How much of what MCPS puts out is Astroturf and manipulation of media?

@mcpspio says "saw the video. It was a smoky, but was contained to engine compartment."

@MCPSPIO @ProducerKimB @Fox5Shawn smoke can be just as lethal. There's smoke coming out of every window open. pic.twitter.com/WmdGscKQi4
— Marina Marraco (@MarinaMarraco) February 25, 2015

BREAKING: Mont Co spec ed teacher Peter Flynn arrested on fed chgs of child porn poss & dist. wks at BCC HS. @wusa9

BREAKING: Mont Co spec ed teacher Peter Flynn arrested on fed chgs of child porn poss & dist. wks at BCC HS. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/Tixpu5CCcc
— Andrea McCarren (@AndreaMcCarren) January 23, 2015

 http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2015/01/23/peter-flynn-teacher-bethesda-chevy-chase-high-school-charged/22219563/

 

ABC7: MCPS special education teacher’s aide arrested on felony drug charges

...During a phone interview, MCPS spokesman Dana Tofig stated administrators would have briefed parents, had Johnson been caught with illegal drugs on school property. However, because she was arrested off the clock and off campus, Tofig considered the incident to be a non-school matter...

 

Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/01/mcps-special-education-teacher-s-aide-arrested-on-felony-drug-charges-110615.html#ixzz3OxRlY5n9
Follow us: @ABC7News on Twitter | WJLATV on Facebook

Washington Post and Gazette fooled again by MCPS

Tofig admits that $25,000 stock trading fund never really existed at Gaithersburg High School

Stock Trading Room equipment mysteriously disappears

The MCPS announcement on November 26, 2006 was big news.   "Gaithersburg High School Celebrates Opening of First High School Stock Trading Room in Nation."  Funded by a $75,000 grant from the NASDAQ foundation, the school had received an electronic ticker board, a NASDAQ data board, and other equipment to support the Academy of Finance program.  This was a huge win for a school that had a high poverty rate, declining test scores and a seriously decaying building.

Adding even more excitement, MCPS claimed that "Students Have $25,000 Fund to Trade", donated by "a longtime supporter of the school system who wishes to remain anonymous."  And for good measure, according to the announcement, "the school will keep any profits in the account."

The Washington Post and The Gazette both picked up the story, devoting considerable coverage to the grand opening of the trading room.  

"The most intriguing part, financial educators say, is that students will invest real money," wrote Daniel de Vise of the Washington Post.  "You have to have real money involved in order to get the students to take it seriously," said Scott Hoover, adviser to the student investment club at Washington and Lee University. "If you can get the students to take it seriously, they can do wonders."

In the Gazette, reporter Jamie Ciavarra included a quote from Principal Darryl Williams:  "Any money the students make will go back to the school to fund additional programs, while the donor has agreed to absorb any losses."

It sounded almost too good to be true.   And in fact, it wasn't true, according to a letter obtained last week from MCPS Public Information Officer Dana Tofig.  The $25,000 "donation" never took place.  No investment profits have been contributed to the school.  The "real money" that was "needed to get the students take the program seriously" was as fictitious as the profits that were contributed to the school.  

Adding further insult to the integrity of the finance program at GHS, the electronic ticker board, the NASDAQ data board and other equipment obtained with the $75,000 NASDAQ grant have disappeared from the school.  

"No one knows what happened to it," said a GHS finance teacher at an onsite visit by a Parents' Coalition member. The only physical evidence that the NASDAQ-funded equipment ever existed are the screw holes in the wall where the large displays were mounted.  

As for evidence that the anonymous donation "never came to fruition" -- or even that there was an anonymous donor at all --  the Parents' Coalition has requested documentation showing that someone had planned to fund the trading account.   So far, however, MCPS has not come forth with anything, even with names redacted, that shows that anyone ever intended to create the stock trading fund.

(Photo of Superintendent Jerry Weast yucking it up on opening day is from The Gazette archives.)


   

WTOP on the MCPS Cover Up at Baker Middle School .@mcpssuper .@mocoboe

"Given that it was an isolated incident, the school decided not to send a letter home."

Read more: http://www.wtop.com/41/3734777/Preteen-groped-in-Montgomery-County-school#ixzz3HxU3nWpy

Are educational materials used to promote products to MCPS children?

We hope not.  But we'd like your help.

As our readers know, Pearson Education Inc, the global educational publisher, now is in charge of the curricular materials in Montgomery County Public Schools.

And our students have new media, Google Chrome account, and lots of other bells and whistles to accompany this new curriculum.

But - and there is always a but - have you noticed something else that comes with these packaged materials?

One MCPS parent recently commented on Facebook about a passage his child had from school concerning purchasing an iPhone and insurance.  Yes, a real life example, but how many elementary kids carry cell phones or purchase their own iPhone?  And insurance?  I don't have that for my iPhone.  My elementary school aged kids would have been confused.

Parents in NY noticed that Pearson exam materials frequently reference commercial products.  From the article:

"Just Do It" has been a familiar Nike slogan for years, but some parents are wondering what it was doing on some of New York's Common Core standardized English tests.
Brands including Barbie, iPod, Mug Root Beer and Life Savers showed up on the tests more than a million students in grades 3 through 8 took this month, leading to speculation it was some form of product placement advertising.
. . .

The use of brand names was one of several complaints raised by some educators and parents about the statewide tests, aligned to the Common Core standards intended to increase academic rigor. Some contend they are too difficult and don't measure what students are actually learning.
While such general complaints about Common Core tests have arisen elsewhere, advocates said the prevalence of brand names appears to be specific to New York.

Here is our question to the folks in MoCo:  Have you noticed any product placements in your child's educational materials this year?

We truly hope that our kids aren't seeing pitches for products in our educational materials or on media in the classroom, and that the one parent comment we picked up was an anomaly.  We don't think our children should be for sale in MoCo, and trust that the Board of Education feels the same way.

But you can never be too sure.

Parents and caregivers - we know you are paying attention to your child's progress.  So - as you go over homework and help out in assignments with your kids - keep an eye out for placement of specific trademarked goods.

And if you find something, take a screenshot (I usually print/save the page as a PDF), and send to us at: 

contact @  parentscoalitionmc.com

And, as always, stay tuned.

MCPS Public Information Officer: "Some of these students may be facing issues that might be beyond what we can handle," #steak #lobster #mabe #expenseaccounts

BOE Fine Dining

$2.3 billion and MCPS can't handle counseling for students? Maybe the BOE should cut out the lobster and steak dinners at their Ocean City conventions? 
Next BOE junket to Ocean City is October 1, 2014. While the BOE cut up credit cards for the media, they have still maintained their $96,000 expense account. 

The Baltimore Sun: 

...Montgomery County public schools have taken in 985 students from the region in the past year, 107 of whom are without a parent or relative in the country. As they register the children, school officials in Montgomery try to ensure that the students are healthy and have access to a health clinic, said Dana Tofig, a school system spokesman. Montgomery County, like other school systems, is not equipped to handle intensive counseling, and Tofig said the system is turning to nonprofits for help in meeting those needs.
"Some of these students may be facing issues that might be beyond what we can handle," he said. "We are going to provide the services that kids need. Having more students who come needing more services, that does have a financial impact."...

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-immigrant-students-20140824,0,530122.story#ixzz3BQAEn1RU

School Fees - the 2014 Version

PCMC Guideto Public School Fees

The Maryland Constitution guarantees a free and appropriate public education for all - unless you live in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Our wonderful school system, headed up by the eminent Superintendent Joshua Starr, insists that some fees are allowed - and he is going to be sure to collect!

The good news is that the number of fees at both the high school and middle school level seems to be decreasing since the Parents Coalition first started posting the lists.

However, at both the middle school and high school levels, some schools charge for dry cleaning band uniforms.  What band uniforms?  At my childrens' middle school (Frost) and high schools (Blair and RM), the kids wore their own clothing.  They didn't wear anything that required dry cleaning by the school.  And if you are really resourceful, once your family is done with the shirt, you can pass it along to another family!

Some bad news.  Josh doesn't like the arts or tech ed courses. And if your child goes to Edison, be prepared to shell out major money.

The other high school with lots of fees - Einstein.

The big winners?  Watkins Mill has only one fee;  Kennedy doesn't have any.  Frost MS doesn't list any - those Frost shirts really do live on and on and on.  Maybe the Einstein principal should call the principals at Kennedy and Watkins Mill to find the secret to not shaking down kids for fees.

Here are the lists - you can see for yourselves what the various schools charge.
It's hardly uniform across the school system.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31645241/2014-2015%20High%20School%20fees.pdf


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31645241/2014-2015%20middle%20school%20fees.pdf

As usual, Mr. Tofig includes in the cover letter that all students will have full access to these courses, regardless of their circumstances.  SO, if you want to make a donation to your school, go for it, but if you don't, remember your child is still entitled to full access, whatever that means.

The really bad news is that the Superintendent thinks that family money is unlimited.  Is it really worthwhile to nickel and dime MoCo families for these fees?  Probably not.  And Dr. Starr still doesn't get the point that the folks in MoCo already pay taxes to fund the schools.  Money doesn't grow on trees.

Whitman High School student news report on curricular fees in MCPS.

Bullies at the Board Table

Remember a few months ago when our own Joshua Starr invented the word "cyberbullying" to describe Twitter feeds about his decision to close schools?  Remember Dr. Starr's memo to parents?  His committee to evaluate cyberbullying?

Dr. Starr doesn't like being the target, but he is just fine when his staff does the bullying.

Recently, I learned of two instances where BOE staff pulled out cameras and took pictures of individuals attending Board of Education meetings.  One was a committee meeting concerning staff use of credit cards. Both meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act and the public is invited.  Or maybe not.

I couldn't believe that staff actually took pictures, so I filed a request under the Maryland Public Information Act.  

Sad, but true.  Here is the response I received from MCPS:

. . . As for Ms. Steinberg, she did take a photo during the Board of Education retreat and it is attached. 

Regarding your question about policies: There are no policies that would limit the right of anyone to take a photo or video during a public meeting or in a public space under these circumstances.  

Ms. Steinberg is the Board of Education's Staff Assistant for Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations.  Before she snapped the picture she said she needed to "document this."

Why take a picture of only one member of the public?  Would a sign-in sheet satisfy who attends a meeting?  Everyone signs, or everyone doesn't.  But a picture of only one person?

I am extremely concerned about the chilling effects of the actions of Ms. Steinberg or other individuals employed by the Board of Education on community involvement.  You've got to be a pretty tough individual to participate in BOE meetings when you are bullied by the staff.  In view of the the school system's concern as voiced in the press and at Board meetings issues with stakeholder engagement, actions by these individuals may in fact discourage public participation. 

Who told BOE they were not to speak to reporters?

MCPS Public Information Officer: "They were told very specifically that they weren't to speak..."

The video below is the second part of the Press Conference that took place in the hall outside of the conference room where the "not a committee" had met to discuss Board of Education (BOE) members' use of MCPS credit cards. As The Washington Post reporter interviewed BOE President Phil Kauffman a heated discussion broke out between a reporter and the MCPS Public Information Officer, Dana Tofig.

Last time we checked, BOE members were independently elected officials.  BOE members do not work for anyone except the citizens of Montgomery County.  We believe that they still have the right to speak to reporters under the First Amendment even though they have been elected to the Montgomery County BOE.

Yet, listen to this video and hear the MCPS Public Information Officer telling a reporter that "They were told very specifically that they weren't to speak..." 

Who told BOE members not to speak to reporters?  

Why did they listen to that person?

Why won't BOE members answer to the public? Are BOE members being bullied into keeping silent about their use of MCPS credit cards?

WPost: MoCo school board member’s D.C. hotel charges broke no rules, official says

...But Barclay also used his board-issued credit card for a $745 charge covering two nights with room service at the Washington Hilton on Feb. 13 and 14. According to receipts, he was attending an event sponsored by theNational School Boards Association.
Barclay also charged $681.09 for two nights at the same hotel in January 2013, records show, for a meeting of the Federal Relations Network, another school boards association program...

...Barclay, a member of the Board of Education’s Fiscal Management Committee, has yet to return phone or e-mail messages requesting comment...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/moco-school-board-members-dc-hotel-charges-broke-no-rules-official-says/2014/05/23/aafb94cc-e299-11e3-8dcc-d6b7fede081a_story.html

Starr's Hired Gun

This week's Gazette includes a letter to the editor from the MCPS Public Information and Web Services Director.  The letter criticizes a Gazette Editorial about Superintendent Joshua Starr's "Hope" agenda.  Joshua Starr brought the "Hope" agenda to MCPS as part of a no bid $900,000 multi-year contract with Gallup, Inc.  

The letter to the editor from the MCPS Public Information and Web Services Director dispenses the following statement as "public information":  

...the Gazette’s recent editorial on the superintendent’s speech at Interfaith Works [“The urgency of action,” April 9] didn’t meet that basic standard of journalism...

Does the  job description of the Montgomery County Public Schools' Public Information Director include defending the personal agendas of superintendents?  No, it actually doesn't. The position is to provide public information and web services to the public on behalf of the Board of Education and the school system. The position does not include spinning the personal agendas of superintendents.

What would you do after a winning football season?

So, those of you in MoCo sports land - how do you reward a winning coach?

What if the coach had a winning season?  On a brand new athletic field?  For a team that was traditionally at the bottom of the field, from the point of athletic ability?

If you are Michael Doran, principal of Wootton HS, you fire the coach.

Really?  Your team narrowly misses the opportunity to go to the playoffs, and the reward is ?

FIRE THE COACH.

Something is wrong here, but this writer has been saying that for several years.

We thought the school was terrific.  Dr. Doran orchestrated a concert during 2012 that all but ensured his school would get a replacement athletic field, until he had to move the concert on to the pavement. But he still got his artificial turf.

SO - what really happened, Dr. Doran?  And, by the way, how did you come up with the money to cover the concert and pay the school's portion of the fundraising effort for the turf field?  Financials would be nice, but do the brainiacs at Wootton know how to account for funds?

Inquiring minds have a lot of questions.

See the story from the Washington Post here.

Looking for Mr. Trump

Does MCPS need to evaluate its policy on reporting and investigating allegations of child abuse?

Simple answer is NO.  

Maryland laws specify that suspected child abuse is to be reported to the local child protective services.  Educators, like health professionals, are considered mandatory reporters - that means, they are required by state law to report.

Here is the Maryland State Law concerning the obligation of educators to report suspected child abuse in the County.

MARYLAND STATUTES AND CODES

Section 5-704 - Reporting of abuse or neglect - By health practitioner, police officer, educator or human service worker.

§ 5-704. Reporting of abuse or neglect - By health practitioner, police officer, educator or human service worker. 

(a)  In general.- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any law on privileged communications, each health practitioner, police officer, educator, or human service worker, acting in a professional capacity in this State: 

(1) (i) who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse, shall notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency; or 

(ii) who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to neglect, shall notify the local department; and 

(2) if acting as a staff member of a hospital, public health agency, child care institution, juvenile detention center, school, or similar institution, shall immediately notify and give all information required by this section to the head of the institution or the designee of the head. 

(b)  Oral and written reports; cooperation among departments and agencies.-  

(1) An individual who notifies the appropriate authorities under subsection (a) of this section shall make: 

(i) an oral report, by telephone or direct communication, as soon as possible: 

1. to the local department or appropriate law enforcement agency if the person has reason to believe that the child has been subjected to abuse; or 

2. to the local department if the person has reason to believe that the child has been subjected to neglect; and 

(ii) a written report: 

1. to the local department not later than 48 hours after the contact, examination, attention, or treatment that caused the individual to believe that the child had been subjected to abuse or neglect; and 

2. with a copy to the local State's Attorney if the individual has reason to believe that the child has been subjected to abuse. 

(2) (i) An agency to which an oral report of suspected abuse is made under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall immediately notify the other agency. 

(ii) This paragraph does not prohibit a local department and an appropriate law enforcement agency from agreeing to cooperative arrangements. 

(c)  Contents of report.- Insofar as is reasonably possible, an individual who makes a report under this section shall include in the report the following information: 

(1) the name, age, and home address of the child; 

(2) the name and home address of the child's parent or other person who is responsible for the child's care; 

(3) the whereabouts of the child; 

(4) the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect of the child, including any evidence or information available to the reporter concerning possible previous instances of abuse or neglect; and 

(5) any other information that would help to determine: 

(i) the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect; and 

(ii) the identity of any individual responsible for the abuse or neglect. 

[1987, ch. 635, § 2; 1989, ch. 730, §§ 1, 2; 1997, chs. 367, 368; 1998, ch. 21, § 1; 2000, ch. 61, § 1; 2003, ch. 308.]  

So why is Mr. Tofig saying MCPS is reviewing their policies?   It's great to review policies, but we have a state law that obviously isn't followed in MCPS land.  This one isn't like the illegal school fees masquerading as school supplies or other laws that MCPS seems to think don't apply in Lake Wobegon on the Potomac.  Kids are getting hurt.  At New Hampshire Estates Elementary, at Kemp Mill, and at other schools throughout the county.  Even in ever-so-green Wootton Cluster, child abuse is a problem, and hiding behind a school system "policy" is bogus.

Here is the phone number for Montgomery County Child Protective Services:

Service(s):Children's Protective ServicesTarget Population:Abused Children
Information Number:240-777-4417Location(s):

• MidCounty DHHS Building
  1301 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

News Flash.   We know that Dr. Starr and Mr. Tofig may think that state laws don't apply in Montgomery County.  You should follow the advice of the Donald, and tell your counsel:

YOU'RE FIRED!

Montgomery Sentinel: MCPS Investigates Principal For Improper Use Of Funds

ROCKVILLE – The Rock Terrace School community is reeling after Montgomery County Public Schools placed the principal on administrative leave following accusations of improper use of school funds.

Lyda Astrove, a local attorney and advocate for the parents and students, said the school apparently paid children for work done in a transition to work program and set up bank accounts in the children’s’ names. However, according to Astrove, parents were not aware of the money or the bank accounts.

Continues at: http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/MCPS-investigates-principal6-27-2013

Printed edition: http://data.axmag.com/data/201306/20130627/U22594_F225390/FLASH/index.html

Wootton's Patriots Go French

 

Thomas Sprigg Wootton must be rolling over in his grave. Dr. Wootton was a famous for the role he played in the Revolutionary War, and is credited for founding Montgomery County.  You can read about his background here, from the website of the high school in Rockville that bears his name.   From the article in Wootton's Common Sense:

Wootton was an ardent Revolutionary during the war against the British Crown. When George III of the British Empire tightened his control over Boston after the Boston Tea Party, Wootton was one of the ten men to present a resolution to Annapolis to cut off all commercial ties with Britain.
Throughout the Revolutionary War, he collaborated with Colonel Zadok Magruder in organizing neighborhoods for the war effort. Magruder High School in Rockville is named after the Revolutionary Magruder.
Beyond his contributions to the fight for independence, Wootton continued to play an active role in the development of the new country, helping to draft Maryland’s Constitution and the state’s Bill of Rights.
 

The school is so proud of its historical connection.  Wootton students pride themselves on being called "Patriots," and proudly wear the school colors of red, white, and blue.

So - what would Dr. Wootton think of his Patriots pending installation of  a Field Turf Tarkett athletic field?

He would be very sad, and not simply because his school did a no bid contract and thus likely spent more money than necessary for the plastic grass.  Field Turf Tarkett is a member of the Tarkett group, a French company.  From their website:

Headquartered in Nanterre, France, Tarkett is owned by two shareholders – the Deconinck family (heirs of the Allibert family) and active in the Group for many generations and private equity funds affiliated with KKR (50%) since January 2007.

So, not only is the company privately owned, its not even American.

How ironic that a school in the heart of the Nations Capital, named for a revolutionary war hero, doesn't buy American.

C'est dommage.  What's next?  Will the Wootton Marching Band play La Marseillaise at football games too?

 

 

Starr forgot to Tweet

Looks like Superintendent Starr had a Twitter lapse.

His Twitter feed for Sunday, September 30th does not show a link to The Washington Post Editorial titled in the print edition as "Montgomery dismisses a teacher".

Did Superintendent Starr miss this 831 word Editorial about a recent State Board of Education decision concerning Montgomery County Public Schools?

The Parents Coalition Annual List of School Fees for 2012

Did you think that our new Superintendent of Schools, Josh Starr, would shake things up here in MoCo?   Did you think he might chart his own course?

Wrong. Looks like its more of the same old same old. Our students are still not getting their constitutionally guaranteed free education again this year.

Here is the annual back to school fees list for high school students.
2012 Highschool Fees

And here is the back to school fee list for middle school students.
2012 Middle School Fees

Are the lists accurate? Readers will need to report back whether they were charged additional fees not on the list.


So - what is a parent to do, other than try to transfer their students into schools that charge less than others?

Ask for a waiver. Students are not supposed to be denied educational opportunities based on whether a fee is paid. If you do choose to pay a fee, consider it a donation.


Want to compare to last year's lists? Try here for high school and here for middle school.

Note to Emily and Mitch Rales - when you look over the lists, you will see that the majority of the fees are charged in the arts related classes. If you (or any other business person in MoCo) would like to help out students, perhaps you could adopt a school or a class on the list, and save Josh and his staff from having to beg for the payments.

Freedom (or not?) of information: FOIA at 46 - Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

Freedom (or not?) of information: FOIA at 46 - Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

Uncle Sam wasn't the only one celebrating his birthday on July 4, the National Security Archive reminds us in a great post today: For journalists, citizen activists and anybody else who cares about knowing just what the government is up to, those fireworks also marked the 46th birthday of the Freedom of Information Act, signed into law on July 4, 1966 by a grudging President Lyndon Baines Johnson...