Just send the bill to . . .

Jen Taylor at Wootton HS.

Jen is such a great person.  She is the guidance counselor without equal at Wootton HS in Rockville, the Student Government Association Sponsor, and she has a connection with BBYO!  So - she decided to use all these talents and agreed to run the big Tuned In Concert at Wootton High School on April 28, 2012.  Look at the signatures - all appear to be from BBYO.

Phil Hill?  He's the Wootton Business Manager, but that's not his signature below the line listing him as the contact.  Looks like the same signature from BBYO.

BBYO signed all the contracts - thus skipping that annoying provision of MCPS policies requiring that all contracts over $25,000 be approved by the Board of Education.  Just send the invoices over to Wootton. 

Don't you wish you could spend money and just send the invoice to someone else?

Note that this blogger asked for copies of all contracts and agreements involving the concert - and was not supplied with any agreement between BBYO and MCPS.  Jen is also creative - don't sign anything but the checks.

But - is this really a school supported activity or just a sham to let BBYO use the facilities and let Wootton HS front the facilities?

What a great lesson in civic disengagement we are teaching the kids.  Thanks MCPS and the Board of Education for turning a truly blind eye!


Send the Invoice to Jen


TEB TEB1 Timeflies Having Fun

What the Wootton Kids Really Learned from TunedIn

As I posted before, the Wootton-BBYO concert went on as scheduled - in somewhat rainy, somewhat cold environs.

In my next to last post on this subject (yes, there is still one more piece in the pipeline), I'd like to share some of the lessons learned.

Civic Engagement - according to Dr. Doran and Ms. Taylor, all you need is a party. Doesn't matter what you have to get to do to have the party, just party along and you will be engaged. The louder the better.

Don't worry about the rules - yes, you can have a large party in school facilities, even if you need to import or borrow attendees from outside your school to come to the party. Noise permits, police, traffic control - who needs them? Certainly not a high performing school with well connected parents who can arrange to have things your way.

Run the event after school hours, at a cost that could be prohibitive to some of your school community. After all, the student government raised the funds. School activities are much more fun if you need a ticket on a Saturday night to attend.

Don't forget to bring in a partner, even if the partner's goals aren't your own. So what if its a faith based organization, and its name is on every website. Its great publicity. And if some members of your community feel excluded? The material has no religious content! OK, we'll take off that part about synagogue affiliation from the ticket order form.

Also be sure to include fencing with barbed wire to keep out the undesirables. That way you won't spend as much money on security.

The only folks with any sense during this concert seemed to be the featured attraction. During the afternoon, the sound checks rocked the neighborhood. However, during the concert, the actual noise level did not shake the walls in the neighbors homes. Thanks to Third Eye Blind for recognizing this wasn't your usual commercial venue.

Thanks to the combination of weather and sparse ticket sales, the last lesson learned - the one about parking and traffic - didn't seem to be an issue last night. Attendance at the event was modest, so traffic was not an issue. But another lesson that Dr. Doran and Ms. Taylor need to know for the next event - be sure that you plan for adequate parking, especially if you invite teens from across the county. Maps would be helpful. Telling the Northern Virginia VIPs to park at Frost doesn't mean much.

Which brings us to the next rule. Only plan events that will excite and engage your own students. If you have to count on ticket sales to other "partners" or reach out to other schools, you have failed big time in your key objective with your own students and community.

And for those of you who can't wait for my final post on this topic, I'll give you a hint. I'm waiting for the contracts and the budget information from the various county offices involved in the event. Almost everyone has responded to my request - except for Montgomery County Public Schools. As with Wootton, the rules don't apply to MCPS, so they are holding the materials to the last possible moment at 5 pm before they release anything.  

TunedIn - What you can expect - and what you can't

The show is going on!  Amazing.

Here is some additional facts you should know before you go.

Accessible seating is available for the elderly or for those who otherwise cannot stand for several hours (probably all the dignitaries too).  Oops, wonder what they are going to do with those cars!

Here is a picture of the six portapotties. Remember, don't drink water or anything else - the lines can be very long if you do.

And parents - for your own comfort level - here is a view of the fence and barbed wire that will keep your kids inside the concert venue and safe from harm.

Finally, here are some other views of the stage.  As one of the concert promoters told us - the tickets are almost sold out!  The sound will be awesome! and she has faith that the rain will stay away (and yes, they are aware that Joel Olsteen rescheduled his event).

TunedIn - the Show will Go On

You've really got to admire the folks at Wootton and BBYO for continuing with their plans to hold an outdoor concert on the Wootton property.  Joel Osteen already cancelled his Night of Hope, oringinally planned for tonight at Nationals Stadium, and have rescheduled for tomorrow night.  and his group.

Who has a better line to the almighty one? 

As for the Wootton BBYO stuff, this is consistent.  We are so right, we more than anyone else.  Permits - nah, who needs them.  Noise - we'll take the risk.  After all this is a civic engagement activity, and what better way to learn civic engagement than by breaking all the rules..

Right now - 2 pm Rockville time, the sun is shining, and the bands are doing their sound checks.  Come on over to Frost Hill, get your parking spaces now, and hear the concert for free.

For those who are venturing over to the concert tonight - here is some additional advice - you don't need to wear your mudboots, because the concert has been moved over to the Wootton Parking Lot.  Remember not to drink - water or anything else - because Wootton will onl

Parents - have no fear, we're sure that the 10 rent-a cops and the 5 security staff from Wootton will be able to maintain order.   And keep the traffic flowing on Wootton Parkway too!

Read the weather report and be sure to dress accordingly. 

6 PM	Showers	55°	55°	3 mph E	48%	60%	0
7 PM	Showers	54°	54°	3 mph E	50%	60%	0
8 PM	Showers	52°	52°	3 mph E	54%	60%	0
9 PM	Showers	51°	51°	2 mph E	60%	60%	0
10 PM	Showers	49°	49°	2 mph E	67%	60%	0
11 PM	Showers	48°	48°	2 mph E	75%

TunedIn and Cross your Legs

Here is some additional advice to folks attending the April 28 TunedIn BBYO concert at Wootton High School in Rockville.

Don't drink a lot of fluids before you enter the stadium.  Alcohol is not permitted for those under the age of 21, and as a civic engagement activity, we expect the students to obey the law. 

But - we caution you not to drink soda, juices or even water before you go.

For a crowd of 3000, estimates on various calculators indicate that an event should have approximately 20 portapotties. 

Wootton's concession stand has some facilities - we estimate that they have about six.

Wootton's budget for the event allows for $500 for portapotties.

According to costowl.com, an event should have one portapotty for every 50 people, and portapotties cost $75 to $150 for a one time event.

Wootton parents and guests - do the math.  Will an additional six portapotties be enough for the crowd?  What about the politicians and the BBYO VIPs from Northern Virginia?

Nice try, Mr. Doran and Ms. Taylor.

You should let your guests know that in addition to not parking in the neighborhoods, they need to cut down on their liquids too.

TunedIN - Wootton HS Opens Up

Gotta hand it to those folks at Wootton HS in Rockville.

Dr. Doran and his ace guidance counselor really know how to throw a party.

And, they are so creative with the limited parking at the venue  - even though kids from all over the DC metropolitan area are now coming, for an extra $10 you can get transportation and a tour of the monuments too.

Don't you wish your child could also be a Northern Virginia VIP?

Wootton HS Rock the Vote VIP Package

Tune In at Wootton continues

The Tuned In Wootton HS BBYO event become more curious the closer we get to the event.

This blogger can't figure out what is happening, so I'll be sharing the information as it becomes available.

We know that the school did not apply for a waiver from the noise ordinance in the county.  "Its in the works," according to one source.  Really?  This needs to be filed a month in advance and the community needs to have some notice.

Here is the letter from the SGE and Jennifer Taylor, the SGE sponsor, inviting one group to join in the fun.

This raises another question - is Ms. Taylor getting paid from school system funds to run this event? 

Her contact information is at the bottom of the letter.  The letter says to contact her for more information.

So Ms. Taylor - here is my question - shouldn't a school sponsored civic engagement event play by the rules?  Or are you teaching civil disobedience, by flagrantly flouting the rules that apply outside of the Wootton HS protectorate?

So many questions, so little time.

Service and Advocacy Invitation