her immediate focus was on the students directly impacted by Monday’s incident.  

Tuesday’s letter provided more detail about the incident, saying students didn’t follow the guidance of “adults” during lunch dismissal, which led to a “heated exchange of words” and a “physical altercation.”  

“This behavior was unacceptable and resulted in two students being struck and also minor injuries for two staff members who were involved,” Booms said in the Tuesday letter. “The students were assessed by the school nurse and released and the two staff members sought medical attention on their own.” 

MCPS spokesperson Liliana Lopez told Bethesda Today Wednesday that one staff member involved has been placed on leave.  

MCPS limits phone use but offers high schoolers flexibility

Retiree health fund tapped to MCPS budget, avoiding income tax hike

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. - An income tax increase is off the table in Montgomery County after council leaders joined with public school officials to announce they’ve figured out a solution that would fund virtually all the school system’s budget needs without raising income tax. 

By the numbers:

An earlier proposal called for an increase in the local income tax rate — from 3.2% to 3.3%. For someone earning $100,000, that’s about $100 more a year — or roughly $2 a week.

County Executive Marc Elrich said the money was needed for Montgomery County Public Schools.

But on Tuesday, members of the county council and Montgomery County school officials — who faced public ire over the tax hike — announced they’ve come up with a way to fund MCPS’s $3.65 billion budget request without raising income taxes.

Schools will be allowed to draw down funds from a retiree health benefit trust...

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/retiree-health-fund-tapped-mcps-budget-avoiding-income-tax-hike

MCPS Football player at John F. Kennedy High School in Wheaton was killed at his home in Beltsville

A 16-year-old from Beltsville, Maryland, who played on his high school’s football team, was shot and killed inside his home by a man who was messing with a gun, according to police.

Derrick Palmer was a football player at John F. Kennedy High School in Wheaton. He was killed at his home on Heartwood Drive on Saturday afternoon, according to Prince George’s County Police...

https://wtop.com/maryland/2025/05/police-teenager-shot-killed-by-man-playing-with-gun-in-beltsville-home/

MCPS to evaluate effectiveness of Community Engagement Officer program

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will gather feedback from students, staff and community members on the effectiveness of the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) program with a November deadline to report back to the board, according to a school board resolution approved Thursday.  

The CEO program involves county police officers assigned to a specific high school and its feeder schools, known as a cluster. The officers have an office in their assigned high school, but do not patrol hallways.  

The program was introduced in the 2022-2023 school year after MCPS removed county police officers, known as school resource officers, from campuses the previous year following concerns over students of color being disproportionately disciplined. Some community members have argued that returning to using school resource officers, who were assigned to high schools and patrolled campuses, would make schools safer.   

On March 18, school board member Brenda Wolff (Dist. 5) put forth a resolution directing MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor to “solicit student, staff, parent and community input on the current CEO program within the context of school safety.” On Thursday, the board unanimously approved the resolution...

 https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/13/mcps-evaluate-community-engagement-officer-program/ 

Taylor: MCPS should move away from ‘ivory tower mentality’

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the school board moved from their aging headquarters in a former school to a modern office building at 15 W. Gude Drive in Rockville in 2024 — one that Superintendent Thomas Taylor notes is white and several stories tall. 

“It quite literally is an ivory tower,” Taylor told a group of about a dozen people who attended a District 18 Democratic Breakfast Club meeting Monday morning at the Parkway Deli in Silver Spring.

Just about two months shy of his one-year anniversary on July 1, Taylor said he is hoping to be the leader who can shift the district from an ‘ivory tower mentality’ into one focused on decision-making at the school level. 

“We have talented principals, we have talented educators, and when decision-making is closer to what’s happening in the classroom, the decisions tend to get a lot better because the context is there,” Taylor said. “And when decisions are removed from principals, and when 90% of the decision-making ends up in the ivory tower, it tends not to be as good.”..

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/12/mcps-ivory-tower-mentality-taylor/

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all our mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers a wonderful Mother's Day. We are so grateful every day for your care and love.

                     Shown: Achomawi Mother and Child, photographed by Edward S. Curtis ca. 1923, Library of Congress.

SW Miami-Dade resident pushes back on ticket for passing school bus

CBS News Miami's Joe Gorchow speaks with a Southwest Miami-Dade resident who is fighting a ticket for allegedly passing a stopped school bus.

The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books

 To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.

In The Atlantic, story by Rose Horowitch, published October 1, 2024. Full story here.

Nicholas Dames has taught Literature Humanities, Columbia University’s required great-books course, since 1998. He loves the job, but it has changed. Over the past decade, students have become overwhelmed by the reading. College kids have never read everything they’re assigned, of course, but this feels different. Dames’s students now seem bewildered by the thought of finishing multiple books a semester. His colleagues have noticed the same problem. Many students no longer arrive at college—even at highly selective, elite colleges—prepared to read books.

This development puzzled Dames until one day during the fall 2022 semester, when a first-year student came to his office hours to share how challenging she had found the early assignments. Lit Hum often requires students to read a book, sometimes a very long and dense one, in just a week or two. But the student told Dames that, at her public high school, she had never been required to read an entire book. She had been assigned excerpts, poetry, and news articles, but not a single book cover to cover.

“My jaw dropped,” Dames told me. The anecdote helped explain the change he was seeing in his students: It’s not that they don’t want to do the reading. It’s that they don’t know how. Middle and high schools have stopped asking them to.

Opinion: School bus camera traffic tickets: $100 million for nothing

Citations issued by county since 2016 have not produced a measurable safety benefit

In June 2023, the Montgomery County Policing Advisory Commission issued a report entitled “PAC Findings and Recommendations on MCPD Traffic Enforcement” that stated:

“The effectiveness of traffic enforcement must be measured against its impact on traffic accidents. That is the only appropriate metric for measuring effectiveness.”

The county’s school bus stop-light ticketing program can therefore be evaluated by answering a simple question using this trusted metric: Have there been fewer collisions between passing vehicles and student pedestrians near school buses since the county’s school bus camera enforcement program went into effect in 2016 when compared to the five years before it was implemented? The answer is a definite “no.”

On July 23, 2019, the retiring inspector general of Montgomery County, Edward L. Blansitt  III, submitted his “Final Advisory Memorandum, Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the School Bus Safety Camera Program.” Mr. Blansitt provided this key finding regarding school bus-related pedestrian safety in the county: ...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/03/opinion-school-bus-camera-traffic-tickets-100-million-for-nothing/

Council Weary of Increasing Taxes, Property or Income

After expressing a total lack of support for a property tax increase, County Councilmembers mulled over a proposed increase in the income tax rate during their work session Monday.

After a lengthy discussion, it seems like an income tax increase proposed by County Executive Marc Elrich also may not be enacted, at least not retroactive to January 1 of this year.

Elrich calls for a flat income tax increase from the current 3.2% to 3.3% effective retroactively. It would generate an estimated additional $75 million in revenue for the county. If the income tax is increased but not retroactively, the county would receive about $25 million.

However, as both County staff and Councilmembers pointed out, incomes will be very volatile in the current climate when many federal employees are being laid off...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/council-weary-of-increasing-taxes-property-or-income/