Exclusive: Family Suing Wootton Principal, Athletic Directors, Coaches and Board of Education #mocofootball

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/circuitcourt/

On June 27, 2014, a Wootton High School family filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court against Wootton High School principal Michael Doran, Wootton athletic directors Christopher Thompson and Al Lightsey, current and former Wootton coaches Benjamin Tynes, Mark Rabon, Tyree Spinner, and the Montgomery County Board of Education alleging that their student was injured during a football conditioning after school club as a result of "being required to do 125 elevated pushups."

According to the case file the Montgomery County Attorney has alleged that coach Tyree Spinner was not employed by MCPS at the time of the May 2011 incident, but became employed with MCPS a few months later.

The complaint asks for judgment in an amount in excess of $75,000.

   2014 June 27 Wootton High School by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Wootton's Plastic Grass wasn't enough for some football players

...Worst hit was Wootton, where Spinner coached before resigning in January for reasons he and the school would not disclose. The resignation was “not by choice,” he told The Post at the time. 

Six Wootton players have followed Spinner to Avalon, led by four-star recruit Trevon Diggs, brother of Maryland standout Stefon Diggs. Trevon is a rising junior with offers to play football from Florida State, Maryland and Penn State, among other top schools...

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/avalon-footballs-rapid-build-rankles-some-montgomery-county-coaches/2014/08/07/19ac09f2-1da9-11e4-ab7b-696c295ddfd1_story.html

Gazette Letter: The principal and the cell tower

The proposal to put a cell tower at Thomas S. Wootton High School is evidence of a systemic problem within Montgomery County Public Schools. Why is a principal of a high school in Montgomery County spending even a nanosecond on a project to raise revenue? Why isn’t 100 percent of a principal’s time spent on educating his/her students?
The taxpayers of Montgomery County devote over 50 percent of the county budget to MCPS, and we do not want any time...

http://www.gazette.net/article/20140604/OPINION/140609389/1014/the-principal-and-the-cell-tower&template=gazette

BOE President Kauffman Flashed his AMEX Credit Card in Lyda Astrove's Face and said "We corrected the problem."

Watch Board of Education member Phil Kauffman (now Board PRESIDENT) tell Lyda Astrove in December of 2010 that after a 2009 State Audit exposed misuse of MCPS American Express credit cards "controls were put in place."  

Phil Kauffman:  "And, well there were controls put in place."
Lyda Astrove: "What were they?"
Phil Kauffman: "Well you know in terms of who has to sign off, in terms of the logs, and all that, I mean, there were extensive controls..."
Lyda Astrove: "But they weren't being followed."
Phil Kauffman:  "How do you ...What happened a couple of years ago in terms of some credit card charges, ya know, happened a couple of years ago on some credit card charges. So, yes we looked at it, we put controls in place. And, I am not aware that we are currently having issues with current charges. Ya know, we corrected the problem. Ya know, it is one of the things we discuss in the Fiscal Management Committee..."

Board of Education President Phil Kauffman's "controls" FAILED!

Video: Outraged Community at Wootton High School Cell Tower Meeting

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.

Rockville’s Wootton High shoots down cellphone tower

http://www.gazette.net/article/20140521/NEWS/140529640/1022/rockville-x2019-s-wootton-high-shoots-down-cellphone-tower&template=gazette

After community outrage, Wootton Principal Withdraws AT&T Cell Tower Proposal

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/woottonhs/news/news.aspx?id=366111

Parents Decry Wootton Cell Tower Proposal - Bethesda Beat

Parents Decry Wootton Cell Tower Proposal - Bethesda Beat

...One parent asked Doran after he arrived, “This entire room is opposed to this; what can we do next time to make it clear we don’t want the tower?”
Then Doran set off the parents again by implying that although they’re clearly involved in this emotionally-charged issue, they don’t get involved in others. He said, “… yet when you have a chance to get involved in the school, then come out, too, because guess what, you don’t.”
Shouts rang out again, and parents asked Doran to say no to the tower on the spot...

NBC4: Cell Tower Controversy at Montgomery County High School

MCPS Labels Community a Threat in Placement of Cell Towers on Playgrounds .@mcpssuper .@mocoboe #mcps

Yes, that's right. MCPS lists "communities opposition to cell towers" as a Threat to their goal of placing more cell towers on public school playgrounds.  

When exactly did the Board of Education vote to make the placement of cell towers on public school playgrounds a goal? They never did. 

So why is Superintendent Joshua Starr making cell towers a goal and calling public school neighbors threats?

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/facilities/rem/REMStrategicPlan2014.pdf

45% of MCPS Cell Tower Revenue Goes to Office that Manages Cell towers. 0% Goes to Teacher Salaries and Classrooms .@mcpssuper .@headmaster88

MCPS is doing a lot of whining today about how they need the revenue from a cell tower on the Wootton High School football field.  In fact, just last week the Montgomery County Council fully funded the Board of Education's Fiscal Year 2015 budget request.  

Here's what really happens to the revenue from cell towers on MCPS playgrounds and fields.  45% of that revenue goes to the MCPS Real Estate office that oversees cell towers.  The rest of the revenue is split up between school principals and deposited in their local school slush fund accounts.  None of the cell tower revenue goes to pay teacher salaries or to build classrooms.  

REM = Real Estate Management office of MCPS

Home or Away? Help Dr. Doran solve his cell phone tower dilemma!

Wootton HS will be getting a cell phone tower shortly - thanks to Dr. Doran the principal for his creative fundraising.

But - where will he place that tower?  According to our sources, the tower will be added to one of the existing lights in Wootton's football stadium.

The question is - will the lights be on the visitors or home bleachers?

Remember, the cell phone tower comes with approximately 100 square feet of equipment/hazmat accessories, including a generator, and the generator needs to have diesel fuel deliveries.  And noise.

From the pictures, the visitors side doesn't seem to have a lot of space for the equipment - keep in mind that Watts Branch runs right behind the stadium, with a fairly steep slope.

SO - which pole will Dr. Doran select?  Help him decide - and then let the school know your choice!

Home bleechers - light #1 at rear entrance of stadium, light #2 in front of the stands.

Visitor bleachers - light #3 on rear end of bleachers, light #4 closest to Wootton Parkway.

Is the money really worthwhile?  Does Dr. Doran want his staff to be responsible for monitoring the presence of the contractors and those who will maintain the hazmat/cell phone tower?  The generators and battery backup?  Or will that pesky tower just tap into the electricity for Wootton High school - after all, cell towers need

Of course, you can always let Dr. Doran know that hazmat facilities, with or without cell phone towers, have no place on public school property.

Suddenly it's Raining . . . Cell Towers in Rockville

Do you know what a strategic plan is?

Do you know that Montgomery County Public Schools has lots of strategic plans on its website?  You just have to look for them.

Here is my favorite strategic plan of the day - it's the MCPS Real Estate Management Team Strategic Plan for FY 2014 -2019.

Everything you wanted to know about why we are seeing a sudden surge in cell phone towers in Rockville.  Its all part of the plan.

Some highlights?

The Functions of the Real Estate Management Team are on page 2

8.  Monitor and analyze Enterprise Fund performance.

12.  Manage/oversee Cell tower lease process
13.  Oversee cell tower revenue sharing

What is the Enterprise Fund?  I thought we had an Enterprise Fund for summer school and adult education. I don't see a lot of recent discussion on Enterprise Funds on the MCPS website.  Is this in the Operating Budget?  The Capital Budget?  Does our County Council know about this program?  Inquiring minds want to know.  

But my absolute favorite is listed under SWOT - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats - (page 6)

• Communities opposition to cell towers

Really - your communities are a threat?  What happened to the lovely community-school partnership?  Did the Board of Education review this document at a meeting?

We should all thank Dr. Starr for putting communities on the enemies list.  We now we have it in print.

We are so lucky to have Dr. Starr and a REM Strategic Plan too!  Otherwise, the principals at Wootton HS and Julius West MS would be lost.

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.

Starr Cuts Costs for Trash Pickup in Wootton Cluster

Isn't this clever.  While on a walk recently, this blogger came across a very creative way for Montgomery County Public Schools disposal of surplus furniture.   This is in the stream between Frost MS and Wootton HS.

This blogger can't wait for the residual artificial turf and crumb rubber to follow.

No wonder its called Patriot Pride.

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?


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Dr. Doran on How to Install an Artificial Turf Field at your School

Wootton Booster Club

Dr. Doran, the principal of Wootton HS, is so creative.


We are so lucky to have him as principal.  He has kids who score well on standardized tests, and, as a reward, he is able to get perks that simply aren't available in other schools in the county.

Last spring, this blogger wrote about Third Eye Blind concert at Wootton.  At that time, this blooger joked that it seemed the ulterior motive was to ultimately get an artificial turf field at Wootton High School.

This blogger was correct.  Artificial turf is coming to Wootton.

All parents need to do is come up with $200,000 to meet their end of the "partnership" with Bethesda Soccer League, the same folks who brought artificial turf to Walter Johnson High School.

Did I hear that the fundraising needs to be completed by December?

Funny, I don't recall that Gaithersburg or Paint Branch High Schools needed to raise a similar amount, and I know that Richard Montgomery and Montgomery Blair High Schools did not need to dig into their pockets to support a field.

What gives?  Is this a thank you for those test scores?

Pay up folks.  After all, its only $50 per student.  And you get to say that you went to the top nonmagnet high school in Mo Co.




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School Fees - A Preview

Yes, the Parents Coalition is planning to publish its annual listing of illegal school fees in Montgomery County Public Schools.

While you are waiting, here is a letter from Dr. Doran at Wootton High School. In his letter, he says he can no longer "mandate" that students purchase a planner for $4.00.

Note to Dr. Doran - you could never mandate such a fee. It's illegal in the state of Maryland, where our state constitution guarantees a free public education. Back to civics class for you - or in 2012 terms, please relearn the contents of US Government.

But it's nice to know that you finally acknowledge that certain fees are just not allowed. Aren't student planners a thing of the past, anyway? Environmentally unfriendly, and not in sync with students and their various electronic devices.

Welcome back to school Dr. Doran. We hope that your 10th year is as good as the previous nine.

MCPS Can Not Mandate School Fees - MD Constitution Provides for Free Education

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.