MCPS Public Information Officer Gets Cell Tower Process Wrong

In today's Bethesda Magazine article on Wootton High School's cell tower proposal the MCPS Public Information Officer is quoted as saying,

“We have a process we follow for each request,” Tofig wrote in the email. “The providers must approach the school and set up public meetings through the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, as well as inform the neighborhood. 

However, under the official MCPS Process for approving a cell tower, the school's principal is responsible for contacting the surrounding community.

The principal will schedule an informational meeting with the PTA. The principal will ensure members of the surrounding community, HOAs, and civic associations are invited. Should there be substantial opposition; the principal may decline the request. Should the community be supportive, the provider will begin the formal approval process with local and County government agencies

In the case of Wootton High School neither the principal nor the cell tower provider (AT&T) notified the surrounding community.

Looks like its time to review the MCPS process!  So here it is:

  2014 MCPS Cell Tower Process by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

$40,000 membership for MCPS - Club dues instead of teacher salaries

MCPS is a member of the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC).  Clients must pay membership fees to join the APQC program.

APQC uses MCPS, former Superintendent Jerry Weast, and a MCPS administrator in their advertisements.  MCPS Policy has a policy about no product endorsements, but it is ignored. APQC uses MCPS and former Superintendent Jerry Weast to endorse their products, including in the letter to the Shelby County Schools shown below. 

 How much has MCPS paid APQC annually for the last 10 years?

Don't look to anything in the MCPS Board of Education minutes to answer this question. But, thanks to the Shelby County Schools in Tennessee, we now have a hint of what the APQC products cost!  

Some APQC products are $4,000 a day, some are $40,000 for six months.  

Thanks to Shelby County Schools for giving us a hint of what Montgomery County taxpayers are paying for this vendor's product!

2012 North Star Proposal Membership Cost

"Hold Your Nose And Jump"

Advice given by Michael Perich, consultant to Montgomery County Public Schools. Already in FY 2012, we've paid this consultant $41,604, according to the MCPS Transparency Database.

Watch the video:

"Knowledge Transfer Sessions"

What is a "Knowledge Transfer Session?"

According to the American Productivity and Quality Council, Montgomery County Public Schools was a "best practice partner" in one of their studies. According to their website, APQC did a evaluation/study on "Professional Learning Communities," that culminated in a "Knowledge Transfer Session (KTS)" The "Knowledge Transfer Session" was described as follows:

This is the final event in the project. It is a two-day event held at APQC in Houston. Subject matter experts and APQC staff conduct breakouts and presentations based on survey results and key findings. Participants have the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the nation and develop long lasting relationships. Best-practice districts will participate in roundtable discussions, and APQC will facilitate activities for each district to develop action plans to take the results from the study and utilize them in their own districts.

Develop long-lasting relationships? Gimme a break.

In any event, readers will be pleased to know that MCPS administrators have participated in these APQC relationship-building meetings in Houston. CLICK HERE to see copies of the actual reimbursement requests and credit card logs, but in summary:

Stephen L. Bedford, Chief School Performance Officer, 7-8-08 thru 7-11-08. Houston, TX. Present at APQC conference. Common Carrier $114.18, Meals $302.02

Stephen L. Bedford, Chief School Performance Officer, 4/30/08 $318.50
Stephen L. Bedford, Chief School Performance Officer, 4/30/08 $318.50
Trip to Houston, Presenter at APQC

Stephen L. Bedford, 07/11/08 Greater Houston Transport $54.18
Stephen L. Bedford, 07/12/08 Houstonian Hotel, TX $137.00
Stephen L. Bedford, 7/10/08 Kona Grill, Houston TX $59.00
Presenter at APQC

Heath Morrison, Community Superintendent 7/8/08 thru 7/11/08
Knowledge Transfer Session with Mr. Bedford
Estimated Travel Expenses $96.00

So: at a minimum, taxpayers spent $1300 for two individuals to participate in a "Knowledge Transfer Session." (The Parents Coalition did not receive any documentation for Mr. Morrison's travel expenses to and from Houston.) Have we gotten our money's worth?

We are saved! We have found the North Star!

Once again, a MCPS employee has given a testimonial for an outside vendor.  See the image on the left highlighting the statement from Dr. Michael Perich of MCPS.  In this testimonial MCPS' Dr. Perich sings the praises of C. Jackson Grayson's APQC organization. Dr. Perich is quoted as a "leading administrator". (Who is Dr. Perich?)

What brought about this testimonial? MCPS has apparently been saved by C. Jackson Grayson's "North Star".

Remember C. Jackson Grayson?  His APQC organization gave Superintendent Weast an award in 2008.

C. Jackson Grayson's product is the "North Star" approach to school reform.  Grayson assures that his North Star product works! Why? Because it has already "yielded substantial changes in outcomes" in school districts, including Montgomery County, Maryland.  The white paper (see bottom of page 4) on his success says so!

What the white paper doesn't say is APQC is a membership organization and MCPS is a member (see page 4) of APQC.  That's right, Montgomery County taxpayers have funded MCPS' membership in this organization.

How much does MCPS' membership cost ($6,000 for some companies) per year? Where has the data on the use of this product been reported to the Board of Education?

Here is what the public knows:

• MCPS is a member of APQC.

• APQC gave Superintendent Weast an award.

• "North Star" approach used on Board of Education retreat.

• MCPS administrators tell Harvard writers that they are using APQC's "North Star" product.

• MCPS "leading administrator" gives testimonial for APQC's product.

• Results from use of the APQC product are not found in Board of Education minutes, but are touted in promotional materials for APQC.

If we have found the "North Star" it would be nice to know what that means, how much we paid for it, and to see the data that proves we have been rescued!