Board of Education Candidate Forum, Wed., Oct 9 2024 in person! 15 W. Gude Drive Rockville

Please join the League of Women Voters and our co-sponsors at this in-person Board of Education Candidate Forum, Oct. 9, 7pm. The Board of Education is a critical part of our county government. They manage our $33.3 Billion budget and the education of approximately 160,000 students.

Do Electronic Devices in the Classroom Help?

Or are portables a distraction?

And does this impact only the student with the device?

Read the results from a Rutgers Study:

Students perform less well in end-of-term exams if they are allowed access to an electronic device, such as a phone or tablet, for non-academic purposes in lectures, a new study in Educational Psychology finds. 

Students who don't use such devices themselves but attend lectures where their use is permitted also do worse, suggesting that phone/tablet use damages the group learning environment.

Researchers from Rutgers University in the US performed an in-class experiment to test whether dividing attention between electronic devices and the lecturer during the class affected students' performance in within-lecture tests and an end-of-term exam.

Part 2 - Whitman HS to take part in research study of concussions

If a picture says a thousand words - a video provides a million.

Here is the video from Fox 5 showing the concussion research device that may be tested at Whitman HS.







Did you catch the principal on the clip as saying he is concerned about concussions because fewer kids are coming out for football. Gee, Dr. G - I hoped that you would be more concerned about the health of your students.

So Far, the Prize for Most Ripped Off Kids at Graduation - Northwood HS

Its hard to say whether Northwood HS is charging more or less for the honor of walking down the aisle for graduation ceremonies.

In 2010, Northwood assessed a senior fee of $140 dollars, but let students who only wanted to attend graduation fork over $40.

This year, the senior fee is $75.  We can't say what the fee covers, only that of the three schools reporting in so far, this one is the clear top dollar.

Senior Northwood HS Dues - Class of 2015 Full Payment - Online School Payments_ Montgomery County Public Sc...

Payments go directly through an MCPS website. How convenient is this? But - how do you know the money even goes to Northwood? Where does the receipt of the funds appear in the budget?

Second Candidate for Graduation Fee Extortion - Montgomery Blair HS

Montgomery Blair HS in Silver Spring MD charges its students to walk down the aisle and receive their diploma.

Really.

Here is the information sheet, straight off the school website:

Senior Info Sheet 2015[1]

In 2010, when my child graduated from Blair, the fee was a bit higher - but the fee covered items such as the senior picnic, the honorarium for the speaker, and other"graduation venue related costs."

The bus fee is another example of extortion.  Parents and families have to travel to the graduation venue, why make the kids pay for a bus?  Metro is cheaper.  Most of the students leave the venue directly to continue the celebration with their families - so they essentially are subsidizing transportation without receiving a benefit.  And what about those magnet families that don't live in the area?

Great job, Mrs. Johnson.  At least you aren't collecting fees this year for a graduation speaker!

New Trend for High School Neighborhoods

Montgomery Blair HS in Silver Spring has always demonstrated its leadership among schools in Montgomery County.

What's the latest leadership trend?

Blair HS is so lucky to have a "HEAD FIRST" concussion care facility located right across University Boulevard from the school.

Now if your child plays football at Blair - no worries about whether an athletic trainer is onsite.  Your Head First concussion facility can take care of your child.

And, its not only the football team kids who may find themselves at Head First.  You never know what other challenges face your child at Blair.  This surely beats the emergency room at Holy Cross Hospital for convenience! 

Way to go Blair!

Bullies on MCPS Central Office Staff

When I first heard about MCPS staffers taking pictures of observers at MCPS Board and Committee meetings, I thought I heard the information incorrectly.  Surely, a world class school system run by the pre-eminent Dr. Joshua Starr did not really engage in activities to intimidate a member of the taxpaying public?

Or was this true?

Imagine my dismay to learn that this is not a new practice.

Here is a video clip from a 2011 meeting concerning the feasibility study for BCC Middle School Number 2.  Watch this clip, its short, and you will see Mr. Dennis Cross, who was at the time the project manager for BCC MS #2, snap a picture of a member of the audience after the individual asked a question.

I am intimidated just watching the clip - and its over three years old.

Fortunately for those of us still involved in various aspects of building new school facilities, Mr. Cross is no longer with the school system.  Thank goodness for small miracles.   (See page 10).

Remember the following:

Illegitimi Non Carborundum.

A rough translation?  Don't let the bullies get you down.

Why Wootton High School Really Isn't Turf Smart

The alternate title for this post could also have been Dr. Doran on how to install an artificial turf field Part 2. Do the parents at Wootton High School really think they are smarter than the average parent by getting their school to the top of the artificial turf list by handing over their own cash?

Aside from the ethics of supplementing the county coffers and the equity argument about jumping to the head of the line just because certain members of your community have more cash, does Wootton High School really know what it means to get into a partnership with a private organization?

Perhaps Dr. Doran should take a lesson from Moreno Carrasco, the former principal at Richard Montgomery High School.  Mr. C negotiated a partnership with Real Maryland, a "professional soccer team," that helped pay for the first artificial turf field at a Montgomery County High School.

So - how's that working for Richard Montgomery?

Real Maryland, owned by Maryland Soccer Enterprises, LLC. is having some problems.  Most notably, the entity forfeited their corporate charter in the state of Maryland.  You can check that out here or see the information below.  This doesn't seem like a good deal now - who is picking up Real Maryland's share of the field now?

The question for Dr. Doran and the Wootton Boosters is - how well do you know your business partner?  What happens if your partner decides to forfeit its license?  Who will pick up the pieces?


Scan 0005

Lets do lunch - and please have your boss sign a letter supporting my sewer

To be fair, its not clear whether Linda Adams had lunch with Emily Rales or whether she just got her own private tour of the mansion posing as an art museum.

But - what is clear from reading the emails provided in a request under the Maryland Public Information Act, is this:

1. Linda Adams, the MCPS Supervisor for Arts visited Glenstone with Elizabeth Stuart, another MCPS staff member (see March 16 2012 email)

2. She was so excited that she shared this information with Brian Edwards (on March 19 email from Adams)

3. The Glenston-MCPS collaboration is exciting, but

4. Could Josh Starr please help out and write a letter (March 19 email from Emily Rales)

Note that the collaboration at this time simply involves a visit between Linda Adams and Emily Rales. No student visits, no teacher visits, nothing but a promise.   Unless you count the September party Mitch Rales held to welcome Josh to the County.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if any MCPS parent could get a simple request before Dr. Starr by simply inviting him or someone from MCPS over for a cup of coffee?

Lesson to MCPS parents and staff.  Next time you have a request, invite Josh or one of his staffers to your home for a visit, and you can ask for anything.
2012 Glen Stone 4

Open Meetings Massachusetts Style

Here is an interesting news item brought to you from one of my favorite MCPS alums, who continues to follow this blog from a distance.

Massachusetts is trying to put some meat into its Open Meetings Act. 

Imagine.  A $1000 fine every time a public body violates the Open Meetings Act. 

The problem with the Maryland Open Meetings Act is the lack of a remedy.  Sure, the Montgomery County Board of Education and other public bodies look pretty foolish when they keep on violating the act.  Press coverage helps to let the public know how their tax dollars are working - or rather, not working.

Martha Coakley wants to put more substance into the Massachusetts Open Meetings Act, and is proposing to issue fines of $1000 for every violation.

Here is the text of Ms. Coakley's proposal. 

Massachusetts Definition of Intentional Violation Regulation A special thanks to my source who obviously learned about civic engagement when he was enrolled in MCPS.

Leadership Wars - or What Happens When Meetings are Held in Secret

Today, the good taxpaying folks in Montgomery County saw first hand what happens when their elected leadership does not play by the rules.

Chris Barclay, President of the Montgomery County Board of Education, sent off the missive below in response to a letter sent earlier in the week by Valerie Ervin, President of the Montgomery County Council.

Honestly, if we had the discussions in public and on the record, would we have the need for these letters at all? 

Was the public given notice of the Barclay-Brandman-Ervin meeting on April 15?  No. 

Did someone take minutes?  No.

Hate to say it, but that is why Maryland has an Open Meetings Act.

Thanks to Jennifer Bach for the tip. 
Letter to Valerie Ervin-060811

Is the Board Interviewing the Superintendent Semi-finalists Today?

In discussions with staff at Hazard, Young, Attea (HYA), the search consultants hired by the MCPS Board of Education, it is likely that the Board is interviewing the new superintendent candidate semi-finalists today.  Who are the semi-finalists? No clue.  Will we know who the finalists are? Only the select, chosen by the Board of Education, will know.  They have been instructed to sign a confidentiality agreement; take no notes at the secret interviews to be held next week; and not reveal interview location or names of the finalists.

At this point it appears that the public will find out we have a new superintendent when white smoke rises from the chimney at Carver.