Embattled Baltimore County Superintendent Darryl Williams won’t seek 2nd term [Former @mcps Blair HS Principal]

Announcement came amid criticism of his leadership style and a looming board decision about whether to seek a new leader

Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams, who guided the suburban district through a pandemic but faced persistent questions about lagging academic performance and a brusque leadership style, announced Monday afternoon that he would not seek a second term.

“After much deliberation and conversation with my family, I have decided to not seek an additional four-year contract,” he wrote in a letter to parents. “It has been an honor to serve as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools, and I thank the Board of Education for the opportunity to lead this incredible system. I am very proud of the work we have done together to raise the bar, close gaps and prepare our students to thrive in their future, despite the many challenges our system has faced.”..

Embattled Baltimore County Superintendent Darryl Williams won’t seek 2nd term - The Baltimore Banner

Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams is on the hot seat after a scathing letter from a majority of the County Council to the school board president.

Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams is on the hot seat after a scathing letter from a majority of the County Council to the school board president.

In the letter is a call for a new superintendent search.

In the letter is a call for a new superintendent search.

| PDF: Read the council members' letter

The councilmembers said their two-page letter to the school board president comes out of frustration with Williams' administration -- from how it's addressing ongoing transportation issues, regarding late school buses, to low teacher and student morale and a recent uptick in school violence.

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/request-made-to-consider-replacing-superintendent-darryl-williams/40221750?fbclid=IwAR1NIet0z0IMnrQDHkGfE9R22_sXdOom2rcSctlfy4YGe994R8OOQiS4HcA

Sound familiar? Superintendent appears to avoid Project Baltimore questions on school violence [Superintendent & Communications Both former @mcps]

TOWSON, Md. (WBFF) — Project Baltimore, for more than five years, has exposed alarming instances of violence in Baltimore County Public Schools. Reports of out-of-control fighting, repeated bullying and even a student thrown out of a moving school bus, have captured headlines.

Despite all that, the superintendent will not agree to an interview with Project Baltimore concerning student safety, which some believe is the biggest issue in the district...

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/superintendent-appears-to-avoid-project-baltimore-questions-on-school-violence?fbclid=IwAR0Oc6s5ItkpqPnB-2P6ZyHC6Bm-MsNkmQKzBvCDu_Ej8gcjReCwvZviDkA

Baltimore County schools prepare for potential transitions to virtual learning

Baltimore County schools will be closed for two days to give teachers time to prepare for potential transition to virtual learning amid a surge in coronavirus cases, leaders from the school system and five labor unions announced in a message to the community on Saturday.

Baltimore County Superintendent Darryl L. Williams and the top officials from its five labor unions said in their message that school buildings would be closed on Monday and Tuesday "to provide staff with the time needed to prepare instructional lessons in the event of a temporary transition to virtual learning for their specific school.”

They noted that “independent learning activities” were prepared for the students so that their education would not be as disrupted...

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/588873-baltimore-county-schools-close-for-two-days-as-teachers-prepare-for?rl=1

Exclusive: Report Finds Multiple Problems Within Balt. County Pub Schools, recommends nearly 200 changes that would save nearly $40 million over five years.

A scathing examination of the Baltimore County Public Schools finds a top-heavy school system with low morale, poor communication, and a dysfunctional school board. The report recommends nearly 200 changes the school system should make.

WYPR obtained a copy of a consultant’s 759-page study that is to be presented to the school board next week.

The report said the structure of the school system’s central office is ineffective and inefficient. It proposes a reorganization and streamlining that would save nearly $40 million over five years.

School Board member Lily Rowe said that’s money that could be used elsewhere.

“$40 million is what it costs to build an entire elementary school,” Rowe said.

Speaking for herself and not for the board, Rowe said the report has worthy suggestions that need to be considered.

The study describes a school board that fosters an atmosphere of discord and unprofessionalism, which results in people not trusting in its leadership.

Among other things, the report recommends the school board adopt a civility policy and attend team-building workshops.

Neither board chair Makeda Scott nor vice chair Julie Henn responded to requests for comment...

https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2021-09-08/exclusive-report-finds-multiple-problems-within-bcps?fbclid=IwAR1dbeUC_8tn0RaSECb0TOnp6pouO02UIoMGFrrm5344U9QQXjdimYRF8cQ

Baltimore County Schools cyber-security lapse may be broader than originally announced

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) - The cyber-security lapse made public this week by Baltimore County Public Schools may include more people than originally announced.

BCPS said Wednesday approximately 2,500 employees were involved in an incident involving personal information exposed on an internal website.

However, FOX45 News has spoken to six people who received letters related to personal information being involved in the matter.

None of them say they have ever been employed by Baltimore County Public Schools...

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/baltimore-county-schools-cyber-security-lapse-may-be-broader-than-originally-announced?fbclid=IwAR1FjqfphS6MBR8TYFDVMRmA9VWgvO8Zwuf4ihuGfEzndMrEh7ml6wmrBNg

Baltimore County School Superintendent Angers Council Over Lack Of Ransomware Details

The Baltimore County Council grilled School Superintendent Darryl Williams Tuesday over details about November’s ransomware attack.

Council members were not happy with Williams’ answers.

Democratic County Councilman Tom Quirk asked Williams if the school system paid off the hackers and if so, would insurance cover it. Williams’ answer dealt with the overall cost of the ransomware attack.

“I won’t have those final amounts until later in spring, maybe May or June,” Williams said.

So, Quirk asked again.

“I guess the direct question is did Baltimore County Public Schools pay ransom? It’s just a direct question.”

Williams responded, “We’ve used our resources to help us repair and restore.”

Quirk said he wants an answer on whether a ransom was paid before the council signs off on the school system’s budget this spring. The public schools account for about half of the county’s $3.8 billion spending plan.

“I’m not prepared to vote on the budget until we have a better answer on that one,” Quirk said...

https://www.wypr.org/post/baltimore-county-school-superintendent-angers-council-over-lack-ransomware-details?fbclid=IwAR3PYTsumCY6xWzttkFkwx1VzHP6EGN5uZ-AJVJV00qNpi1Qv7aWjhvaDyQ

New Baltimore County school superintendent is Montgomery County educational administrator Darryl Williams

Breaking education news in Baltimore County: https://t.co/kSfg2qvNVb

— Pamela Wood (@pwoodreporter) May 22, 2019

MCPS Top Salaries $175,000 - $275,000

First column shows salary for employees on spreadsheet. Example:  $275,000 is base salary for Jack R. Smith.
This chart does not include benefits and perks. 

Zip Code Madness - Do You Pay More to Graduate from an MCPS High School Because of Where You Live?

Answer:  Probably.

Back in 2010, this blog did a survey of how much each high school charged for various fees related to walking down the aisle to pick up a diploma.   You can read the post here.

MCPS representatives were reported to state at a recent Taxpayers League meeting that these fees were approved by the Board of Education and consistent with MCPS policy,

Answer:  Wrong.

The state of Maryland Constitution guarantees a free public education, and the state constitution trumps MCPS policy.

You, your family, and your child cannot be charged a fee to attend the students graduation ceremony.

Yet, MCPS continues to claim this is legitimate.  We claim this is educational extortion.

We will send in for an official list of what's been "approved" so you can determine which zip codes get shaken down the most.  Last time we checked, the fees approved didn't quite match what the students were charged.

What to do if you get a bill?

Answer:  Don't pay.

What if you already sent in your money?

Answer:  Ask for a refund.  Blair HS's graduating class of 2010 got a refund because they were charged to cover the graduation speaker's honorarium.  Really.  And the speaker was the spouse of a Blair staff member.  Talk about a rip off.

And please, stay tuned to this website for more information.

Third Annual Parents Coalition Survey on School Fees

Welcome back to school.


Here is the much anticipated third annual list of high school curricular fees for Montgomery County Public School students.  


I'd like to credit Montgomery County Public School staff who compiled this list.  All I did was file a request under the Maryland Public Information Act.  This is a prime example of your tax dollars at work.


If you thought MoCo students are entitled to a free public education under the Maryland Constitution and state laws, you are right.  Dr. Weast and the folks at Carver somehow missed that class, and continue to charge to attend MoCo schools.


The good news is that compared to the 2008-2009 list, MCPS is now charging less to attend public high schools. 


More good news - If you student attends Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, your student will receive a terrific education AND attend the school with the shortest list of school fees.  Thank you Mr. Williams and staff!  Quince Orchard and Seneca Valley also deserve recognition for coming in close behind Blair HS in limiting the number of classes with fees.


As you read the list, I am including the following from Mr. Dana Tofig, ever the faithful MCPS employee, who is the final gatekeeper of all public documents and who graciously handled my request for corrected documents last night at 5 pm.  From Mr. Tofig's cover letter accompanying the MPIA:

. . . the inability of a student to pay for materials and other expenses does not prevent a student from taking a particular class.

What does this mean? 

As this writer has stated before, these fees are not mandatory. Maryland law guarantees a free public education. Should your family elect to pay, go ahead and make a contribution to the school. Keep in mind - this is a contribution, not a mandatory assessment. You child will not have his/her report card withheld. Your child will still have his/her transcripts prepared, and be able to attend graduation.


And now get your checkbooks out - here is the list.


MCPS 2010 2011_fees High School  

News Flash - Graduation is Free at Montgomery Blair HS

Montgomery Blair HS Principal Darryl Williams will NOT require seniors in Blair HS's class of 2010 to pay senior dues in order to attend graduation at DAR Constitution Hall on June 4.

Previously, Mr. Williams announced that seniors must pay a mandatory graduation fee of $35, on top of obtaining a cap, gown, and tassel, in order to participate in the ceremonies next month.

In an acknowledgement of the financial circumstances facing many students in his community, and in a response to concerns raised by a Blair parent, Mr. Williams reconsidered, and will allow all Blair students to attend graduation at DAR.

Here is the summary obtained by Parents Coalition:

Great decision Mr.Williams!

Next question - will other principals in Montgomery County follow Mr. Williams' leadership?

Who Sets the Mandatory Senior Fees in MoCo?

Answer - Not the Board of Education.

An earlier post on this blog explored the vast differences in the mandatory senior fee assessment charged in high schools across Montgomery County.  See Annual Senior Fee Survey. 

Can you cite any applicable MCPS or BOE Policy? 

I can't.  It's not listed as part of the graduation requirements for obtaining a diploma from MCPS.   It's not in the Curricular Fee Policy.  I couldn't find any mention of fees anywhere in the Maryland statutes on education - if you can find a citation, please leave a comment below.

The real answer is this isn't a mandatory fee at all, because no one is authorized to collect this fee.  Yet parents pay, year after year, because the consequences are harsh.  No prom, no end of year festivities.  Just because someone told them they must.


At Blair HS, even if you pay for the cap/gown, a failure to pay the mandatory senior fee means your student won't receive a cap/gown/tassel and graduation tickets.  So kids who aren't able to pay or have someone else pick up the assessment, won't be able to walk down the aisle at Constitution Hall.  The Blair administration admits that 100 students may be unable to pay the fee or obtain a cap/gown/tassel, but that doesn't include those students who have recently changed financial situations or who have not yet let the school know of their circumstances. 

Yet year after year, in the absence of any authority to collect these fees, families are consenting to the continuation of the practice.

That's bullying, plain and simple.  What a great example we are teaching the students.

***********************************************************



From the chart provided by MCPS in response to a Maryland Public Information Act Request, of the schools who charge senior fees are as varied as the schools themselves.  Here is a list of who approved the illegal charge.  Be sure to thank them.

Principals (12)- Blake,* Blair, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Richard Mongomery, Rock Terrace, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Sherwood, Wheaton, Watkins Mill, and Walter Johnson

Community Superintendent (1) - Northwood

Assistant Principals (2) - Albert Einstein and Thomas S. Wootton

Other (1) Kennedy

No graduation fees 2010 school year (11) - BCC, Blake,* Churchill, Clarksburg, Damascus, Edison Center, Gaithersburg, Magruder, Northwest, Paint Branch and Springbrook

Two notes to this table.
1.  Montgomery Blair's actual fees are $70, because the school charges a mandatory fee of $35 in addition to a cap/gown/tassel fee of $35.
2.  Blake HS charged fees in 2009, but not in 2010.

Graduation MoCo Style - Senior Dues Shakedown

Do you know what happens to the graduation fees paid by Montgomery County High School seniors across the county?

Here is the breakdown of graduation costs for the 600 students at Montgomery Blair HS:

 $1,600 - - - Student Balance (MCPS pays $5000 of the $6600 rental fee for DAR))

    $700 - - - Flowers

$12,640 - - - Bus Rental for students, staff, band, and chorus

  $3,300 - - - Program printing costs, 12 pages

    $500 - - - Ticket printing - 2500 tickets

    $370 - - - Senior Bag

  $1,500 - - - BBQ Picnic for students after graduation rehearsal

$20,610 - - - Total - divided by 600 students comes out to $34.35 in mandatory fees.

If you are thinking $12,000+ for renting buses is excessive, you are right.  DAR is in downtown DC -near public transportation.  Don't the student families also need to get downtown?

Second question - are students expected to ride the bus back to school after the ceremonies?  Or is Blair bilking the student body for a round trip fare that no one really needs, especially when most students will join their families for the return trip.

In this writer's opinion, skip the bus, skip the flowers, and only charge what is really needed.

How does your school rate on its graduation costs?

Parents Coalition Annual Senior Fee Survey

How much does it cost to graduate from your local high school?  Does zip code matter?

Fees vary, and it appears that the highly impacted schools - Blair, Northwood, Wheaton, and Watkins Mill, charge more to graduate than green zone schools like BCC and Churchill.  Curious, isn't it?

Here is the listing of graduation fees charged by MCPS High Schools across the county for 2009 and 2010:

Senior Dues

Major correction to the table: 

The fee for Blair High School is incorrect.  Contrary to information supplied by MCPS, Blair's mandatory senior dues DOES NOT include the cap, gown, and tassel.  MCPS provided the table, however, information from Blair High School is more specific about the charges. 

Is it fair?  Absolutely not.  Is it legal?  No.  Stay tuned to this blog for more.

Weast bills students for 267 hours of security personnel

In an online article (see link below) from Montgomery Blair's student newspaper Silver Chips we learn that Superintendent Jerry Weast bills students for school security. 

The article details that MCPS had been holding on to "bills" for 3 years for security personnel on duty during Blair's theatrical productions. The "bills" have now appeared and are being charged to this year's students. 

Blair must do a lot of productions because the hourly rate for MCPS security is $30. An $8,000 bill equals 267 hours of security personnel. 

Apparently, Superintendent Weast has forgotten that student accounts are to be reconciled each year. That is, student fees are to go into the Independent Activity Funds at each school and be used for the students in the school that year. That is Superintendent Weast's own regulation enacted in 2008. 

At Blair, Superintendent Weast is attempting to charge current students for past years debts.  

This incident also shows how some schools are penalized. Do all MCPS high schools require 267 hours of security for theater productions? In 4 years as the parent of a thespian at Churchill High School I never saw school security at a production. 

Do some schools require more security personnel on hand for after school activities than other schools? Is it fair to bill the students for this staffing cost? 

Clearly, making students pay for school security puts some schools in a worse financial position than others when putting on after school theatrical productions. The schools that need more security have to do the productions that cost less to put on and have lower or zero script and music fees.  

At schools like Whitman High School some school security costs are picked up by the PTSA. Clearly an advantage to having a well endowed PTSA. 

Will any MCPS administrator stand up for this year's Blair theater students and protest this outrageous bill that is taking away from this year's production budget?

Of course not. 

Meanwhile, MCPS administrators are ordering lunch and dinner and charging their meals to taxpayers via MCPS American Express "procurement" cards.

"Let them eat cake."

*****

Silver Chips Online:

Drama department faces deep debt

County sends invoices spanning three years

The [Montgomery Blair High School] drama department is currently $8,000 in debt to Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) for play security personnel invoices that have not been paid in three years, according to Blair Financial Specialist Donna Franklin. Drama department head Kelly O'Connor was notified of the debt in the fall...

...In June 2009, MCPS began sending bills to the drama department dating back to 2006...

...Without knowledge of the security invoices, O'Connor gradually overspent on materials for stage productions...

Montgomery Blair High School Admits Overcharge to Students on Graduation Fees

Today, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, rolled back its mandatory senior fees.

Although the school has yet to provide a budget or other cost basis for its imposition of its $35 surcharge for its seniors to attend graduation at DAR Constitution Hall on June 4, today Principal Intern Myriam Rogers announced that the school would not be asking its students to pay the $500 honorarium for its commencement speaker, Dr. Leonard Haynes III, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The refund calculates to $0.83 cents per student, but the school graciously decided to round to the nearest dollar, and will now only assess $34 for each attendee.

Another success on the graduation front - Blair HS alums have donated 24 used graduation gowns!   This will allow 24 additional students to attend the ceremonies who could otherwise not afford the cost of attendance.

The ESOL coordinator made a pitch to parents for extra donations to permit all 59 ESOL students to attend the ceremonies.  

The initial graduation fee sheet indicated that 100 students needed full or partial assistance to attend the ceremonies - does this mean that Blair has already covered their costs or that they are not going to DAR?

The bigger question is why a school like Blair needs to supplement public funds to hold a ceremony that isn't within the budget provided by taxpayer dollars.

Is this fee consistent with the Maryland Constitutional guarantee of a free public education?    

One dollar down, $34 more to go before Blair HS students get their constitutional rights restored.

Blair HS and Lessons in Deficit Spending - Part 2 on Graduation Fees

From the MBHS Listserve - finally a breakdown of those pesky and illegal senior fees.

Note to Blair - the bus transportation is clearly optional and can cut down the assessment significantly. So are the flowers.

And, in case you are wondering, yes, in fact, the school administration admits that graduation is optional. These fees are not covered by the MCPS Curriculum Fees policy. Students don't have to pay, and if a student isn't "sponsored" by a generous member of the community, the student will not be able to attend.

Wow. 

Here is what the law says:

The Maryland State Constitution provides for a free public education.  Article VIII, Section I.   The Court of Appeals has said that it "means that schools must be open to all without expense." State of Maryland ex rel. Clark v. The Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, 87 Md. 643, 661 (1898).    

Even the US Supreme Court has weighed in:

"In this society, high school graduation is one of life's most significant occasions, and a student is not free to absent herself from the exercise in any real sense of the term "voluntary.""  Lee v. Weisman, 505 US 577 (1992). 

I don't see an exemption for Blair High School, do you?

Graduation MBHS March 12

Blair HS Lessons on Deficit Spending

Below is the text from the Blair PTSA of their Senior Class Graduation Package.

Note - this package includes a MANDATORY fee of $35 for commencement speakers, flowers, senior bags, and floral arrangements.

Mandatory fees?  Isn't that against the Maryland Constitution?

Read further and you will see that approximately 100 of Blair's 625 graduating class need full or partial assistance or otherwise cannot pay the fees.  The rest of the community is asked to to contribute to "support these students."

Does this mean that only students who are sponsored attend the ceremonies?  That's not legal either.

Note to Blair Administration:  Instead of seeking handouts, how about skipping the flowers and the graduation bags.  The buses too - why have everyone drive to Silver Spring when the families will be going down to DC anyway?  Plan a ceremony within the means of the student body.

I guess another item missing from the MCPS curriculum is economics.   Logic too - its common sense to only spend what you know you can afford.

****************************


Senior Package Information
Montgomery Blair High School
Class of 2010




PLEASE SELECT FROM THE ITEMS BELOW. TURN IN THIS SHEET, ALONG WITH YOUR TOTAL PAYMENT TO Ms. Fus in the attendance office during 5A and 5B. All money orders and checks should be made out to Montgomery Blair High School. Please print your name and ID number on all checks and money orders. No checks will be accepted after 4/29.


Your Name ______________________________ ID Number ____________




CAP & GOWN + TASSEL - $35.00
TASSEL ONLY (required for graduation) - $10.00
SILVER QUILL - $6.00
PANORAMIC CLASS PICTURE $25.00
SENIOR DUES (MANDATORY) - $35.00

Dues cover the expenses of:
The venue balance of DAR, Honorarium for Commencement Speaker, Programs, Senior
bags, and Floral arrangements

I WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR A STUDENT:


CAP & GOWN +TASSEL - $35.00
SENIOR DUES $35.00
CAP & GOWN +TASSEL and SENIOR DUES - $70.00


TOTAL



*Please note that Blair's senior class has approximately 60 ESOL students and around 40 non-ESOL students who will need full or partial financial assistance to pay for graduation. If you or you know a community member who is willing to sponsor a student with dues or fees, please let Ms. Smith know. It is absolutely paramount to support these students and their families in reaching this important milestone.


If you have any questions please see Ms. Claudette Smith, senior class sponsor, in room 120.

Graduation Fees - Class of 2010

Has your Montgomery County Public School High School senior asked for graduation fees yet?

Here is the Senior Class "Package" for Blair HS.

Two items of note.

1.  Students who have unpaid "obligations" at the end of the year will not receive their cap/gown.  But a cap/gown is mandatory for graduation, so students must pay the fees or risk not attending the ceremony.

2.  Despite selecting the lower cost DAR venue, Blair HS seniors still must pay $35 for a senior fee.  What comprises that fee?  Doesn't say in this communication.  Why does Blair HS need $21,000 (600 students x $35 per student) in fees?

Blair Graduation

Anyone see something funny about charging students $35 for graduation "fees" and not telling families what they get?

Note - Richard Montgomery also has senior fee of $70, but that defrays the cost of the senior class picnic at Smokey Glen and a senior shirt.    Blair just seems to charge the fee, without the shirt and barbeque chicken.

What is happening at the rest of the schools in MoCo?