Under the Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, the following procedure is outlined for the removal of a Montgomery County Board of Education member.
(g) (1) The Montgomery County Council may remove a member of the county board for:
(i) Immorality;
(ii) Misconduct in office;
(iii) Incompetency; or
(iv) Willful neglect of duty.
(2) Before removing a member, the County Council shall provide the member a copy of the charges against him and give him an opportunity within 10 days to request a hearing.
(3) If the member requests a hearing within the 10–day period:
(i) The County Council promptly shall hold a hearing, but a hearing may not be set within 10 days after the County Council sends the member a notice of the hearing; and
(ii) The member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly before the County Council in the member’s own defense, in person or by counsel.
(4) A member removed under this subsection has the right to a de novo review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.
For the first time ever, ProPublica is making available the status of all of the civil rights cases that have been resolved during the past three years, as well as pending investigations. See if your school district or college is being investigated for civil rights violations and why.
In the past three years, 40 cases have been brought against MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS and then resolved.
Resolved Cases
6 cases had violations or were resolved with corrective change
Young Boys Allegedly Abused By Air Force Colonel Now In His Sole Custody
Tomorrow morning, two six-year old brothers will leave the sole custody of the mother they have lived with for the past five years to live in the sole custody of their father, an Air Force colonel alleged to have physically and sexually abused the boys for years.
The Air Force had deemed the abuse allegations against Colonel Eric Holt as lacking evidence, but as this reporter previously covered, an extraordinary amount of evidence from photographs, video, medical records and witnesses supports the allegations. This evidence includes five disclosures by the boys themselves to non-parental caregivers, medical authorities and child welfare authorities.
Yet in an August 15 Maryland Montgomery County family court decision, Judge Joan Ryon awarded sole custody of the boys to Col. Holt and ordered the boys’ mother, a Harvard-trained anesthesiologist, only to supervised visitation once every two weeks. Ryon did not require Col. Holt to pay any of the more than $100,000 he owed in back child support—despite a previous court order that he do so—but she ordered the boys’ mother, Dr. Holt*, to pay $5700 a month in child support to their father going forward...
...“How does a family court judge make a decision like this? Pulling the boys away from their mother and giving them to a man with a hair trigger temper who wouldn't even pay child support?” Arrant said. “Eric has admitted he cannot control his anger and sexual impulses. It’s sad he is like this because of the IED explosion, but that won't help the boys if he physically or sexually abuses them.”..
...Col. Holt himself has acknowledged those same impulse, anger and sexual problems in previous court proceedings, but he has not responded to multiple requests for comment for this and the previous story.
“Congressman Kennedy is disappointed by this decision and troubled by this process,” said Dan Black, a spokesperson for the office of US Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-Mass.). “He is extremely concerned for the safety and well being of the children, who are now at risk of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. He will continue to call on the various jurisdictions involved in this case to meet their obligation to protect these children.”..
...“One of the standards in Maryland law is how friendly the parent will be in providing access to the children,” said Laurie Duker, co-founder and executive director of Court Watch Montgomery. But she believes the laws governing divorce and custody cases need an overhaul because judges do not receive training on the impact of trauma.
“They’re punishing women for withholding access to the kids when she’s doing the right thing in protecting them,” Duker said, adding that judges do not receive training on the impact of trauma. “When a woman doesn’t cry, a lot of judges interpret that as not being afraid.”
Eileen King, executive director and program director of Child Justice Inc., and Paul Griffin, legal director of Child Justice Inc., said this judge appeared to disregard Dr. Holt’s concerns about her boys.
“When the mother was accused of alienation, and when the abuse she had been subjected to and the abuse we believe the children were subjected to were minimized, we saw the judge had no deep understanding of the plight of the children or of the mother trying to protect the children,” King said. “The fact that she is upset and distressed is being held against her,” King said. “When Dr. Holt testified that a number of times he [Col. Holt] threatened to shoot her in the face, that’s very serious. The fact that the judge didn’t seem to take that into consideration is very problematic.”
Griffin believes the Air Force’s handling of Col. Holt’s case played a role in Judge Ryon’s decision.
“I’m also disappointed the judge didn’t recuse herself after engaging in ex parte communication and refused to disclose the communications when asked,” Griffin said. Before the trial, Judge Ryon had received an email from the office of Maj. Gen. Jacobson, stating his decision to close the case. The email contained additional information about that decision that the judge refused to share with the mother’s counsel.
“Because the judge did not disperse the report to the parties, this left Dr. Holt with no ability to challenge the report’s findings,” Drew said. “The family court's reliance on the military to assess whether the father abused the children is unusual and questionable since in doing so the court deferred to Air Force generals who are colleagues of the accused.”..
Congratulations to Nashville Public Schools. You are now a member of the #Me Too community.
You didn't listen to those of us from up North in Montgomery County Public Schools. We told you that you hired a cadre of administrators who didn't work out in MCPS.
Did you believe us? Apparently not.
Did you conduct any type of background check? Doesn't look like it.
So, it comes as no surprise to us that Mo Carrasco, one of our formerly esteemed administrators WHO WAS REMOVED FROM HIS SCHOOL in 2008 for a whole slew of misbehavior engaged in the same behavior.
You've been Mo Carrasco'd.
And now my PTSD kicks in.
Our issues didn't involve improper touching, although there was a general sense that this occurred as supported by a lawsuit on record in our county. Lucky us.
I just went through my emails from April to June 2008, when my daughter was enrolled in the same school. I see emails where I tried to explain to the County Council what was wrong while the PTSA leaders and faculty defended the principal.
And, I see emails recounting to my friends the number of calls I received on a daily basis, at my office, at home, and on my cell from the principal.
And, I see other emails where I noted my concern for whether my daughter would be able to safely finish her senior year in high school without further incident.
And, the final emails saying Mr. Carrasco had done nothing wrong.
Ouch.
Yes, my child finished, and I have the picture of her shaking the principal's hand at graduation.
But it wasn't a pleasant experience, and I am sorry that another school, another school system had to have this experience.
Please folks - know that an experienced principal or school administrator, or group of administrators, doesn't simply find themselves available, especially as a group, unless something is wrong. Its not as simple as Montgomery County's loss is your gain.
Yes, the internet may have false stories, and its often hard to figure out what is real and what is fantasy.
But - if you don't look, you will never know, until your own school system gets hurt.
Mo Carrasco has announced his retirement from education, and this should be the end of his saga.
Be careful, and do your research, before you find yourself in a similar situation.
You always wanted MCPS to have global recognition - and you've done it.
But not for academics.
We are seeing an overwhelming abundance of news stories about your decision to be more inclusive and proud of your district's diversity - or is it simply your decision to remove religion from MCPS Public Schools?
Tonight, Phil and Pat defended their decision on CNN.
"On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Board of Education voted to remove the religious designations after local Muslims had complained that the district observes Christmas, Easter, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, but does not offer vacation on any Muslim holidays.
“School Dumps Christmas to Appease Muslims” was how Todd Starnes of Fox News Radio framed the headline. Describing the issue as “a new battleground in the war on Christmas” and “bad news for you Jews and gentiles out there,” Starnes implied that the holidays will be eliminated rather than just not identified on the school calendar. (“That means no more Christmas, no more Easter and no more Yom Kippur,” he claimed, later noting that the school board “opted to eliminate all religious holidays.”)"
The Parents' Coalition has obtained a Confidential June 11, 2013, Memorandum from Superintendent Joshua Starr to the Board of Education regarding the "Process to Monitor Allegations of Inappropriate Behavior."
Along with the confidential memorandum we also obtained an August 28, 2013, memorandum from the MCPS Chief Operating Officer, Larry Bowers, to Principals and Directors. The Chief Operating Officer memo states:
...There are no changes to the mandated reporting procedure in cases of suspected abuse, neglect, and mental injury. The procedures for addressing those issues are outlined in the MCPS Regulation JHC-RA, Child Abuse and Neglect, which is available online at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/jhcra.pdf
And, as you have probably guessed by now, the link in the paragraph above goes to a Board of Education regulation thathasn't been updated since 1989. MCPS COO Larry Bowers tells administrators there are "no changes" to the mandatory reporting procedures, yet there have been many changes to this Maryland law since 1989.
Note how on Page 1 of Attachment A of the Bowers memorandum shown below there is no mention of calling Montgomery County Police, and the flow chart is written as if contacting Child Protective Services is one of three options.
Under current Maryland law, calling Child Protective Services or the Police is a required first step when child abuse is suspected. It is not an option to report the suspected abuse to one of these agencies, it is required. MCPS teachers and administrators are not being trained using current Maryland law, they are being trained using MCPS' out of date policy.
They won't have seen current Maryland law in their MCPS training.
FAMILY LAW TITLE 5. CHILDREN SUBTITLE 7. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Md. FAMILY LAW Code Ann. § 5-704 (2014)
§ 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) who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, shall notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency; 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 to the local department or appropriate law enforcement agency; 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.
(2) (i) An agency to which an oral report of suspected abuse or neglect 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.
Question for Superintendent Joshua Starr and Board of Education: Why do you permit principals to rip off students? In 2014 the fee to take an AP exam from the College Board was $89. Source: College Board website.
ExamThe fee for each AP Exam is $89. The school normally retains $8 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs.
It cost $89 to take an AP exam at Walter Johnson High School and Seneca Valley High School in 2014. But, at Springbrook High School it cost $92.56 to take an AP exam. Why? Because Springbrook High School added a fake "processing fee" to the cost of the AP exam. That puts a cool $2,500 into the principal's slush fund for that school. (Feb 2014 Audit of Springbrook Principal's school accounts.) Note that high schools already get $8 per test as an administration fee to cover the cost of exam proctors. Apparently, that wasn't enough for Springbrook High School and so they tacked on their own fake "processing fee."
Roland Ikheloa serves at the Chief of Staff for the Board of Education and as an Ombudsman. Mr. Ikheloa is also the person whose signature was shown as approving of the expense reports for Board of Education members.
May 20, 2014
Wootton High School
Media Center
7 PM meeting for PTA to discuss Principal Michael Doran's proposal to place a cell tower under the Wootton High School stadium bleachers and turn a stadium light pole into a cell tower. Community members were not notified, but found out about the proposal and showed up at the meeting.
Here is the video of the entire meeting.
The Montgomery County Board of Education and the Montgomery College Trustees are having an off camera meeting this evening. The meeting starts at 5:45 PM, so you know what that means! Dinner! What's on the menu? Who is paying?
The meeting is OPEN to the public. It is just being held off camera so there is no record of what is actually discussed. Look at the Agenda. There will be "individual table discussions." Lots of off camera, unrecorded discussions between BOE members and Montgomery College Trustees.
Stop by and grab a seat. Let us know what you hear being discussed.
It must be, because today a Montgomery County Council committee is discussing funding for a program that excludes students with special education needs.
We have heard from parents before that their children with special education needs were not permitted to enroll in the George B. Thomas Learning Academy Saturday School tutoring program.
Below is the report that the Councilmembers have received on this program. You will note that there is no mention of children with special education needs in the report. Yet, public dollars heavily support this program.
Montgomery County Council members love to tell citizens that they have limited control over how MCPS and the Board of Education spend education dollars. However, Maryland law specifically notes that travel and other expenses of Board of Education members are provided by the Montgomery County Council!
EDUCATION DIVISION II. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TITLE 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNTY BOARDS OF EDUCATION SUBTITLE 9. MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Md. EDUCATION Code Ann. § 3-902 (2014)
§ 3-902. Compensation
(a) Reimbursement for travel and other expenses. -- An elected member of the county board is entitled to reimbursement for travel and other expenses as provided by the Montgomery County Council. (b) Annual salary. --
(1) An elected member of the county board is entitled to receive $ 25,000 annually as compensation and the president of the county board is entitled to an additional $ 4,000 annually as compensation.
(2) An elected member is entitled to health insurance and to other fringe benefits regularly provided to employees of the board of education under the same terms and conditions extended to other employees of the board of education.
(c) Student member. --
(1) The student member may not receive compensation but, after submitting expense vouchers, may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with official duties.
(2) A student member who completes a full term on the board shall be granted a scholarship of $ 5,000 to be applied toward the student's higher education costs.
Here's the memo from Superintendent Joshua Starr for the installation of artificial turf at Churchill High School. You remember Churchill? The school with the great natural grass field that didn't want artificial turf. Well, they are getting one anyway!
Once again MCPS has money to burn and will fund the cost of this field above what can be obtained from a private entity. Interesting that the private entities that want to use these fields can never afford to pay 100% of the cost! That must be why they want to do these fields with MCPS! MCPS picks up the difference. Thanks MCPS Operating Budget!
$205,178 in cash was kicked in by the Board of Education for the Wootton High School plastic grass field when the FieldTurf (surprise) cost went over the MCPS estimate (another surprise). But, no worries! The Board of Education can always dip into the MCPS slush fund for plastic grass! (Mold in schools? No.)
Artificial Turf Field Installation - Winston Churchill HS
During summer 2013, the Department of Facilities Management was contacted about the possibility of installing artificial turf on the stadium field at Winston Churchill High School. Staff in the Department of Facilities Management evaluated the feasibility of artificial turf installation at Winston Churchill High School and determined that the current grass stadium field may be replaced with artificial turf.
Subsequently, staff publicly advertised a Request for Proposals for private organizations that would be interested in participating in the private/public partnership to install the artificial turf on the Winston Churchill High School stadium field. Only two proposals were received—the Bethesda Lacrosse/Potomac Soccer Association and Montgomery Soccer, Inc. The top-rated proposal from the Bethesda LaCrosse/Potomac Soccer Association includes a $1.1 million contribution toward the installation of artificial turf at Winston Churchill High School in return for approximately 1,000 hours of use per year for a 10-year period.
Further, the Winston Churchill High School Booster Club submitted a letter of commitment to raise and contribute $200,000 toward the installation of artificial turf. These two offers total $1.3 million in private contributions, which is the estimated cost to install artificial turf at Winston Churchill High School. If the project cost exceeds the $1.3 million contribution amount, the shortfall may be paid through the funds collected for community use and the savings accumulated each year from not having to maintain the current grass field—such as grass cutting, fertilizing, over-seeding, and irrigating. It is anticipated that approximately 150 hours or more, pending weather conditions, will be available for the community to use the artificial turf field after calculating hours used by the school and the Bethesda Lacrosse/Potomac Soccer Association.
The proposed project timeline to complete the work is by spring 2015, understanding the time it takes for design, permitting, construction bids, and award. In the event an award is made by the Board of Education, staff in the Department of Facilities Management will develop a detailed project schedule and determine the final completion date.
I recommend your approval of the artificial turf installation on the Winston Churchill High School stadium field. Given the shortage of playing fields available in the county and the constant demand for use of our school fields, the artificial turf on the stadium field is a positive solution that will provide safer playing conditions for Montgomery County Public Schools students while allowing many community hours for use. Furthermore, the entire project will be funded privately without having an impact on our current budgets. The following resolution is recommended for your approval:
WHEREAS, There is an interest to install artificial turf on the stadium field at Winston Churchill High School; and
WHEREAS, Artificial turf on the stadium field at Winston Churchill High School will provide safer playing conditions and allow significantly more hours of use than the current grass field; and
WHEREAS, Artificial turf would benefit the school and the community; and
WHEREAS, In January 2013, staff in the Department of Facilities Management publicly advertised for Request for Proposals from private organizations for partnering on the installation and shared use of an artificial turf field at the Winston Churchill High School stadium field; and
WHEREAS, Two responses to the Request for Proposals were submitted and theBethesda Lacrosse/Potomac Soccer Association’s proposal was selected, which includes a contribution of $1.1 million toward the cost of engineering, permitting, and installation of an artificial turf stadium field in exchange for a preferred use schedule agreement for a period of 10 years; and
WHEREAS, The Winston Churchill High School Booster Club has requested permission to raise and contribute $200,000 for the shared cost of the artificial turf field; and
WHEREAS, The cost of the project is approximately $1.3 million; and
WHEREAS, Staff has reviewed this request for compliance with Board of Education Policy CNE, Facility Improvements That Are Not Funded with Montgomery County Revenues, and finds that it complies with the criteria for acceptable contributions established in the policy; now therefore be it
Resolved, That the Board of Education approves the request of the Winston Churchill High School Booster Club to raise and contribute $200,000 for the artificial turf installation on the stadium field at Winston Churchill High School; and be it further
Resolved, That the contributions from the Bethesda Lacrosse/Potomac Soccer Association and the Winston Churchill High School Booster Club be accepted in accordance with Board of Education Policy CNE, Facility Improvements That Are Not Funded with Montgomery County Revenues; and be it further
Resolved, That a Stadium Field Agreement be executed between Montgomery County Public Schools and the Bethesda Lacrosse/Potomac Soccer Association for the sum of $1.1 million; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board of Education president and the superintendent of schools be authorized to execute the documents necessary for this transaction; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board of Education requests a Fiscal Year 2014 supplemental appropriation and amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013–2018 Capital Improvements Program in the amount of $1.3 million to fund the installation of artificial turf at Winston Churchill High School; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution be forwarded to the county executive and the County Council for consideration and action.
...Montgomery County Public Schools use more than 430 portable classrooms, per state and district records obtained by the News4 I-Team. A row of nine portables, each of which is approximately the size of a trailer, covers an old blacktop playground at Summit Hall Elementary School in Gaithersburg. Principal Keith R. Jones said he installed security equipment, including surveillance cameras and tall fencing, outside the portable classrooms to protect the small buildings and ensure the safety of the fourth and fifth graders who must walk between the units and the main school. Jones said the cold winter was “very, very difficult for those students,” who must walk outdoors multiple times a day...
