See the Vendors that have Private Access to Board of Education Members through the Maryland BOE Club

How many of these vendors have contracts with the Montgomery County Board of Education?

How many of those contracts were no bid deals? 

Reminder that the Montgomery County Board of Education pays over $100,000 a year in dues to be part of this private club of Board of Education members from across the state of Maryland. 

The public is not able to access MABE meetings or watch what goes on at these annual conferences, cocktail parties and dinners.  

https://x.com/MABE_News/status/1970850219894898814

MD "Education" Dollars Pay for Vacation and Laptop Bags @mabe

In Maryland, "education" tax dollars include an annual vacation for Board of Education members to Ocean City, Maryland.  The vacation is organized by the private club that is funded by taxpayers, MABE (Maryland Association of Boards of Education.)  The Montgomery County Board of Education pays over $70,000 a year into the MABE treasury.

It looks like this year taxpayers also paid for laptop bags for the vacation attendees! See the vacation video below for a glimpse of some of the attendees and the conference swag. 

At this vacation, Board of Education members meet outside of the Maryland Open Meetings Act, and meet with select no bid vendors.  

Public school budgets in Maryland are not just about Maintenance of Effort!

Who Sponsored the $5,000 Reception Going on Now in Ocean City? @mabe_news

It's Thursday, October 2nd at 6:30 PM. 

We know that Montgomery County Board of Education members and staff are in Ocean City for their annual vacation with Board members from across the State of Maryland. 

We don't know how many of our BOE members and staff are there, they never announce who is attending this annual vacation paid for by the MCPS Operating Budget.

We know that at 6:30 PM today is the annual "President Reception" sponsored by one of the MABE (Maryland Association Boards of Education) partners.

We know that the cost to sponsor just the reception is $5,000.

Which one of the MABE "partners" (shown to the right) is sponsoring the reception right now? 

What other no bid contracts with our Board of Education bring back to MCPS next week? 

The BOE is at the Beach! #lobster #surfandturf #expenseaccount

From Board of Education member Christopher Barclay's Twitter feed confirmation that Montgomery County
Board of Education members and staff are in Ocean City this week at the annual BOE party.  This event was
the reason for the lobster and steak dinners revealed in the BOE credit card records.

MD State Superintendent to Join BOE Members at Ocean City Vacay!

Public Schedule of Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery

For Immediate Release                    Contact: William Reinhard, 410-767-0486

Baltimore, MD (September 26, 2014)

The week ahead: September 29-October 3(Information and schedule are subject to change)

Monday, September 29-Tuesday, September 30
No Public Schedule.

Wednesday, October 1
1:30 p.m., Maryland Association of Boards of Education, Clarion Fontainebleau Hotel,
1001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD  21842
Dr. Lowery will address MABE’s annual meeting.

It's Time to Put an End to No Bid Purchases and Excessive Dues from BOE Club! No More MABE!

2013 MABE Conference in Ocean City (MABE)

Another day and another MABE "partner".

No thanks MABE! 

What is MABE?

MABE is the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.  It is a private club that taxpayers fund. Each Board of Education in the State of Maryland belongs to MABE with the notable exception of the Maryland State Board of Education who dropped out of the club in 2012.

Each Board of Education uses tax dollars to pay their MABE dues.
What do dues cost?
Here is what MCPS' Board of Education has paid into this private club over the last 6 years.

FY 2015  $66,354
FY 2014  $68,401
FY 2013  $41,986
FY 2012  $48,062
FY 2011  $47,017
FY 2010  $47,602

MABE 2013 Conference in Ocean City (MABE)

In recent years MABE has been "partnering" with companies that have things to "sell" to Boards of Education.

  

Each year MABE holds a conference in Ocean City and on top of the dues above, tax payers fund the OC Party! (Click link for PICTURES from 2013 junket.)

While at the conference MABE "partners" have unrestricted access to BOE members.  Parents? You aren't there and don't have a voice in these procurement decisions.  

Milestone Communications
at MABE 2013 (MABE)

How is this impacting Maryland public school systems?  MABE partnered with Milestone Communications in 2011 and now 9 Boards of Education in the State of Maryland have turned over their public school playgrounds for commercial development.  Bids? Public Notice? Public discussion?

Below is MABE's latest announcement of a "partner."  Besides Milestone Communications, MABE has also partnered with BoardDocs and you will notice that MCPS suddenly is using the BoardDocs product to post their BOE meeting agendas and minutes.  Did we all miss the bids for this procurement?
What is this MABE "partner" costing taxpayers?

MABE is diverting precious public school education dollars away from classrooms through unnecessary dues, countless conventions and meetings, and by the circumvention of the public bidding process.

It's time to just say NO to MABE! 

MABE Ocean City Conference 2013 (MABE) 

Here are Superintendent Joshua Starr's charges at the MABE Ocean City event last year. 

Remember the lavish meal in Ocean City charged on a MCPS credit card? That took place during the MABE convention.

Here is the newest MABE "partner."

  2014 Maryland Association of Boards of Education by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland